With the Olympics just around the corner, this trio of programmes gives a three-dimensional view of China’s past, present and future. The Final Countdown is a detailed report on preparations for the Games, from facilities that have been built to the excitement growing on the streets. The Seven Wonders of China celebrates one of the greatest man-made structures in history, the Great Wall of China; through computergenerated images and special effects we learn the stories behind the engineering and design of China’s other great monuments. Lastly, Behind the Great Wall brings us the complete story of this phenomenal architectural feat – how it was constructed over several centuries and intimate accounts from descendants of those who built it, along with original military designs by Qi Jiguang, the Ming-era national hero who made significant reinforcements to the Wall in the late 1500s.

Discovery Channel, Channel 12