Character

In China's Greatest Treasures, BBC art critic, Alastair Sooke travels through modern day China to discover that much of what defines Chinese culture today can be traced back through thousands of years to some of China's most spectacular historic artefacts housed in museum collections across the country. In episode two, Alastair travels to China's capital, Beijing, to explore the oldest continuously used writing system in the world, the exquisite art of Calligraphy.

Alastair receives a rare invite to view one of China's most revered artworks, an 8th century masterpiece, housed in a Liaoning provincial museum, on the border with North Korea.

He realises a lifelong dream when he visits The Forbidden City, seat of Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years. Today, home to some of China's most important artistic treasures. He also explores a traditional market with a cutting-edge graphic designer, called Hunk, who uses ancient Chinese texts to create modern digital art.