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With over 5,000 years of civilization, China’s traditional culture is diverse, profound, and well worth raising awareness of.
This year, a number of cultural TV shows have done just that by exploring Chinese heritage in literature and arts. Here are some of the best:
Creating a public reading craze
The Reader, a television variety show launched early this year, narrates true life stories through literature that touches people's hearts. In every episode, readers are invited onto the show where they share personal stories and read a passage from a literary classic that holds special meaning for them.
The Reader is hosted by TV personality Dong Qing.
The show has renewed interest in reading. Similar reading events have popped up all over the country, mainly in military barracks and on school and college campuses.
The Reader
Old treasures, fresh enthusiasm
A history program that takes a mash-up approach blending documentary and drama with elements of variety show, National Treasure is dedicated to promoting the protection of priceless cultural pieces and legacies.
National Treasure
Backed by major Chinese museums, each episode features three artifacts presented by a celebrity and an expert who act as "national treasure keepers". The keepers tell the stories behind these masterpieces and uncover the mysteries that surround them.
Aiming to bring ancient China to life, the series has made a splash on social media.
National Treasure
Poetry in motion
The second season of Chinese Poetry Conference has been a dark horse in terms of popularity after being aired during the Spring Festival holiday. It is a game show testing competitors' memory and reciting capability on Chinese poetry. The competitors come from all walks of life and have ranged in age from eight to over 60.
Competitors on Chinese Poetry Conference
The show is a spin-off of Chinese Characters Dictation Competition in 2013, Chinese Idioms Competition in 2014, and Chinese Riddle Competition in 2016. Chinese Poetry Conference helps emphasize traditional culture in education.
Many watchers said they came to realize the beauty of the Chinese language and classical poetry thanks to the show, with some children inspired to start learning and reciting poems.
Chinese Poetry Conference
Life stories of ordinary people
Letters Alive is a literary television show that has moved audiences to tears and laughter by asking Chinese celebrities to read out memorable letters from history written by ordinary people.
Chinese actress Zhou Xun on Letters Alive
The show lets viewers share the happiness, sadness, excitement and pain of a moment altogether. It’s the power of language that builds a bridge between words and emotions in Letters Alive.
Chinese actor Zhao Lixin
The beauty of opera
Chinese opera is a performance art incorporating singing, recital, acting and martial arts that has evolved gradually over a millennium. It has hundreds of genres, with the best known types including Peking and Kunqu operas. It has been regarded as one of the top forms of entertainment for centuries.
Bravo China, a TV show allowing outstanding opera enthusiasts from around the country to perform on stage, has been a hit. Netizens have complimented the show for encouraging the younger generation to admire an old art form.
Bravo China
(CGTN)
