This week, usher in the Year of the Rooster with the BBC’s festive line-up of Chinese New Year specials.
BBC Earth (StarHub Channel 407)
Enter the heart of the festivities in Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth (25-27 Jan, 9.45pm), where you can get a front-seat view of Beijing as it celebrates one of its most spectacular events. There, eight million passengers a day squeeze onto trains to take them thousands of miles home, and thousands of families visit the stunning Temple of Earth to pray for happiness and good luck amidst a cacophony of fireworks.
Then, go on a fascinating journey through the landscapes, peoples, stories and cultures of China in The Story of China (28 & 29 Jan, 2.15pm). Written and presented by historian Michael Wood, the series explores the history of the world’s oldest continuous state and new superpower, from its ancient past to the present day.
CBeebies (StarHub Channel 303)
Your child will be kept entertained throughout the festive weekend too, with an array of award- winning and critically-acclaimed CBeebies programming.
Your pre-schooler can learn more about Chinese New Year and the story behind it in Let’s Celebrate (28 Jan, 9am), which follows a girl in Liverpool as she prepares for the festival. Meanwhile, the Go Jetters (28 & 29 Jan, 9.15am) jet off to China and explore and embark on missions at the Great Wall and Forbidden City, offering a fun-filled introduction to geography.
The festivities continue with celebratory episodes of CBeebies favourites like Hey Duggee (28 & 29 Jan, 9.25am), Dinopaws (28 & 29 Jan, 9.35am) and Sarah & Duck (28 & 29 Jan, 9.50am).
BBC Lifestyle (StarHub Channel 432)
If you’re looking beyond whipping up the standard Lunar New Year fare this year, get some inspiration for your dinner menus with back to back episodes of Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: Melbourne (27 Jan, from 1.30pm) and The Great British Bake Off (28 & 29 Jan, from 1.30pm).
Meanwhile, Grand Designs Specials (30 Jan, from 1.30pm) adds a touch of prosperity to the weekend, as Peter Maddison reveals the best homes around, proving that design is too ambitious when creating your dream home.
