Plot Synopsis

Through a combination of innovative aerial photography from helicopters and drones and on-the-ground human stories, this four-part documentary series showcases China, which is home to the world's highest mountains, arid deserts, bustling megacities, the ruins of ancient civilizations, and the source of Asia's biggest rivers. Plus, CHINA FROM ABOVE reveals the secrets and patterns of life in traditional and modern China in stunning ultra-high definition, portraying 40 locations across all four corners of the country. The series begins with a look at the religious traditions of the country, as well as its greatest man-made wonders. From the majestic 13,000-mile long Great Wall to the famous Hanging Temple of Shanxi Province and a generations-old horse race across the Zhaosu grasslands, viewers get a front-row seat to the country's rich history. The series goes on to reveal how modern China lives, eats, works and plays - best evidenced by the megacity of Shanghai. Surveying this enormous nation, CHINA FROM ABOVE offers a greater understanding of the country's rapid industrialization, how that very progress impacts the planet and the pursuit of ecofriendly solutions from giant wind farms to solar parks. CHINA FROM ABOVE had its U.S. premiere on Monday, November 12, 2018 at 8pm ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.
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On Monday, December 3, 2018 at 8pm ET/PT, Smithsonian Channel premiered the finale of CHINA FROM ABOVE. The final installment, "Mountains and Rivers," reveals the mountains, rivers, and people that make up China's great interior. Visit celebrations at the center of the Buddhist world and on the edges of river cities, soar over the world's most famous peak 29,000 feet in the air, and dive into an ancient city submerged under a lake. China's heartland is a place where urban and rural communities embrace the challenges of a changing 21st century world.