THE second season of China’s most anticipated food documentary, “A Bite of China,” will begin airing Friday at 9 p.m. on China Central Television.

    The eight-episode Mandarin-language show will be broadcast weekly on the national station’s Channel 1 and Documentary Channel.

    Covering more than 300 different dishes and more than 150 persons, the new season goes beyond a simple introduction to food to become more of an investigation of Chinese people and society.

    According to director Chen Xiaoqing, he wishes to explore the relationship between the people of China and their food through the show. “Food is a particularly personal thing, in that no single dish suits all tastes,” said Chen. “In addition to an introduction to China’s delicious food, through these dishes you can gain additional insight into some of the things we tend to overlook.”

    Finding their subjects can be the most onerous part of the job, and there are not always shortcuts available. Chen said it took six months to film a beekeeper couple, which required a journey of more than 2,000 kilometers.

    The beauty and mystery of Chinese food had never been properly explained or thoroughly appreciated on an artistic level until the premiere of “A Bite of China” in May 2012.

    The seven-episode first season provided a visual introduction to China’s rich culinary tradition and wide regional variety by showing basic local ingredients, cooking methods, local food specialties and customs.

    The first season introduces more than 60 locations in China. Various notable chefs such as Shen Hongfei and Chua Lam were consultants on the project.

    The first season became an instant hit and a trending topic on Chinese social media. With its beautiful visual effects and the powerful nostalgia it invoked, many think it the best food culture documentary ever produced in China.(SD-Agencies)