The first high definition television (HDTV) documentary in China was premiered in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou cities on Thursday.

The documentary was made by the NHK Television Station of Japan and directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang, a prominent Chinese director. It took five years to complete.

The documentary tells the life of people along a commercial route known as the Cha Ma Ancient Road, traveled by caravans decades ago across western China's Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces and the Tibet Autonomous Region to reach south Asia.

In the film, centenarians, young people and children tell stories of ancient times that have been handed down to the present day. Priests and lamas outlined their attitude towards religion and death. Village heads and primary school teachers uttered their sorrow and joy.

China was linked with other parts of the world mainly through two routes in ancient times. One was the Silk Road in northern China. It started from Chang'an, or present Xi'an City, and went westward to central Asia through Xinjiang. The other was the Cha Ma Ancient Road in southwest China. It transported tea, grain and salt on horse back all the year round.

(People's Daily May 25, 2004)