Subjects: Technology

You can’t control the weather or workday morning traffic snarls… Or can you? From Zhangxiao, Stillwell and Ingram look at the ways Chinese engineers are masterminding the seemingly impossible. Traffic Management – Dominated by cars trying to navigate crowded roadways not designed for such heavy volume. Monitoring Sandstorms – Four years ago, immense clouds of dust particles from the western deserts of China and Outer Mongolia were large enough to be easily tracked across the Pacific Ocean by orbiting satellites. The Bells of Marquis Yi – The extraordinary Bronze Chimes of Marquis Yi are one of the most astonishing archaeological discoveries in recent times. Also in this episode: from silkworm to factory floor to the fashion catwalk, see how silk is made; the science of Tai Chi; the sustainable eco-village of Huangbaiyu.

Featuring the glittering lights of Shanghai at night, Daily Planet Goes to China wraps up with a final episode full of ships, a sinking city, the Shenzhou 6 space mission and panda rehab. Shipbuilding – Shipbuilding and shipping are booming in China and the country is poised to become the world’s top shipbuilding powerhouse within a decade. Sinking Shanghai – Forget Venice. Shanghai, a city of 20 million people, is sinking. Panda Release – Last year 163 giant pandas were raised in captivity and more than half of them lived at the China’s Wolong Nature Reserve. Yeren – North America has Bigfoot; in the Himalayas, it’s the Yeti. Follow the hunt for Yeren, China’s mysterious mountain Wildman. Shenzhou 6 – Return to space with a look at the Shenzhou 6 mission and the exhaustive training the astronauts underwent for that mission.

Pack your bags for another look at the week’s best stories in the one-hour special, China: Rise of the Golden Dragon. Join Daily Planet hosts Jay Ingram and Natasha Stillwell for more science and discovery from the world’s most populous nation. This one-hour special highlights additional footage from Beijing’s National Swimming Centre, shipbuilding, the super fast Shanghai racetrack, China’s manned space program, traffic management in Beijing’s bustling city centre, Sutong Bridge and the autocar.

Shanghai Racetrack – Put the pedal to the metal Shanghai style! See how three racecar drivers take their Formula Renault-class cars out on the brand new Shanghai International Circuit. Shanghai Architecture – Shanghai is renowned for its stunning collection of old buildings. Controlling the Weather – There’s a severe drought in Northern China and it is expected to get worse. Also in this episode: driverless autocars; rescue robots that can snake through earthquake and crash site disasters; how tea is harvested and processed; meet Ma Qingyun, China’s most innovative architect.