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Connected to history
Imagine meeting a craftsman in his eighties, who is carving loong on copper hotpots. You feel like you've travelled back two thousand years. That's the charm of Shanxi in Sight, a six-episode documentary that was on show in March 2025 on CCTV-2.
Filmed over six months, the series explores 50 historic places across Datong, Taiyuan and Yuncheng. It follows nearly 100 local people—from craftsmen to shopkeepers. It shows a slow and thoughtful journey to the viewers.
Instead of filming old buildings as cold and empty places, the team tried to show them through the eyes of local people. "We didn't want the buildings to feel like museums," said director Zhou Lifen. "So we chose people living in Shanxi—shopkeepers, craftsmen, farmers—whose lives are closely connected to these old buildings. Their warmth brings history to life." In the documentary, viewers meet an artist in Datong who is making knife-cut noodles, a sculptor who has spent thirty years recreating cave figures, and a craftsman who protects swans along the Yellow River.
"In today's cultural tourism, documentaries need to do more than just tell—they need to make people think," said Zhou Lifen. Shanxi in Sight turns the province's popularity into lasting cultural pride and excitement for travel. When a documentary helps understand the past through the warmth of common people, it produces a strong feeling that's truly unforgettable. As one viewer wrote online, "This isn't just a travel show—it's a chance to feel history in daily life."
词汇
copper hotpot 铜火锅 a six-episode documentary 一部六集纪录片
sculptor /'skʌlptə(r)/ n. 雕刻家
句型
In the documentary, viewers meet an artist in Datong who is making knife-cut noodles, a sculptor who has spent thirty years recreating cave figures, and a craftsman who protects swans along the Yellow River. 在这部纪录片中,观众们认识了一位在大同制作刀削面的艺术家,一位三十年来致力于复刻石窟造像的雕塑家,以及一位在黄河畔守护天鹅的工匠。
理解
1. How did the documentary try to show culture through the eyes of local people?
The team chose people living in Shanxi—shopkeepers, craftsmen, farmers—whose lives are closely connected to these old buildings and their warmth can bring history to life.
2. What kind of documentary do you like best? Why?
I like nature documentaries best, especially ones about oceans or forests. They’re really interesting because I get to see amazing animals and places I’ve never been to.
