Asia

From glowing creatures in Mumbai's city lights to red pandas in the Himalayan forests, go behind the lens with BBC filmmakers as they battle extreme weather and remote landscapes to capture Asia's most elusive wildlife.

Asia has the longest coastline of any continent and the earth's richest coral reefs. This episode explores Asia's waters, as spectacular as they are diverse, and never-seen-before animal behaviour.

Asia is the most mountainous continent on earth. From the tropical south to its barren centre, its highest places are home to some of our planet's most remarkable wildlife.

A look at the remote reaches of Asia's frozen north, where creatures must overcome unique challenges, finding exceptional ways to thrive in a hostile world that pushes life to its very limits.

Air pollution in Mongolia's capital, Ulan Bator, is among the world's worst. A thick haze often envelops the city, reducing visibility to just 20 meters. The main problem is smoke from coal-burning stoves. The number of such stoves has increased as more migrants move to the city in search of work. City officials are now trying to tackle the problem by convincing people to replace their old stoves. In this episode, we look at the battle to bring clear skies back to Ulan Bator.

Cambodia's economy is booming thanks in part to a burgeoning garment industry. Business people from other countries have opened factories in areas surrounding the capital, Phnom Penh. Many Cambodians are abandoning rural life for factory jobs and the increased economic opportunity they offer. But the process has not been smooth. Workers are demanding higher pay and other concessions from management. Factory owners are being forced to reexamine their image of Cambodia as a low-wage alternative to China.

A look at the amount of families in Nepal who cannot afford to send their children into school.

A social entrepreneur in the Philippines is engineering a grassroots revolution in the retail industry. His group is working with small neighborhood shops known as sari-sari stores. These vendors supply millions of Filipinos with their daily essentials. Most sari-sari operators are women trying to supplement family incomes, but they often struggle to make a profit. In this episode of Asia Insight, we follow the group's trainers as they help the shopkeepers turn their businesses around - and leverage the power of networking.

In impoverished areas of the Philippines, many households cannot afford electricity and don't use their lights. As the homes are so densely packed, they block sunlight and remain in darkness even during the day. Illac Diaz is a social entrepreneur who is striving to help those in this situation by promoting the use of an ingenious method of lighting using plastic bottles. This episode of Asia Insight focuses on his project and the lives of those who struggle to find adequate sources of lighting in the Philippines.

Thailand's CO2 emissions have reached a staggering 310 million tons per year, mostly due to heavy traffic in urban areas and smog-spewing factories. At the 2014 COP20 climate change conference in Peru, the country boldly announced its plans to reduce CO2 emissions by between 7% and 20% before 2020, in line with its ambitions of becoming the industrial center of Asia. Many companies have already begun following the government's lead, by investing in modern facilities and switching to new fuels and materials. Members of the public are also doing their part with some people making products from waste that would otherwise be incinerated. In this episode, we follow Thailand's efforts on the frontline of greenhouse gas reduction.

In 2013, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded struck the Philippines, killing more than 6,000 people and destroying some 1 million homes. Typhoon Haiyan was soon followed by a social scourge; human traffickers moved in to the affected areas to prey on disaster victims. A government task force is combating the traffickers, who are using ever more cunning methods. We go to the front lines to investigate the new menace facing typhoon-hit areas.

In recent years, Taiwan has been attracting more and more immigrants from Hong Kong. Affordable housing is just one benefit the region has to offer, and the number of residency applications has greatly increased, particularly from applicants in their 30's and 40's. What is it that convinces Hong Kong citizens at the height of their careers to relocate their entire families? We look at the motivations for this bold change, and the challenges they face in the process.

Chongqin in Southwest China is famous for its delicious hot pot dish, full of rich and spicy ingredients. The profit margin for vendors, however, is relatively small, leading to the use of dubious ingredients ranging from waste oil to deceptively fresh looking meat. In October 2015, the government implemented a tough revision to the country's food safety law holding all parties involved in food production and sales legally responsible. Hot pot restaurants and street vendors have been forced to clean up their act with some taking innovative approaches. We tell the story of several hot pot businesses as they try to adapt to the new regulations.

Suicide in South Korea is a serious and widespread problem with the country having the highest suicide rate for an OECD member state. One in three persons who commit suicide are over the age of 65. Most of these elderly individuals have no job and live separately from their families. The Seongbuk district in Seoul has been taking a progressive approach to work on elderly suicide prevention since 2010. In this episode, we take a look at how the local government office and resident volunteers are working together to save lives.

Depopulation of rural areas has become a serious issue in China, where economic growth has led the vast majority of youth to migrate to urban eras. Homes and fields that had supported families for generations are now falling into disrepair, with only a handful of villagers left to maintain them. Although the younger generation shows no signs of returning, outside groups are instead finding creative uses for the rustic area: Artists have recently established studios in the village, inspired by the rich history and nature that abound there. In this episode, we explore the current state of China's rural farming villages, and the movements that are bringing new life to them.

In recent years, China's divorce rate has suddenly risen due to a number of factors, including social and economic changes as well as complex family values. The leading reason for divorce is said to be infidelity, with some viewing affairs as a sort of status symbol. In response, new services have emerged to preserve the sanctity of marriage. Marriage investigators now act as negotiators, hired to discourage affairs or help couples rediscover the happiness they once knew. In this episode, we explore the diverse new methods that Chinese citizens use in their pursuit of marital bliss.

After the fall of the Pol Pot regime, Chi Phat Village became known as a center of illegal poaching and logging as its residents grew desperate among the declining economy. One day, an NGO offered them an unexpected option: Poachers could give up their hunt and instead turn their knowledge of the trails to guiding tourists. In this episode, we travel alongside the men working to revitalize their village in a new industry that has allowed visitors and residents alike to gain a newfound appreciation for man's harmony with nature.

In the 20 years since control of Hong Kong was returned from Britain to China, access to the vast Chinese market has helped the territory grow into Asia's leading financial hub. But over the last decade, redevelopment has driven up land prices and rent, leaving many struggling to make ends meet: including families crammed into tiny apartments, and senior citizens forced to live in so-called "cage homes" comprised of a single bunk. Yet while many battle to escape such poverty, the flow of people from mainland China seeking wealth and success in Hong Kong continues unabated. Explore the true nature of Hong Kong's unequal society through the living conditions of its poor.

China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, located deep inland, is one of the nation's poorest. Despite being left behind the country's swift economic development, the region has been able to make use of its long tradition of goji berry farming. Under China's One Belt One Road initiative, a united trade infrastructure has been developed, propelling Ningxia to agricultural prominence through the goji berry trade. In this episode, we meet the farmers and businessmen who have staked their dreams on the tiny red fruits.

For nearly half a century starting in 1962, Myanmar was under military rule. Criticism of the government was brutally suppressed. Political satire was the one of only voices citizens had to call for democracy. One person leading the satirical movement is Pan Thee. Political satire was once permitted in the country under the Burmese monarchy, but military rule turned even traditional satire into a target, forcing Pan Thee to flee abroad to continue his work. Even after the change in government of 2016, the army wields enormous political power in Myanmar. Pan Thee has returned home and is helping young performers make the call for true democracy. How have comedians used satire to drive a political movement? Trace Myanmar's route to democracy through laughter.

China's western city of Chengdu is one of the nation's larger cities, but retains a uniquely low-key atmosphere that has made it a destination for those seeking a different way of life than in Beijing or Shanghai. In particular, its vibrant music and art scene encourages self-exploration by creating an environment of diverse genres without the pressure of productivity or commercial success. In this episode, we examine the motivations behind the new youth culture of Chengdu.

Yiwu City became well known in the 2000's for its array of wholesale goods, and its reputation continued to grow as quality improved with China's economic growth. Now it serves not just as a center of Chinese goods, but the best the world has to offer as foreign sellers open their own shops in the area. In an atmosphere like an international trade show, merchants make bold ventures to bring together new connections and opportunities.

In May 2019, the Taiwanese government became the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Some 2,500 couples have officially tied the knot in the 6 months following. Chi Chia-wei (61) has spent over 30 years campaigning for marriage equality. In 1986, Chi became the first person in Taiwan to come out publicly. He pushed the government to legalize same-sex marriage, fighting and winning a case in 2017 claiming that the current situation was unconstitutional. The government was forced to legalize same-sex marriage, but organized opposition from Christians and social conservatives resulted in a law under which same-sex married couples still do not have the same rights as heterosexual couples. We explore the history of marriage equality in Taiwan, and the issues it still faces.

Once a prosperous coal mining city, China's northeastern city of Hegang boasted double-digit economic growth for over a decade. But now, among diminished demand for coal, residents who staked their lives on the industry are finding it hard to make ends meet. Social problems such as shoplifting and alcoholism are on the rise. Despite the difficulty of finding new work, the citizens of Hegang continue to seek a light at the end of the tunnel.

Pinit, a successful Thai businessman and sports celebrity, turned his life upside down when he decided, at the age of 45, to become a woman -- Pauline. Her book, "Too Tight Shoes" speaks about her experience coming to terms with, and finally embracing, her gender identity. Pauline's journey to becoming a woman involved many painful decisions, including parting with her wife and daughter. She also strove to win the understanding of her parents. Eventually, she found a way to rebuild a family life, helping her ex-wife to run a restaurant. In this program, we follow a transgender woman's search for her true identity and her efforts to hold on to the people she loved.

Often called the "Island of gods," Bali in Indonesia has long drawn visitors from all over the world. But the tourism industry has suffered a massive blow from the coronavirus pandemic, with huge numbers unemployed. Many have been forced to return to rural villages and try their hand at farming to make ends meet. One mayor is working to revitalize agriculture and retain some of their newly returned residents. Another entrepreneur is designing an app to improve farmers' incomes. Explore how the people of Bali are using farming to overcome their economic dependence on tourism and make it through the pandemic.

With a Christian population of over 90%, the Philippines is known for its lengthy and elaborate Christmas celebrations, which are ingrained into local culture. But at this time when families give thanks, there was seemingly little to celebrate at the end of 2020, after countless livelihoods and dreams had been suddenly erased by the novel coronavirus pandemic. This episode follows one Filipino family banding together and hoping to reclaim their dreams after a difficult year.

In November 2020, one of Thailand's biggest festivals, the Surin Elephant Round-Up, took place -- despite the coronavirus pandemic. The event went ahead thanks largely to the passion of an ethnic tribe of elephant handlers. With a history of living with elephants that dates back centuries, the Kui people today depend heavily on income from tourism -- a livelihood that is now in danger of disappearing. We follow the people taking on new challenges in a long-running fight to preserve their culture.

In July 2021, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam saw an explosion of new COVID-19 cases. A medical team of 1,500 traveled from capital Hanoi to help, including over 800 student nurses. With few locals vaccinated, the students carried out tests across the city, urging positive patients to quarantine. They recorded footage of their experiences on the front lines of this battle as they discovered the realities of life as a medical professional through 2 months working in a city in lockdown.

The island of Bali, Indonesia suffered a massive blow to its tourism industry during the pandemic, and many were left unemployed. To get by, some people decided to use their cooking skills or management experience to set up their own businesses. Sendok Kreatif (The Creative Spoon) is a group of restaurant consultants, chefs and other experts who provide free guidance on product development and marketing. Their efforts have helped put some 10 small firms on the map. As the future of the tourism industry remains cloudy, we follow the people turning to entrepreneurship to make ends meet.

During the Vietnam War, Laos was bombed heavily by US military forces. An estimated 80 million unexploded bombs remained, leading to over 50,000 casualties in the decades since. The Laos government provides free treatment and rehabilitation to survivors, but many are unaware that this support exists. In 2019, a rural support NGO teamed up with the Laos Centre for Medical Rehabilitation. The NGO uses its network to help find survivors and bring them to the center, and accompanies doctors to rural villages to provide treatment and rehab. Discover how the survivors of these explosions are being supported in Laos.

The Thailand Institute of Justice is using street food carts as a form of social experiment that attempts to help former prisoners rehabilitate into society. In the program, they take a seminar on cooking and business, and are provided with a food cart and startup money. Support team leader Thanachai Sundaravej gets to know each of the participants, and gives them advice considering each of their unique circumstances. In this episode, we get to know the people who seek a new chance through street food.

In the Philippines, where natural disasters and poverty are a continuing issue, people depend on their barangays for help and assistance. Barangays are the smallest administrative units in the country, carrying out various services, from health and welfare to disaster management. In Manila's Chinatown, community ties are especially close due to a history of persecution of people of Chinese descent under Spanish rule. We focus on one barangay's community bonding in the lead-up to Christmas.

Thailand's Muay Thai boxing is a powerful martial art in which fighters strike with their arms and legs. Gambling on the sport has been common, leading to corruption such as fixed bouts. To regain trust in the sport, the Royal Thai Army forbade gambling in the most prominent stadium, which it operates. Promoters attempt to generate interest through means such as music performances and women's matches, but along with fighters, they grapple with the prospect of holding the yearly stadium anniversary show while keeping gambling out of the ring.

In Turkey, one NGO gives the Syrian refugees a chance to smile again by helping them perform circuses. Now, they head out to take the stage for the kids affected by the 2023 Turkey earthquake.

An increasing number of young people are relocating to Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital of China. They leave behind the stress of life in large cities to resculpt their own lives with a new vision.

In China's rapidly growing animation industry, independent works are gaining attention. A dedicated film festival is held to allow young talent to be discovered, letting them follow their dreams.

The indigenous Taroko people are taking the stage to perform traditional songs and dances to entice visitors back to their famed Taroko Gorge after being impacted by a major earthquake in April 2024.

As the coffee market in China rapidly grows, ethnic minorities in Yunnan Province, which makes 98% of all Chinese coffee, are developing a unique specialty coffee brand using their local customs.

Cambodia has set out to build a historic new canal. While some have high hopes of business opportunities and economic stimulation, concerns remain about the displacement of around 1.6 million people.

After a military coup d'etat in Myanmar, a growing number of citizens have rushed to the Chinese border city of Ruili, struggling to rebuild their lives as they hope for the day when peace returns.

Fifty years after the end of the Vietnam War, many people still search for family separated in the chaos. YouTuber Tuan Vy uses his channel to track down clues and reunite loved ones.

Large-scale development in Hong Kong's northern area is building a high-tech industrial base, boosting the economy and jobs. Though mainlanders hold high expectations, some locals face eviction.