This major documentary series is a vehicle for promoting the Lancang-Mekong River Region to the rest of the world.
The wild animal species in Xishuangbanna take up more than 1/4 of the total in China. The region is famed for its wild herds of Asian elephants and swarms of peacocks. The two species are revered by the local people as auspicious symbols of grace and happiness.
Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. They include the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations.
The "Great Sacred Stupa" of Vientiane, is the most important religious edifice in Laos. It has great spiritual significance for the Lao people, having been considered the symbol of Lao independence and sovereignty since the time of Lan Xang, the Kingdom of a Million Elephants, in the mid 16th century. It is a strange and exotic structure, uniquely combining the ethereal features of a Buddhist temple with the more mundane requirements of a stronghold or fortress.
The Shwedagon is the greatest pagoda of its kind in the world, comparable in size and grandeur to other edifices of greatness. "Shwe" means gold and Dagon is a former name of Yangon. Hence, Shwedagon means the golden pagoda at the city of Dagon,(Rangoon). It is believed to have been built nearly 2600 years ago, that is, during the Buddha´s life time.
Wat Phra Kaeo (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) sits within the grounds of the Bangkok Grand Palace, surrounded by walls more than a mile long. Inside, it contains some of the finest examples of Buddhist sculpture, architecture, painting, and decorative craft in Thailand.
Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site´s outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.
