[ VO ] I didn't plan my life in a traditional sense. I only knew that I
wanted to follow my creative ambitions. Many years ago, I left Detroit,
the home of Motown and rock music. Life is an adventure, and it can take
some of us into the unknown! I'm Rick I was the first American radio
DJ to live and broadcast in China. My voice has travelled to almost every
corner here. China is beautiful, complex, vast and mysterious. Magnificent
landscapes and encounters with all kinds of real people who live here
is what attracts me to the road. I want to meet them. This is China!
THIS IS CHINA
[ VO ] Like me, Motown Records was born in the car city, Detroit. Motown means Motor
Town. The unique Motown music inspired so many great souls. The world has changed. We
now live in an era with a strong interaction of ideas. I'm going to explore
the art world of three young people and see
for myself true passion, ambition, and courage.
[ VO ] This is a very interesting show. Over 20 kinds of strange-looking
instruments are brought together in a genius way to produce such wonderful music.
[ VO ] I watched this video a few days ago and it woke up the Motown DNA
in me. I want to know this person. I enlisted the help of some friends.
[ Rick O'shea American Dj In China ]
Liu Heng was the person I was looking for. He is the
guy in the video. He is a very young percussionist.
[ Dago ] That's Liu Heng over there
[ Dago ] Hello
[ Liu ] Hello [ Dago ] Let me introduce my foreign friend
[ Rick ] Fine to finally meet you in person.
[ Liu ] That’s my pleasure
[ Rick ] I've seen your video, and it's really,
really good, so I wanted to meet you. I'm Rick.
[ Liu ] My name is Liu Heng. Nice to meet you.
[ Rick ] Very cool the way that you play.
[ Liu ] Yeah, thank you. [ Rick ] It's a very unusual sound.
[ Liu ] Yeah, yeah, that's why we like to play this instrument.
[ Rick ] Have you been doing this for many years?
[ Liu ] Yeah, for almost ten years.
[ Rick ] Wow!
[ Liu Heng Principal Percussionist, China Ncpa Orchestra ] Yeah. We are trying
to do some sound and a
different melody and a chorus on this instrument.
[ Liu ] This is the whole wall for the handpan.
[ Rick ] So many. And they look the same.
[ Liu ] Yeah, they look the same, but the sounds are really different.
[ Rick ] You mean they are all different? [ Liu ] Yeah, yeah, different.
[ Rick ] You know, it reminds me of the teenage mutant ninja turtles.
[ Liu ] Yeah, you are right! [ Rick ] So, if I see a turtle, I want to try to play it.
[ Liu ] Yeah, play the turtle. [ Rick ] Right! [ Liu ] Ninja turtle!
[ Rick ] A very big collection. [ Liu ] We have different tones.
[ VO ] Liu Heng was born into a family of music in
Xi'an. To him, percussion means the whole world.
[ Rick ] I'm really fascinated with Liu Heng. He has an incredible
talent, and also attracted to his talent is his wife Nini.
[ VO ] Back when they were 18 years old, both Liu Heng
and Nini were studying percussion at the Central
Conservatory of Music. They practiced together in
the mornings and had an appreciation for each other.
[ Liu ] I'll meet you at the exit
[ Rick ] Well, they seem to follow nature. They met, they fell in
love, they got married and now they have two lovely kids.
[ Liu ] Let's go
[ Kid ] I was first! [ Liu ] First?
[ Kid ] Yes [ Liu ] Finished first?
[ Kid ] Yes [ Liu ] Wow!
[ Nini ] How did you do it? [ Kid ] I just ate fast
[ Nini ] He's growing so fast
[ VO ] As a fellow artist, I can see that Liu Heng is
living a completely different life. He is obsessed with
music and composition. He values his role in the family,
and still has a child's love for games. I'm intrigued.
[ Rick ] Hey. [ Liu ] Hey. OK. Nice to meet you.
[ Rick ] You’re home. [ Liu ] Good to see you.
[ Rick ] Good to see you. [ Liu ] All right.
[ Rick ] OK. Your studio? [ Liu ] Yeah, this is my studio, my paradise.
[ Rick ] OK. First thing I want you to do is to turn around.
[ Rick ] I want to see the back of your shirt. [ Liu ] Ah… [ Rick ] Show everybody the back of your shirt. It says, “Made in China”.
[ Rick ] Ok. We're gonna get to that topic in just a little bit, ok? Have a seat. [ Liu ] Yes, have a seat.
[ Rick ] Cool. All right. So, “Made in China”. [ Liu ] Yeah. [ Rick ] What does that mean to you?
[ Liu ] That is for me, actually that is kind of
proud. You see, here it's like 100% made in China.
[ Rick ] Does that mean you or your music?
[ Liu ] My music [ Rick ] Ah…ok [ Liu ] Yeah. Also, me.
[ Rick ] And you? [ Liu ] Yeah, and me. [ Rick ] OK. Cool.
[ Liu ] Actually, for me, my music is myself,
is my opinion, my ideas to show to the others.
[ Liu ] So, this is the music for me. I use
music to talk story, to say what I want to say.
[ Rick ] Liu Heng's T-shirt says “Made in China”. In fact, he
wants the world to know more about traditional Chinese music.
[ VO ] He told me that he's working with a Danish publisher
on a group of works created with both traditional Chinese
instruments and Western instruments. It's like painting with
techniques of both oil and ink paintings. It's not easy.
[ Liu ] Be careful. The steps.
[ Liu ] Here we are. [ Rick ] Wow. Wow. This is a very secret place. I like it.
[ Liu ] Yes. This is the biggest one.
[ VO ] Liu Heng brought me down to his “treasure island”
where he comes when he wants to create. It is filled with
percussion instruments and music scores from around the
world. These are cherished treasures for both him and Nini.
[ Rick ] Wow, so many toys. [ Liu ] Yeah, all my toys.
[ Liu ] I got it from a market in Greece.
[ Rick ] You bought this in a market in Greece…
[ Rick ] And what are these things? Sounds good. [ Liu ] Sounds good.
[ Rick ] Yeah, I like it.
[ VO ] At that moment, I noticed an interesting picture. It's a picture of
Liu Heng in his formal attire. Very different from the man in front of me.
[ Rick ] Can we show that picture? Let's take a look at it.
[ Liu ] Yes. This one?
[ Rick ] Yeah. This is where you ‘re playing with an orchestra, right?
[ Liu ] Yup, that is for my orchestra.
[ Rick ] So, we'll get a chance to hear that and see that, right?
[ Liu ] Yes, yes. I will take you to my orchestra.
[ Rick ] Thanks. Pleasure to come down to your cave.
[ Liu ] It’s my secret…It's a pleasure.
[ Rick ] Your secret percussion cave. I like it.
[ Liu ] Yeah, it's the cave's pleasure. Welcome.
[ VO ] Beijing, the heart of China, has not only the largest
imperial architectural structures, but also the most imaginative
modern buildings. Right next to Tiananmen Square, the center of
Beijing, there is a huge spherical architecture surrounded by a
pool of water. It's like a seed of life. Under the dome are
the largest opera stages and best-sounding concert halls in the
world. This is where Liu Heng works. It is the most admired temple
of art in China, the National Center for the Performing Arts.
[ VO ] I'm in the orchestral rehearsal room at the NCPA. Liu Heng and other
musicians in the orchestra are getting ready for
the final run-through before tonight's performance.
[ VO ] The performance is about to start. Liu Heng needs to get ready. He's
been in this suit countless times, but he always keeps a sense of ceremony
when changing into it. It's his way of paying tribute to the masters and
showing respect for music. Let's wish him success in the performance.
[ VO ] Well, we've learned a lot about a very talented
and special musician, Liu Heng, who is a percussionist.
He showed me one of his favorite T-shirts. It
says “Made in China”. And that doesn't mean he's
made in China, it also means his music is made in
China. So, his music is growing, and he's growing,
his family is growing. And we look forward to
seeing what they have in store for us in the future.
[ VO ] The Travels of Marco Polo, written about 700 years ago,
went into lengthy detail about the Chinese city of Hangzhou. In
it, Hangzhou, the birthplace of e-commerce giant Alibaba, is
described as the “most beautiful and magnificent heavenly city”.
[ VO ] I first came to Hangzhou in 1996. I remember
bumping into Caroll Spinney, the guy who created Big Bird
on Sesame Street. He was experiencing the West Lake.
Sesame Street, the beloved children's TV program had
already been brought to China as early as 1983. Big
Bird is still very famous in China. It was an honor to
meet him. A part of modern culture. But today, I'm here
in Hangzhou in pursuit of the light of civilization.
[ VO ] Sounds good.
[ VO ] This is a fascinating exhibition of Chinese pottery. It takes
art to make pottery. It also takes mud, and it also takes fire.
[ VO ] The discovery of fire changed mankind. And at the
same time, they discovered how to make pottery. Well, there’s
a guy that we found in Hangzhou who is a master of pottery.
[ Xiong Kaibo Associate Professor, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University ] Hello
[ Rick ] Wow! Very beautiful! [ Xiong ] It's my work
[ Rick ] I'm Rick, and you?
[ Xiong ] I'm Xiong Kaibo [ Rick ] Did you make this?
[ Xiong ] It's a traditional Chinese vessel with 3 feet
[ Xiong ] The Chinese of earlier civilisations made vessels with this tripodal shape
[ Rick ] Pottery and porcelain are symbols of China.
Pottery goes back more 10,000 years, porcelain more than
2,000 years. And they are still being made and they
are still making an impact on the world from China.
[ VO ] Xiong Kaibo is a young and accomplished
modern pottery artist. He learned from the famous
artist, Han Meilin and now works as an associate
professor at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University.
[ Rick ] Very cool [ Xiong ] We tap lightly by hand to give it its shape
[ Rick ] How long does it take to make this?
[ Xiong ] It takes a week to dry,
and then with glazing and firing, it comes to around 10 days in total
[ VO ] “Echo of the past, melody of today.” This is what
people say about his work. He mostly makes large potteries
that are over 30 cm tall. They are three or four-foot
traditional vessels that need to go through glazing with
matte colors and burning in high temperature. They come
out of all of this with the look of bronze and sound of
metal. The lines on the surface drawn with modern tools
add a fascinating touch of rebellion against the trend.
[ VO ] And it has to be accurate. And it's really quiet in
here, so he can really concentrate on what he is doing.
[ VO ] This is a piece of work Xiong Kaibo is making for a collection agency. The
three-foot vessel will dry up in about a week and will then be glazed and burned in
the kiln. The kiln is closed. In the next 24 hours, the pottery and special made
glaze will start a wonderful journey in the 1,200 degrees' kiln.
It's been 24 hours. Now the most exciting moment comes.
[ Xiong ] It's very hot!
[ Rick ] Is it hot? [ Xiong ] Very!
[ Rick ] A defect? [ Xiong ] Yes
[ Xiong ] Dirt on the surface prevented the glaze from sticking in a proper way
[ Xiong ] It fell off during the firing process
Pottery is like that
[ Xiong ] There are a lot of tricky factors that can result in major changes
[ Xiong ] But that's also its charm
[ VO ] Xiong Kaibo told me that perfection is the ultimate pursuit in Chinese tradition.
This one is defective. It would have been
directly smashed and buried if in ancient times.
[ Xiong ] It's a shame, but I'll have to smash this piece
[ Xiong ] I'm not happy with it
[ Rick ] I can use this.
[ Xiong ] I'll give you a good one
[ Rick ] Fish? [ Xiong ] Yes. Fish.
[ VO ] This fish is shaped after a traditional festival
food in Xiong Kaibo's hometown and is a symbol of
good luck. I respect Xiong Kaibo for carrying forward
traditions and admire his diligence and openness.
[ VO ] Pottery is an art that comes from fire. Both surprises and regrets come
out of fire. This is a very meaningful lesson I have learned from Xiong Kaibo.
[ Rick ] I'm in Hanzhong, and I'm standing next to the Hanjiang River.
[ VO ] Two-thousand years ago, the Han Dynasty started here.
The Han people lived here. They thrived in this area.
During Han dynasty, there were metropolises with millions of people; the
world-leading papermaking technology was created, and the “Silk Road” was opened
up. China's territory in the next 2,000 years evolved on top of the Han
territory. And the success and glory represented by Han continues untill today.
[ Rick ] Wow, so many layers of clothes. It took so
long to put them on. I'm exhausted. Very tired.
[ Xu Jingtong Associate Professor, School Of Arts,
Shaanxi University Of Technology ] I'll teach you the
traditional 'shiyi' greeting that was used by Han nobles
[ Xu Jingtong ] Fold your hands with the left on the right and hold them out
[ Xu Jingtong ] Now, bend over, bow, and stand straight up
[ Rick ] Thank you for teaching me
[ Xu Jingtong ] You're welcome
[ VO ] This lovely young lady is Li Liangchen, a 22-year-old dancer.
She loves Han culture. Recently, she learned that Han dance
is performed here at the Xinghan Shengjing scenic area in Hanzhong
City, and she resigned from Shenzhen and came to work here.
[ Li Liangchen Dancer, Theatrical Arts Centre
Xinghan, Shengjing ] I came to work here because of
my love for ancient Han culture and clothes
This is the Xinghan Shengjing scenic area
[ Rick ] So beautiful!
[ Xu Jingtong ] Beijing's Forbidden City was built during the Ming Dynasty,
but these palaces are Han, so they're very different from Beijing's
[ VO ] Hanzhong is the birthplace of the Han dynasty.
Now the people here are creating a unique Han
culture themed resort, Xinghan Shengjing, where
a spectacular feast for the eye will be on show.
[ Rick ] This is just one show, but it's not all that Li Liangchen
does. She has so much more to offer us.
[ VO ] It's 6 o'clock in the morning. Li Liangchen
has to get up and put on makeup. It's the peak
season for tourism. They have four performances a
day and have to wear the makeup until 10 at night.
[ Life ] You're late!
[ Life ] Next time, you'll be fined
[ Life ] You must be on time for roll call
[ Life ] Check in and that's it
[ VO ] It's ten in the morning. Li Liangchen is about to start
the first show—A Tribute to Han. This is the most popular
show here. In 50 minutes’ time, each performer has to change
into many different costumes and carry a lot of props.
[ VO ] Li Liangchen has just been here for a month, but she has fit in perfectly.
[ Life ] You might know that 2,200 years ago,
there ruled a dynasty that dazzled the whole world
[ Life ] The name of that dynasty was 'Han'
[ Li ] This topless hat lights up
[ VO ] The audience is mesmerized by the wonderful
performance. But what they don't see is
that 100 performers are running back and forth
in the corridors under the stage. They are
moving rapidly on three levels, changing into
new costumes, taking new props and rushing to
different entrances. Everyone is serious and
won't allow themselves to make any mistakes.
[ Life ] Our 'Tribute to the Han' has come to an end
[ Life ] Please exit in an orderly fashion
[ VO ] Four hundred years of grand history in 50 minutes. The show ended in
wild applause. The performers can relax for a while and take a short break.
[ Li ] These are props that we use in the final part
[ Li ] They are replicas of Changxin palace lanterns made in 172 BC
[ Li ] The real pieces were unearthed in Hebei Province in 1968
[ Li ] They are now national treasures
[ Rick ] So, the fire goes here and there?
[ Li ] Yes, right
[ VO ] If you want to do something excellent, you
have to spend a lot of time on it. Li Liangchen has been dancing
since the age of 6, but her father did not encourage here to do this.
[ VO ] Li Liangchen comes from an ordinary family in Xi'an city. She has loved dancing
since she was little and left home for Shenzhen to learn dancing at the age of 13.
[ Life ] One, two, freeze, three, four…
[ Life ] Freeze, freeze!
[ Life ] That's not how to kick your leg out!
[ Life ] Repeat it 10 times!
[ VO ] Frequent performances have brought back the old injuries Li Liangchen has. But
to pass the probation period and become a leading role here, Li Liangchen has to
forget about the pains and challenges her fears. This is the aspiration of a dancer,
and it won't come true without over ten years of hard work and self-discipline.
[ VO ] Well, she is very much afraid of heights. But to play the lead, she had to
overcome that fear, and she did.
[ VO ] This is the first time for Li Liangchen
to be up on the wires. And she's still afraid
of it, but with the encouragement of everybody,
she is starting to open up like a flower.
[ Life ] No fear, no fear
[ VO ] Fear is gone and the wings of freedom are growing. This whole new
experience is giving her feelings of wonder and nervousness at the same time.
[ VO ] Li Liangchen feels like a fairy flying up to the sky at that moment. She is
getting closer and closer to the top of her career. There's immense beauty there.
[ VO ] We can make progress and do things that people didn't think
were possible. I always respect people who keep discovering new
things and exploring the unknown, because thousands of years ago,
people couldn't imagine going to the moon. But man has made it.
[ VO ] To be passionate, to endure loneliness and to conquer
fear. This is not only the life of three young artists,
but also the life of the survival of humans. No one can
plan the future, but everyone should seize the moment.