Video Visits: China

The Chinese call their country Zhongguo, the Middle Kingdom, or Center of the Universe. Home to the world's longest-running civilization--stretching back more than 5,000 years--China was the birthplace of paper, magnetic compasses, silk, and even pasta (my Italian great-grandmother would have a stroke if she heard that one!). Video Visits: China is a wonderful travelogue introduction to this ancient culture, visiting such remarkable places and monuments as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and X'ian (where thousands of terra cotta warriors guard the tomb of China's first emperor). While I would have been satisfied with just the historical aspects, the film offers fine contemporary sights and insights as well, emphasizing the fact that China will likely play a large role in the 21st century--especially since one in five people who walk the planet are Chinese. Generous extras on the DVD include the featurettes "Chinese Opera," "The Dowager and the Last Emperor," "Shanghai," "The Li River," "Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture," and "Beijing Sights." Recommended. Aud: H, P. (J. Asala)