Story of China

We all know about Columbus, but what about the great Chinese ocean voyages that took place before his time? Michael Wood tells the story of the Chinese Admiral Zheng He and his voyages to the west. He asks too, why were they stopped? "Some say it would be like stopping moon exploration after Apollo 8," says Michael. "But the Chinese had a different view."

Think Chinese take out is a modern idea? A thousand years ago in Kaifeng, the world's biggest city, China produced the world's first great cuisine with fancy diners and fast food joints. In a restaurant in today’s Kaifeng, Michael orders lunch from a 1000 year old cookbook, and the chef brings a special dish for Michael and the team to try: Oranges stuffed with mushrooms and lotus seeds.

Learn about China’s Renaissance under the Song Dynasty. In Kaifeng, Michael Wood hears the story of the boys who became emperors; tries a 1,000-year-old recipe; works a giant astronomical clock; and dances with the locals by Hangzhou’s West Lake.

The rules of the "World's Game," modern soccer, were fixed in England in the 1860's; but 1000 years ago in Song dynasty China, there were soccer clubs, rules, fans and even music and fast food at half-time! In Beijing, Michael gets up close for a crunch match in today's Chinese Premier League and compares the modern game to Song dynasty "Kickball."

A thousand years ago, China was a world leader in science and civilization. Michael Wood explores a 45 ft-high working replica of an astronomical clock made by China's Leonardo da Vinci -- Su Song. It's a water clock driven by an endless chain drive, with small painted wooden figures marking the time – all steered with a ship's wheel!

A group of enthusiastic high school kids give Michael a guided tour around their school grounds where incredibly they show him the grave of China's greatest poet, Du Fu. The Chinese have loved Du Fu since he died in 770 - they call him their Shakespeare. Then, in the classroom, the kids take Michael through one of one of Du's most famous poems - and even manage to teach him a line or two!

Michael takes a stroll through the fabulous markets of Kashgar in Chinese Central Asia, still today full of different people, religions, cultures and cuisines. More than 1300 years ago, during China’s brilliant Tang dynasty, this was a crossroads of the world: "East and West first start to get to know each other then," Michael says: "You might say it's the beginning of universal history."

Tang Dynasty Xi'an was an incredible 25 square miles in size, roughly the size of Manhattan! Michael Wood sets off on foot, along the giant medieval walls to explore one of the old districts of the city with its fast food joints, fortune tellers and funeral parlors; ending deep in the alleys at a temple dedicated to 'The Eight Immortals.'

Explore China’s first international age under the Tang Dynasty as Michael Wood travels Silk Road deserts; sails the Grand Canal; describes the coming of Christianity in the streets of old Xi’an; and goes back to school in a dusty Chinese town!

Michael Wood tells how China’s greatest archaeological discovery started with a packet of over the counter medicine in a traditional Chinese drug store! In 1899, a Chinese scholar called Wang fell ill with malaria but he got more than he bargained for with his prescription! On the ‘dragon bones’, which he had to grind up and drink for his fever, he recognised the earliest Chinese writing!

Michael Wood visits the tomb of Confucius in Qufu. There he meets a visiting group of Korean scholars who perform rituals at the grave and tell us why Confucius is still one of the most important figures in the history of civilization. Then a party of school children say goodbye to Michael with a famous line from Confucius’ book of sayings, one of the best selling books in history.

Search for the roots of today’s China with Wood, who joins a family reunion on “Tomb Sweeping Day”; sees the first Chinese writing and the first city; meets the bloodthirsty First Emperor; and travels with a million pilgrims to a country festival.