Our journey starts at the very heart of China, Beijing.
China's capital is a vast metropolis, home to 15 million people.
This bustling modern city seems an unlikely place for traditional beliefs and customs.
But beneath the contemporary veneer, it's possible to see glimpses of a far older China.
Every morning, people head to the parks around the Forbidden City, to continue a custom which is centuries old.
Many Chinese keep birds as companions, specifically a type of laughing thrush from southern China.
But they know that cooped up indoors, birds may become depressed.
So they try to brighten their day by meeting other birds.
This surprising scene in the heart of modern Beijing is a clue to China's oldest spiritual ambition, the harmonious co-existence of man and nature.
Our journey starts at the very heart of China, Beijing.
China's capital is a vast metropolis, home to 15 million people.
This bustling modern city seems an unlikely place for traditional beliefs and customs.
But beneath the contemporary veneer, it's possible to see glimpses of a far older China.
Every morning, people head to the parks around the Forbidden City, to continue a custom which is centuries old.
Many Chinese keep birds as companions, specifically a type of laughing thrush from southern China.
But they know that cooped up indoors, birds may become depressed.
So they try to brighten their day by meeting other birds.
This surprising scene in the heart of modern Beijing is a clue to China's oldest spiritual ambition, the harmonious co-existence of man and nature.
