Asia Insight

An in-depth portrait of Asia today, covering its dynamism as a center of growth as well as its traditions tossed around by the advance of globalization

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As most parts of Shanghai become more modernized, one district retains its pre-war landscape. TianZi Fang, which used to be a French settlement before World War II, maintains an international feel. Its old-fashioned narrow alleyways are filled with shops and restaurants owned by foreigners, making the districta popular tourist spot that attracts 3 million visitors a year. This cultural melting pot has seen some friction between multinationals who run the stores on the ground floors and local Chinese residents living on the second and third floors of those buildings. This episode ofAsia Insight follows the localChinese residents and the foreign community.

500-year-old Vietnamese Nha Nhac court music was recently recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage and is undergoing a revival. Including Nha Nhac, there are currently 12 World Cultural Heritage Sites and Intangible Cultural Heritages recognized by UNESCO. This episode of Asia Insight focuses on the efforts of the Vietnamese people as they passionately strive to revive their heritage and culture.

When Hong Kong was returned to mainland China from the U.K. in 1997, it was promised 50 years of autonomy and different political, judicial and economic systems than mainland China. This gave freedom of speech to mainland writers as well because they could publish banned material in Hong Kong. But as the Chinese economy grows, and gains stronger ties with Hong Kong, writers publishing in Hong Kong have been receiving various forms of pressure. Some writers have even been detained after their works have been published. Others have had emails checked and phone calls bugged. This episode of Asia Insight followed many Hong Kong and mainland-based writers and publishers fighting to protect their freedom in a changing region.

More and more people from rural areas are moving to the slum district of Mongolia's capital, in search of a better life. Migrant children are often forced to give up school and work collecting garbage to support their families. This episode of Asia Insight depicts their lives and the dedication of a former slum dweller who is now helping to get them back to school.