Which documentaries can truly show China’s lifestyle and culture?

Documentaries are the best way to understand a country’s lifestyle and culture over the years. There are endless excellent documentaries.

I am a documentary lover myself, and I often use different documentaries to eat.

Today I will share a documentary that I personally think can show Chinese lifestyle and culture.

1. "A Bite of China" No. 1

When the first season of "A Bite of China" was broadcast, I was still in my freshman year, and I did not travel at that time I have never eaten food from outside.

My roommate in the dormitory told me that there was a documentary called "A Bite of China" that was very interesting, but I dismissed it. Because I was young and energetic at the time, I felt that documentaries were all protracted and lengthy. It's like an old lady's foot wrap.

It wasn’t until I watched the first episode of "Nature's Gift" during dinner in the evening. I just realized how naive my previous view was.

It is not so much a food documentary as it is a display of the lifestyle and culture of various parts of China. It can always start with different foods. guide to other aspects.

My personal favorite is the fourth episode of the first season "The Taste of Time". He starts with our most daily kimchi, pickled vegetables, dried vegetables, etc., and introduces us to traditional Chinese dishes. The methods of storing food and the reasons for different preservation techniques in different places not only introduce the food, but also truly show us the customs and customs of each place.

If I were to choose a documentary, it would rank c. Definitely the first season of "A Bite of China".

2. "The World of Flavor"

The theme of "The World of Flavor" is similar to that of "A Bite of China". It also starts with food and introduces China's lifestyle and culture. Its director is the same as A Bite of China, Chen Xiaoqing. But this time, he did not use the same narrative technique as A Bite of China.

The vision of Flavor World is broader. It not only introduces domestic food, but also focuses on the world. How will the same ingredients be cooked under different lifestyles and cultures? Contrast makes it stand out more.

Chinese culture is restrained yet flamboyant. Just like the slogan of Tencent Video’s Flavor World “Examine the uniqueness of Chinese food from a global perspective”. I think it can also be said: Appreciate China’s lifestyle and culture from a global perspective.

If A Bite of China is a flat narrative, then I think Flavor World is a sharper and more contrasting cultural documentary. It's like salmon meat, with distinct layers but blending together.

3. "New Year Pictures·Picture the New Year"

New Year pictures should be something that every Chinese person knows.

From the door god in Guangdong to the window grilles in Northeast China. Although the expression methods are different, they are all unique painting carriers in China.

It is also one of the concrete manifestations of Chinese lifestyle and culture.

New Year pictures can be expressed in countless ways. But what remains invariable are the two most traditional Chinese themes of exorcising evil and praying for blessings and good luck.

From traditional folk woodblock paintings to the addition of modern hard brush technology, we can see the great differences and similarities in culture across China, and we will also be surprised by the rich expression methods of the same material. In addition to printmaking, there are also various methods such as painting, paper cutting, watercolor, and offset printing, which are also divided into monochrome, color, black and white and other modes.

This is a documentary that showcases Chinese culture and lifestyle through "painting" and is definitely not to be missed.