What to Watch
Monday 28 January - Monday 4 February 2019
Here we have put together a list of the travel related TV programmes that are due to air this week, that cover our destinations, and we think will be worth a watch. We’ve sorted everything into destinations for you, so, set your TV to record and watch at your leisure…
What to Watch - China
Maritime Silk Road Reborn
National Geographic Channel, Friday 1 Feb 2019, 8pm, Episode 1 of 3
Historian Sam Willis retraces the routes of medieval China’s treasure ships from the East China Sea to the Malacca Straits, and how they still influence modern shipping.
China from Above
National Geographic Channel, Friday 1 Feb 2019, 10pm, Series 2, Episode 1 of 2
An aerial exploration of China’s coastal and Eastern provinces, revealing the lives of both people in the world’s most populous cities, and rural life along its great coastline.
Secrets of the Terracotta Warriors – Secret History: Secrets of the Terracotta Army
More4, Saturday 2 Feb 2019, 8pm
The unearthing of China’s Terracotta Army in 1974 captured the imagination of the world, but that first dig only revealed a fraction of this extraordinary collection of ceramic sculptures. Since then, scientists have resumed work on the site, and their research has turned up a series of fresh discoveries about the warriors and the people who made them more than 2,000 years ago. With access to pioneering research conducted by UCL and the Terracotta Army Museum, this documentary reveals more secrets.
China’s Forgotten Emperor
More4, Saturday 2 Feb 2019, 9pm
Documentary about Wu Zetian, the only woman to become emperor of China. Wu Zetian ruled China in the last years of the seventh century, and has always had a reputation as a brutal tyrant. However, recent archaeological finds have shed new light on her reign, revealing a gifted politician who shaped her country into a military, economic and cultural superpower. The programme examines tombs, palaces and treasures from her dynasty that highlight her skills as a leader and also the violence of her regime.
A Slow Odyssey: The Great Wall of China
BBC Four, Sunday 3 Feb 2019, 8pm
An aerial journey along the world’s longest structure, travelling 2500 kilometres along the 2300-year-old wall from the Yellow Sea in the east, near Beijing, to the Gobi Desert in the West. The programme showcases 20 locations along the way, including the Jaiyuguan Fortress – once the gateway into China of the ancient Silk Road trading-route.
The Greatest Tomb on Earth: Secrets of Ancient China
BBC Four, Sunday 3 Feb 2019, 9:30pm
Dan Snow, Alice Roberts and Albert Lin explore the final resting place of China’s first emperor, a site 200 times larger than Egypt’s Valley of the Kings and home to the famous Terracotta Warriors. Making use of both the latest forensic technology and ancient texts, they delve into this historic site’s secrets and uncover evidence that casts a new light on the founding of the nation.
Blowing Up History – Secrets of the Forbidden City
Discovery Channel, Monday 4 Feb 2019, 8pm, Series 3, Episode 11
Archaeologists examine what lies beneath China’s Forbidden City, and explore the dark secrets that have been buried for nearly 600 years.
Impossible Engineering: Qinghai – Tibet Railway
Yesterday, Tuesday 5 Feb 2019, 8pm, Series 4, Episode 10
A look at the Qinghai-Tibet line, the highest railway in the world, providing an insight into the engineering challenges faced at high altitude and in bitterly cold temperatures.
China: One Million Artists
Sky Arts, Tuesday 5 Feb 2019, 9 pm
Documentary charting the rise of Chinese art following the death of Mao, and how some artists embraced Western styles while other critiqued it by hijacking communist propaganda.
Blowing Up History: Great Wall of China
Quest, Friday 8 Feb 2019, 10pm, Series 1, Episode 6
The documentary turns attention to the Great Wall of China, exploring the secrets of a great empire via the biggest man-made structure on Earth.
What to Watch - Japan
Expedition Unknown – Japan’s Atlantis
Travel Channel, Tuesday 29 Jan 2019, 10pm
Josh travels to Japan’s remote Yonaguni Island to explore an underwater phenomenon described as Japan’s Atlantis. Josh dives into the waters of the Pacific Rim to explore this remarkable site.
Japan: Between Sky and Earth
National Geographic Channel, Friday 8 Feb 2019, 8pm, 9pm, 10pm, Series 1, Episodes 1, 2 & 3
A journey of discovery through little-known areas of Japan, beginning with Hokkaido in the far north, a vast natural paradise and sacred land of the Ainu people.
What to Watch - Vietnam
Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys – The Reunification Express
Channel 5, Monday 28 Jan 2019, 9pm, Series 5, Episode 4
Chris travels the entire length of Vietnam’s Reunification Line, from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to Hanoi in the north. His first stop is Di An, where he learns about an ambitious heritage project that reflects the country’s increasing engagement with its history, before heading to some of the key locations of the Vietnam war, including Da Nang Beach and the Viet Cong tunnels.
Inspired by the above?
Tours to China, Japan & Vietnam
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View this packageChina Tailor Made Rail
Train to Tibet
This exciting journey takes you to Tibet's astonishing landscapes via a thrilling journey aboard the highest train in the world.
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View this packageJapan Tailor Made City
Hokkaido
Hokkaido is an island at Japan’s far north, where low humidity makes the summers pleasant, and the winter’s ideal for snow sports.
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View this packageVietnam Group Tour Culture
Classic Vietnam
A 12-day tour exploring the best of Classic Vietnam.