Through the Heart of China

8.5

2018•43m

In the travel series Through the heart of China photographer Ruben Terlou and director Maaik Krijgsman make their way from the far North to the Southern tip of China: from the dried-out steppes of inner Mongolia to the tropical coast of Macau-straight through the heart of China indeed.

Production

Seasons

7 Episodes • Premiered 2018

1. Mines and Deserts

Continuous drought because of climate change is making life hard for Mongolian herders and miners. Many farmers feel forced to move.

2. Double Life

In Beijing a smartphone is essential for paying, navigating, identification but also to meet like-minded people. How long will the government keep allowing this freedom?

3. A Refrigerator for the Afterlife

Chinese people bring yearly offerings to their deceased relatives. Every necessity for the afterlife is burned at the grave site. Also deceased ones can still be united to each other in a spiritual marriage.

4. The Straight Path

Ruben examines what the Tao means for Chinese youngsters and he meets a hermit who has been living in a cave for decades.

5. The K-Street

Young migration towards China's cities heavily affects health care around the country. Ruben talks to elderly people in rural areas waiting for their treatment for serious diseases.

6. The Factory of the World

Everything that has a power cord contains at least one Chinese component. With the same sense of productivity China wants to enter a bid for the 2050 world soccer championship.

7. The Plans of Xi

In Macau, an autonomous region with China, there is a certain level of democracy. Their is a growing influence of the Communist party however. Ruben talks to a critical politician.