0:00:02 > 0:00:07Please note: we are currently unable to insert accents etc in the following subtitles.
0:00:24 > 0:00:29The Chinese have never been more open to the outside world than now.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31But though everyday life is changing,
0:00:31 > 0:00:35many aspects of their culture seem set to survive.
0:00:37 > 0:00:42In this programme, how children learn to speak and write their language.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47How a passion for fitness relates to ancient beliefs
0:00:47 > 0:00:51and how the Chinese celebrate their national identity.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Plus greeting people in Mandarin and asking their names.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59THEY SPEAK MANDARIN Welcome to Beijing!
0:00:59 > 0:01:02If you're visiting China,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06being able to say everyday greetings in Mandarin is a must,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08and they're wonderfully simple.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10The most common is...
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Literally, "you well?"
0:01:13 > 0:01:16- Ni hao.- Ni hao.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20- Ni hao.- Ni hao.- Ni hao.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23- Ni hao.- Ni hao!
0:01:23 > 0:01:27..means goodbye.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Zai Jian.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- Zai Jian.- Zai Jian.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Zia Jian.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Zai Jian.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Morning.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Good morning.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47- Zaoshang hao.- Zaoshang hao.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51It's often shortened to...
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Ni zao.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00China - literally "the middle kingdom."
0:02:00 > 0:02:05Its capital Beijing is the heartland of Mandarin.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Mandarin is the most widely spoken Chinese dialect
0:02:09 > 0:02:14and the official language of China's 1.3 billion people.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Some of the other dialects, like Cantonese,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20are almost different languages.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24On the fringes of the country, ethnic minorities speak other languages
0:02:24 > 0:02:27like Mongolian, Uighur and Tibetan.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30But everyone is expected to learn Mandarin.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Learning a complex language like Chinese
0:02:38 > 0:02:42represents a huge challenge for children in their early years.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46The Chinese are fanatical about education.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Children start primary school at the age of six
0:02:51 > 0:02:55but they'll already have had at least three years of nursery school,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58with basic grounding in spoken Mandarin.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06Chinese characters don't show how words should sound,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08so when children start off,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12they learn sounds and meanings with the help of the phonetic
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Romanised form of Chinese known as Pinyin.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27Pinyin is also the form we use throughout this series.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Chinese is a tonal language.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35The tone with which a word is spoken completely changes its meaning.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40There are four tones - the first is high and level,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43the second is rising...
0:03:43 > 0:03:47the third falls and then rises...
0:03:47 > 0:03:50and the fourth tone falls.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56The meaning of each word will depend on the tone.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58For example...means "eight"...
0:03:58 > 0:04:00means "dad".
0:04:14 > 0:04:18Because Chinese characters don't show pronunciation,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21they have to be learned for their own sake.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26To read and write Chinese you need to know at least 2,000 of them.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29And the strokes should be written in the right order.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36The Chinese writing system has a long and fascinating history.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40The earliest characters date back over 3,500 years.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43They were pictographs -
0:04:43 > 0:04:46stylised pictures of sun,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48moon, animals and so on.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51As time passed, other elements were added
0:04:51 > 0:04:55or characters were combined, allowing them to express concepts and ideas.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59For example, sun and moon put together
0:04:59 > 0:05:01means "bright".
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Woman together with a roof over her head means "peace".
0:05:09 > 0:05:13Woman put together with the character for child
0:05:13 > 0:05:15means "good."
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Characters can offer intriguing insights
0:05:18 > 0:05:20into Chinese culture.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30Chinese calligraphy is much more than stylised writing.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35Rather, it's a form of abstract art with a spiritual dimension,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37taking its inspiration from nature.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45The brushstrokes should be perfectly balanced
0:05:45 > 0:05:48and each one should embody something of the natural world.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00In China, anyone can become a master of calligraphy
0:06:00 > 0:06:03even if it's just as a pastime.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Former factory worker Chen Fu Gung
0:06:08 > 0:06:13has been passionate about calligraphy for over 40 years.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52The temple of Heaven - one of Beijing's imperial landmarks.
0:06:52 > 0:06:58This is where Ming and Qing emperors would come to perform sacred rituals.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Today the huge park surrounding the temple
0:07:05 > 0:07:08is a Mecca for fitness-conscious Beijingers.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15means the art of energy control,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18and it takes hundreds of forms.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21The idea is that by following set movements,
0:07:21 > 0:07:25you can control the flow of energy or qi in the body,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28and induce a state of harmony and wellbeing.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40The idea of qi relates to ancient Taoist beliefs.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43The Taoists taught that heaven and earth
0:07:43 > 0:07:48and every living plant and being shared this essential life force or qi.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52All we human beings need to know is how to recognise and use it.
0:07:58 > 0:08:0265-year-old Chen Zhixin practises qigong daily
0:08:02 > 0:08:04with religious zeal.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09She started the practise after a serious accident
0:08:09 > 0:08:13and she's convinced that it saved her life.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54For school children, the 15-minute exercise regime
0:08:54 > 0:08:57at the start of each day is considered essential.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07Chinese children are often willing victims for beginners in Mandarin.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13To ask a child's name say...
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Literally "what are you called"?
0:09:17 > 0:09:19I'm called...
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Wo jiao Mu Tong.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Wo jiao Bao Yiqin.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Wo jiao Sun Yiping.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31The Chinese often give their surname first, using...
0:09:31 > 0:09:34and after that, the full name.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41My surname is Chen.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44I'm called Chen Zhi Xin.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Wo xing Chen, wo jiao Chen Zhixin.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Wo xing Qian, wo jiao Qian Sainan.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58Wo xing Qiyang, wo jiao Qiyang Yushu.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00Wo xing Zhu, wo jiao Zhubing.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Wo xing Wang, wo jiao Wang Lanjun.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Wo xing Zhang, wo jiao Zhang Hao.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Wo xing Wang, wo jiao Wang Zhen.
0:10:08 > 0:10:14The Chinese believe the meaning of your name can affect your fortunes,
0:10:14 > 0:10:16so names are carefully chosen.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39This is Tiananmen Square - the heart of Beijing.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44Today preparations are underway for the massive displays and festivities
0:10:44 > 0:10:49planned to take place on October 1st - China's National Day.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57All over the city, people are rehearsing for the occasion.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07National Day celebrates the founding of Mao's People's Republic.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11For most Chinese, it's the chance for a holiday and family outings.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Happy holiday!
0:11:16 > 0:11:20- Jieri kuaile!- Jieri kuaile!
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Jieri kuaile!
0:11:56 > 0:12:00The flags are out in every neighbourhood,
0:12:00 > 0:12:04and for many, family lunch is the high point of the day.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22This year, half a million people have come to Tiananmen Square
0:12:22 > 0:12:25to enjoy the atmosphere,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29and not just from Beijing but from all over China.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Military parades only happen once ever five years.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36This year, the vast space has been transformed
0:12:36 > 0:12:39into a floral fantasy world.
0:12:39 > 0:12:44Centre stage is a portrait of Sun Yat-Sen,
0:12:44 > 0:12:49founder of the Chinese republic well before the advent of Mao's communism.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59On the night of National Day, commerce is more in evidence than communism.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Advertisments have replaced the old political banners
0:13:02 > 0:13:06and Chairman Mao's China feels a very long way off.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Good evening!
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Wanshang hao!
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- Wanshang hao!- Wanshang hao!
0:13:15 > 0:13:22Beijing's smart shopping area is a magnet for people from the provinces.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45All over Beijing, boulevards, office blocks and government buildings
0:13:45 > 0:13:47are ablaze with lights.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52Everyone's come out to marvel at the glamorous face of this new China.