The Story of China
The Golden Age
| Season 1
| Episode 3
| SBS
Michael Wood embarks on a great historical adventure, exploring the stories, people and landscapes that have helped create Chinas distinctive character and genius over four thousand years. In this episode, Michael explores Chinas most creative dynasty the Song (960-1279). He travels to Twin Dragon Alley, where locals tell him the legend of the baby boys who became emperors and the inventions that made the Song one of the greatest eras in world culture. The Golden Age ended in 1127 after the Kaifeng attack, but the Song continued to survive in the South in their new capital, Hangzhou. There Michael joins locals dancing by the West Lake. In the countryside, he meets Mr Xie who has records of 40 generations of ancestors.