PRODUCTION　Olympic Project

Beyond Beijing – Olympic Cities

Documentary 6 x 60 Minutes   | Video |

Besides the capital Beijing , six other Chinese cities will also host events for the 2008 OlympicGames. They are Shanghai , Tianjin , Qingdao , Shenyang and Qinhuangdao . Due to the Olympics,all six cities are simultaneously coming into the world's spotlight. Each of the Olympic-host cities has its own special features and characteristics. The story of these fast-changing cities is the story of contemporary China itself - its people, culture and its enduring soul.

•  Shanghai, the Center of Chinese Fashion

•  Qingdao , a Beautiful City of Sailboats

•  Shenyang , a Rosy Sports City

•  Qinhuangdao , the Dream City of the First Emperor of China

•  Tianjin , a Seaport of Folk Customs

•  Hong Kong , a World-Class Metropolis

Beijing Impression

Energetic, Elegant, an Ancient Dream,

A Colorful Modern City

2008 Global focus

Documentary 12 x 60 Minutes

| Video |

In 2008, the Olympic Games will be held in the Chinese capital, Beijing . People from all over the world will be focusing their attention on this magnificent city. With a history dating back 3,500 years and with the city having held capital status for more than 800 of them, Beijing has now developed into a modern international metropolis. Yet it retains its role as both China 's political and cultural centre. Beijing includes five world heritage sites , 3,500 cultural reserves, 100 museums and more than 2 million items of national treasure.

1. The Origin of Beijing

In the 1300s, Marco Polo described a city to the Europeans as “too outstanding to compare”. It was, in fact, the preexistence of what is now modern Beijing - Yuan Dadu. In 1403, the Ming Dynasty established its capital here. In 1644, the last Chinese feudal dynasty, Qing, retained Beijing 's capital status. And in 1949, the People's Republic of China again chose Beijing to be its capital. Although the old town area's structure has maintained much of its traditional design, 600 years have passed and many parts of the city have been largely transformed. How did these changes occur? And what were the reasons for the Chinese people to change their old capital in such ways?

2. Beijing Geography

Looking down from a plane high above Beijing, one sees Taihang Mountain spreading out along the west side of the city, the Yanshan Mountain chain clustering round the north, and rivers from the Loess Plateau and Mongolian altiplano converging into the river Yongding. Yongding River meanders its way through remote mountains and forests, then suddenly dashes out of the hollow at Sanjiadian to flow away over the west side of the Beijing plane. Though the Beijing plane includes rivers, springs and lakes, incoming sandstorms still pose a big problem for the city's inhabitants. Where on earth do these sandstorms originate from and when did Beijing begin to suffer from these yellow sands and heavy winds?

3. Gate and Pailou

The old city gates (men) and memorial archways (pailou) are the most important examples of traditional Chinese cities from the Qing Dynasty. Beijing City used to be divided into four sections with 20 separate gates. Nowadays only four remain - Tian'an Men, Zhengyang Men, Dongbian Men and Desheng Men. Now the imaginings of old Beijing can only be truly felt from these last surviving gates.

Pailou used to be an important fabric on old Beijing streets. As time has gone by, many of them have disappeared. Nevertheless, their names and stories will never fade.

4. The Forbidden City

In 1406, the second Emperor of the Ming Dynasty decided to build a new palace on the base of the palaces of the Yuan Dynasty. This new palace was later developed to become the largest grouping of imperial palaces - the Forbidden City . Records indicate that Ming emperors employed 100,000 craftsmen and one million laborers to build their dream home, using only the best materials from different parts of China .

For 560 years it was the residence of 24 imperial families. A 3-kilometer long and 10-meter high wall protects the Forbidden City , in which is housed more than a million pieces of precious treasures.

5. Thirteen Ming Imperial Tombs

In the northern valley of Beijing lie the tombs of 13 emperors and their wives from the Ming Dynasty, the area hence named the Thirteen Ming Imperial Tomb. It is the best preserved imperial tomb complex containing the bodies of so many emperors. The 13 tombs have occupied the east, west and north piedmonts of the mountain, constituting a magnificent tomb building complex.

Workers took more than 200 years to finish the tombs' construction. They built a holy entrance hall and passageway to showcase the emperors' dignity, while funerary objects and the coffins themselves were placed in the underground palaces.

6. Temples and Altars

Never again will there exist another city like Beijing that houses so many temples and altars. The capital's Temple of Heaven has even become the main picture postcard of Beijing .

The history of temples dates back to ancient times, as the ancients worshipped mysteries . At first people chose natural highlands to worship heaven and earth, goddess and spirit, but later developed man-made halls for these spiritual and ceremonial activities.

7. Imperial Garden

Ever since Beijing acquired its capital status, people here have been building gardens. Beihai Park , the Summer Palace and Yuan Ming Yuan, all previously private imperial gardens, are now popular public parks.

All imperial gardens are gorgeously decorated and feature exquisite landscape designs. Emperors invested the nation's wealth, its labor and creativity into building their dream gardens. Victor Hugo once noted that one can find all that one can imagine inside Beijing 's famous Summer Palace .

8. The Great Wall

The Great Wall is one of the Seven Wonders of the World . The best part of the Wall in Beijing was not constructed until the Ming Dynasty in the 1600s, however its origins date right back to the “Warring States” period in the 7 th century BC.

The Ming Dynasty Great Wall in Beijing lies in the northern area of the capital's mountainous districts. It is 600 kilometers long, though only 30 kilometers of it have been repaired - these sections of the Wall include Sima Tai, Bada Ling and Mutianyu. Different sections of the Great Wall vary significantly in their appearance.

9. Hutongs and Central Courtyard

Hutongs are interconnecting lanes formed by the walls of traditional courtyard houses. There are thousands of hutongs in Beijing , big and small. If we connected them all together, their length indeed could stretch as long as the Great Wall itself. Residents living in the city's hutongs still preserve many of their traditional lifestyles. Shichahai lake area, north of Beihai Park and the Forbidden City , features the most characteristic of these hutongs. Actually Shichahai has in recent years become a famous spot for nightlife in Beijing . Among the area's old resident houses are now also located modern bars, restaurants and shops of various flavours.

10. Beijing Vehicles

Traditional Beijing vehicles are rare in these modern times. Only manpower tricycles are still in use for tourists. Sitting on the back of a tricycle, passing through the hutongs of Beijing , one has a chance to experience the lifestyle of old Beijing .

Beijing is a bicycle kingdom, though these days there are far less cyclists than in previous decades. The on and off duty bicycle tide has disappeared, and instead, more and more cars are congesting the streets. Beijing now has 2 million cars. Though the number of cars is increasing, buses, subways and taxis remain of absolutely necessity for the city's inhabitants. With millions of its people these days busily shuttling around the city by bicycle, subway, taxi, bus and car, Beijing has turned into a typical modern city.

11. Beijing Food

Beijing 's snacks are another feature of the famous city. It is said there are more than one hundred different kinds of snacks in Beijing , some of which used only to be supplied to imperial families.

World-renowned Beijing duck (Peking duck) has always been regarded as typical Beijing cuisine. You can find great Beijing duck in Qian Men, Heping Men and Wangfu Jing's 'Quanjude Duck Restaurant'.

Imperial cuisine is the soul of Beijing food and represents the historical characteristics of the capital. Now, ordinary people can also enjoy imperial-style food in special restaurants, where the noble dining customs of imperial cuisine are still maintained.

As Beijing 's winter is cold, hot pot is warmly welcomed on every table. Family and friends sit around a table on which is placed a simmering pot of water into which they immerse an assortment of various raw foods. Hot pot cookware has become part of the common kitchenware among Beijing families.

12. Theaters in Beijing

Once there were numerous theaters and tea houses for operas in old Beijing town. Nowadays few remain. Yet when you suddenly fall into a reminiscent mood, you can suitably find one.

Modern Beijing is a mix of traditional and modern culture, as witnessed in its theaters. The capital has over one hundred theaters and concert halls, and artists from all over the world perform here. Beijing People's Theater is perhaps your best choice for drama, while Chang'an Theater, with its hundreds of years of tradition, is the central shrine for Beijing opera.

Traditional and modern, east and west, the best performances are simultaneously shown on the stage of Beijing .

Harmoniousness and Creation: Stories of Chinese Common People

Record ordinary life, common job, and real emotion

Documentary 10x60 Minutes

If you want to know about the country, you'd better look into the lives of common people. ‘Stories of Chinese Common People' has selected 10 groups of people each with their own different and interesting stories to tell.

•  Olympic Volunteers

Before the opening of the Olympic Games, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) will recruit 70,000 professional and non-professional Olympic Volunteers for the summer games , and later another 30 thousand for the Paralympics. Representatives from the host cities, all provinces of China , municipalities and autonomous regions of Hong Kong , Macao and Taiwan will be accepted in the program.

•  Fashion designers

Fashion designers are the people who create clothing fashion and trends. With both sense and sensibility, they are creative and innovative. Designers cut cloth with purpose and aesthetic intent. They receive great pleasure from their work, designing their own lives and the world around them.

•  Men Who Restore History

They are archaeology's version of Sherlock Holmes. History is restored through their hands. They are the people who rebuild the Great Wall and destroyed palaces, repair terracotta warriors and horses previously been broken into pieces, and map out the disappeared gardens, palaces and even a city that has faded into history.

•  Gym Trainers

More and more Chinese have started to pay great attention to the importance of exercise. As a result, being a gym trainer has now become a popular occupation. Due to the popularity of the health business, trainers can earn high salaries. They are healthy, enthusiast and rich, which makes them an enviable group in society. They have their own professional association. To become a gym trainer, one must pass through a strict qualifications inspection to acquire a license.

5. Old Men under the Imperial City

Walk along the wall of the imperial city, and you will see many old men gathering to drink tea, play chess or cards, feed their birds, or just have a chat with their friends. In Beijing , the elders enjoy various colorful forms of entertainment. Most of all, these elder residents are eagerly expecting the coming of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. They have begun to learn English in order to welcome friends from all over the world.

6. Dancers under the city's Overpasses

Walk along Beijing 's streets on summer nights, and you will find groups of dancers gathered under many of the city's overpasses. Although some are very skilled at dancing, whereas others only follow the simple movements, they are all confident and proud. While young people frequent crowded nightclubs with their vigorous music, frantic rhythms and hot dancing on show, more and more old dancers seek the companionship, pleasure and healthy aspects of dancing outside in the open air.

7. Opera Fans

Opera used to be one of the most popular forms of entertainment in China . Though now its overall influence has declined, it still has many fans. Fans often show up in theaters and tea houses to enjoy the opera, while many also frequent the city's parks to practise on their own.

8. Collectors

Recently, China has been rushing headlong into modernism. Yet many people are focused on recording old memories; they accumulate collections of various traditional items, including calligraphy and paintings, matchboxes, stamps, bookmarks, trademarks and even natural stones.

9. Taxi Drivers

Beijing taxi drivers are especially glib, but also warm-hearted. Most of them were born and grew up in Beijing , so they know the A to Z of the capital. They love to chat with passengers, telling jokes and discussing news as entertainment during the arid and crowded way. They also treasure spending time with friends and families. Their biggest desire is that their own children can have a better future. During their spare time, they like drinking a beer, chatting and generally enjoying life. However, they do hold an intense feeling of ownership towards Beijing , they are very proud of their city and feel honored that the 2,008 Olympic Games will be held in the capital. In order to facilitate their international guests, they have already spent a lot of time studying English.

10. Folk Artists

The folk artists of China are a unique group. There are artists who make clay figurines, paper-cuts, candy-men and Beijing embroidery, just to mention a few examples. No matter how much money they earn from their skills, folk art has become the most important aspect of their lives.

Chinese Olympic Corps

Documentary 50x 30 Minutes

This television serial will show the daily faces of Chinese Olympic champions, allowing viewers to witness them as common people. We will take a glimpse into their daily lives, observing the interesting aspects of their lives outside of competition. In this way, the audience will become more closely acquainted with these sports stars that stand high on the shining podiums of the world stage. The serial will record the daily training and lives of 150 Chinese athletes who all hope to gain medals in the 2008 Games, as well as their families, life experiences and stories hitherto unknown to the public.

Going along with the 2008 Olympic Games

Documentary 13 x 30 Minutes

| Video |

In 2008, all of the world's eyes will be on Beijing . Everyone is anticipating the Olympic Games that Beijing will present to the world. Therefore, in 2007, the China Intercontinental Communications Center will present a special TV series broadcast in time with the running of the 2008 Olympic Games. Through foreigners' eyes, it will inform the world of the efforts Beijing has been making for a successful Olympic Games.

The documentary mainly focuses on foreigners related to China 's Olympic preparations as well as the Chinese around them. Hailing from different countries and regions and speaking various different languages, they'll exert their talent on the Chinese stage and endeavor in their different ways to fully prepare themselves for the Games. The program will also highlight the Beijing Olympic theme of ‘One World, One Dream' from different angles, beyond national and regional boundaries and demonstrating the universal spirit of the Olympic Games; embodying the win-win scenario of mutual exchanges between Chinese and Western cultures by mingling international awareness and Chinese characteristics.

1. The Love for Bird's Nest: Herzog and Demeuron, Designers of the Main Olympic Stadium

2. Swimming to China-John Pauline, One of the Designers of the National Swimming Center

3. Gentle Riders-Lois, Coach of the China Equestrian Sport Team

4. Pitching to China-Jim, Coach of the China National Baseball Team

5. Wave Rider-Joseph, Coach of the National Canoeing Team

6. Hatching Dream-Paul Andreu, General Designer of the National Grand Theater

7. Free Dancer-Adriana Pop, Coach of the National Gymnastics Team

8. Devil Coach-Kim Chang, Coach of the National Female Field Hockey Team

9. Olympic musician-Claire Selby, Foreign Musician Responding to the Call for Composing Olympic Songs

10. Senior Staff Officer of Olympic Games-Gilbert Van Kerkhove, Economic Consultant of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG)

11. Hi! 2008-You Deliang, One of the Beijing Olympic Volunteers

12. Doctor Coach-Kim Ghab-Su, Coach of the Chinese Women's Handball Team