china

The Story of China episode 5 - The Last Empire

The Story of China episode 5 – The Last Empire

The Story of China episode 5 – The Last Empire: Michael Wood looks at China’s Qing empire, which lasted from 1644 to 1912. Under the Qing, China doubled in size and became arguably the world’s greatest economy.     China’s last empire, the Qing, lasted from 1644 to 1912. It began in violence and war as the Manchus swept down from the north, but invaders became emperors, with three generations of one family ruling the country. Among them, Michael Wood argues, was China’s greatest emperor – Kangxi. Under the Qing, China doubled in size to include Xinjiang in the far […]

The Story of China episode 5 – The Last Empire Read More »



The Story of China episode 4 - The Ming

The Story of China episode 4 – The Ming

The Story of China episode 4 – The Ming: The tale of the Ming dynasty begins with the amazing story of Hongwu, a peasant rebel. Michael Wood explores the history of the world’s newest superpower.      The tale of one of China’s most famous dynasties begins with the amazing story of Hongwu, a peasant rebel who founded one of greatest eras in Chinese history.   The Story of China episode 4 – The Ming   The film takes us to his great capital Nanjing, with its 21 miles of walls, each brick stamped with the name of the

The Story of China episode 4 – The Ming Read More »

The Story of China episode 3 - The Golden Age

The Story of China episode 3 – The Golden Age

The Story of China episode 3 – The Golden Age: This episode tells the tale of what’s broadly considered China’s most creative dynasty – the Song (960-1279). Michael Wood heads to the city of Kaifeng, the greatest city in the world before the 19th century.     Here in Twin Dragon Alley, locals tell him the legend of the baby boys who became emperors. He explores the ideas and inventions that made the Song one of greatest eras in world culture, helped by China’s most famous work of art, the Kaifeng scroll, which shows the life of the city in

The Story of China episode 3 – The Golden Age Read More »



The Story of China episode 2 - Silk Roads and China Ships

The Story of China episode 2 – Silk Roads and China Ships

The Story of China episode 2 – Silk Roads and China Ships: Michael Wood tells the tale of China’s first great international age under the Tang Dynasty (618-907). From the picturesque old city of Luoyang, he travels along the Silk Road to the bazaars of central Asia and into India on the track of the Chinese monk who brought Buddhism back to China. This tale is still loved by the Chinese today and is brought to life by storytellers, films and shadow puppet plays.     Then in the backstreets and markets of Xi’an, Michael meets descendants of the traders

The Story of China episode 2 – Silk Roads and China Ships Read More »

The Story of China episode 1 - Ancestors

The Story of China episode 1 – Ancestors

The Story of China episode 1 – Ancestors: Michael Wood explores the history of the world’s newest superpower, from its ancient past to the present day. Starting in Wuxi, Michael joins the Qin family reunion, when 300 relatives gather to worship their ancestors on Tomb Sweeping Day. ‘Like the nation, the family has been through so much,’ one says. ‘Now everyone wants to know – what are our roots?’     To answer that question, Michael journeys to the plain of the Yellow River, where he joins a million pilgrims at the shrine of ancient goddess Nüwa, who legend says

The Story of China episode 1 – Ancestors Read More »

Scroll to Top