Footprints

Blossoms Shanghai is an epic that depicts the profound social and economic transformations that Shanghai saw from the 1960s to the 1990s. Its popularity also brings 91-year-old actor You Benchang back to the spotlight. His supporting role as “Uncle”, a sharp, witty and charismatic business veteran, captivated audience young and old.

​Margaret Chen, originally from China, is a successful businesswoman based in Spain. Over the past several decades, she has been dedicated to promoting economic and cultural ties between the two countries. Having made a name for herself in both Spain and China, Chen says that she has simply been riding the waves of the times.

He is a dreamer. He wants to make his dream car. And he succeeded. In this edition of Footprints we meet Yang Yongxiu, the developer of a famous Chinese car brand and learn his story of making his dream car.

“It is my hope to use the form of a bridge as a symbol of China's commitment to the common prosperity of the world," says Shu Yong, renowned Chinese Modern and Contemporary artist and a member of China's Top political advisory body. Through his artwork and governmental proposals, Shu Yong aims to establish a series of Chinese national cultural symbols to help the world better understand China.

​Chen Huai, in his early 40s, is a renowned ecologist based in the city of Chengdu, southwest China. Over the past two decades, he has devoted himself to the research of wetlands and his findings have helped people better protect the wetlands and biodiversity. Also serving as a member of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC, Chen has drawn from his expertise to make suggestions for Chinese authorities to better protect the ecological environment.

"Nowadays, artificial intelligence has become the pinnacle of the current technological and industrial development," says Professor Li Dongni of the School of Computer Science, Beijing Institute of Technology. As a scientific researcher and deputy of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, AI has been a major focus of her teaching, research, and policy suggestions. Hear Li Dongni's perspectives on current AI development, as well as her passion in cultivating the next generation researchers and computer scientists.

Enjoying lanterns is a custom of Chinese New Year celebrations observed nationwide. Xiashi Lanterns are well known for their unique pinholes technique, elegant shapes and vibrant colors. In this podcast, meet Hu Jinlong, master of this unique lantern art from Haining, Zhejiang province.

Yin Qi is an art collector and promoter of a particular genre of traditional Chinese art called Chinese New Year Paintings. Having an experience of almost two decades in the field, Yin takes us to explore the fascinating world of this traditional Chinese folk art to enjoy its beauty, culture and legends.

“I can make my brush travel thousands of miles, or within spitting distance. It’s all in my brushstrokes.” Says 86-year-old Fan Zeng, a contemporary master of traditional Chinese ink and wash painting whose works have received critical acclaim globally. Combining Chinese free-hand ink spattering style with western realistic painting techniques, Fan Zeng weaves aesthetic harmony with his brushstrokes.

​This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Over the past six decades, people from the two countries have developed profound friendship and conducted fruitful cultural exchanges. One of the examples is Xu Rong, who has been promoting a traditional Chinese martial art called Tai Chi in France for nearly 20 years. But what really is Tai Chi? And how has this Chinese woman been promoting it among people who previously knew nothing about it? Join this edition of Footprints to find out.