The CCTV Spring Festival Gala, 2013 and 2014

An in-depth look at how current president Xi JingPing has guided China over the last five years, the ideas behind the changes, and the future direction. A fascinating and excellently made documentary by the Discovery Channel. If you want to know today's China and where China is headed, this is a comprehensive guide.

The coastal city of TianJin is a short high speed rail journey east of Beijing (about 45 minutes) ... The beautiful HaiHe River night cruise ... TianJin city guide ... TianJin in time-lapse ...

Sections of the Great Wall near BeiJing, including HuangHua, filmed from a small, remote-controlled quad-copter drone; awesome ...

A selection of highlights from the show ...

The beautiful Dragon's Backbone rice terraces; about 60km from GuiLin ...

A 16-year-old girl embarks on a fantastical and dangerous adventure after transforming into a dolphin. When a boy sacrifices himself to save her, she uses magic to bring him back to life -- only to learn that this power comes at a serious price. Directors: Liang Xuan, Chun Zhang "Never short on visual or emotional wonder, Big Fish & Begonia contemplates mortality with the imagination of an old soul who has been given new eyes.

Filmed in 2012 ...

The Giant Buddha, which is around 70 meters in height, was carved out from the hill during the Tang dynasty (618–907). It took 90 years to complete. The LeShan Giant Buddha is part of the Mount Emei Scenic Area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area has exceptionally diverse vegetation, ranging from subtropical to sub-alpine pine forests.

Plus the Paradise Island Water Park in ChengDu, the Arkansas Jazz Band in ChengDu, and a lot more ... We end with a clip from 'ChongQing from the Air', starting with the city at night, and followed by the awesome natural scenery in the surrounding area, including the beautiful peaks and valleys of the Three Gorges area .

The Great Wall of China is an immensely long man-made wall that was built to keep out invaders. The Great Wall spans nine provinces and its total length is 6,700 km (3,948 miles). The Great Wall extends from ShanHaiGuan (the 'Old Dragon Head'), a seaport along the coast of BoHai, in the east (near BeiDaiHe resort) to JiaYuGuan Pass in GanSu Province in the west.