The holiday season is upon us, and all the world unites in a moment of happiness and reflection. Or something.

Meanwhile, at school, the song that I'd picked for a Christmas performance turns out to be more challenging than I'd initially expected. 

Twitter: @SMKYpodcast

Warning – this episode contains descriptions of war crimes

As darkness descends on Nanjing, our trip to the city comes to an end. We look at the rise of Japanese ultranationalism and fascism, their unhinged campaign to take over China, and the most famous atrocity the city is known for.

Twit: @SMKYpodcast

The rises and falls and rises and rivalries of China's most famous power-sisters, the Soongs. With a story that spans some 100 years, China's 20th century is nothing without this family. 

Twitter @SMKYpodcast

Me and teacher friend Jess head to Nanjing with the intention of visiting the Rape of Nanjing Memorial museum. Before that though, a little background of some notable Nanjing moments in history, as China's southern capital, and the founding values of Chinese republicanism and where they went.

Twitter @SMKYpodcast

Twit: @SMKYPodcast

It's time for a school trip to Suzhou, following in Marco Polo's footsteps, to learn the secrets of silk, and muse on China's healthcare.

"Too many tweets might make a twat," as David Cameron once said. My twitter: @SMKYpodcast

Like any teacher worth his salt, I attempted to combat the onset of an early winter depression by getting hopelessly drunk and trying to play a piano song to a group of drunks in a bar in the city.

And if that doesn't work, there's always Roland Emmerich movies and bamboo carpentry. One of these things must provide a cure surely.

Twitter @SMKYpodcast

There's a bit in most movies called the low point, not long before the end, where it seems that all is lost for the main character. We're not quite at the end of this tale, but in November, all was lost.

Back at the Cradle of Elites, there's a newcomer in town. Jess is from the UK, and we find ourselves in a temple. From there, it's just a hop, skip and a jump to a discussion about religion and spirituality in China, from the ancient belief systems to the modern cults.

Twitter @SMKYpodcast

I arranged for one more chat with Spring, and decided not to play so nice this time.

(This was recorded before the British government came up with its "send asylum seekers to Rwanda" policy. This is possibly relevant in the first half of this conversation, when I'm claiming that we respect human rights. Oops.)