Full coverage: ‘看中國’外國青年影像計劃專題

By CCTV.com Panview

Editor's foreword: "Looking China" International Youth Film Project is co-organized by the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture (AICCC), Beijing Normal University and Huilin Foundation. The program focuses on the young participants’ personal experiences of Chinese culture and encourages them to discover and tell Chinese stories from their own perspectives.

As of the year 2017, students from all over the world were invited to participate in the project. They were stationed in 12 municipality, provinces and autonomous regions here in China. Every filmmaker has worked out a 10-minute short film about Chinese culture around the topic of "Craftsmanship·Inheritance·Innovation.”

Do you like drinking? Have you tried Chinese Baijiu? The short movie "The Spirit Maker," directed by Jemma O'Brien and produced by Gao Songlin, takes you on a tour of ancient Chinese alcohol making.

Kong Linghai, promoter and protector of ancient Liao brewing traditions, believes alcohol is not just a product of materials, but also of spirit. He used to work in construction and real estate development industry. In 1998, he purchased a bankrupt distillery and found relics of brewing tools of Liao Dynasty (11th Century) under the ground. Since then, he decided to promote ancient Liao brewing traditions.

The ingredients they use are all locally-sourced, the water is from the local river, the distillery staff are responsible workers. Even though the distillery is not profitable, Kong still want to keep it running.

Kong cited Chinese President Xi's speech to the literature and arts association, "In order to reach one's goals and be on top of your filed, one must endure loneliness and continuously hone one's skills over time." He believes this is the spirit of a craftsman. He is committed to preserve ancient culture and will continue to make spirits well for the rest of life.

(The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

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