Launch of the Fifth Season of “Fujian Time”: A Cultural Feast Reviving the Ancient Silk Road

As the second Chinese-Arab Summit approaches in Beijing, a cultural window is once again opened to the Arab public, showcasing the civilization and vitality of contemporary China’s southeastern coast. Starting April 27, the fifth season of “Fujian Time” will be broadcast on China Arab TV (CATV). Jointly produced with the Fujian Media Group, this season aims to provide the Arab audience with an in-depth visual journey centered on the “nostalgia of overseas Chinese for their motherland.”
Since its premiere in 2020, “Fujian Time” has broadcast over 13,000 minutes of content, becoming an essential window for Arab viewers to understand the real China. The fifth season focuses on the theme of “Overseas Chinese” through five main segments: the transmission of cultural heritage, new chapters of daily life, the diverse flavors of Fujian Province, memories of migrant correspondence, and global linguistic communication. These segments systematically showcase Fujian’s vitality in the fields of economy, culture, and technology. Moreover, this season highlights the thousand-year-old grassroots bonds between Fujian and the Arab world via the Maritime Silk Road. From ancient merchant ships to the modern struggles of the Chinese community in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other countries, this season does not only introduce Arab viewers to Fujian but also provides them with a tangible, shared memory.
As one Emirati viewer commented on social media: “The stories in the program reminded me of my grandfather’s experience when he traveled from Ras Al Khaimah to Fujian for business.” In line with this trend, a series of short videos titled “Fujian Through the Eyes of the Overseas Chinese Community” was launched this season. It features an Arab correspondent from China Arab TV taking a field tour of the hometowns of overseas Chinese in Fujian. This narrative style—viewing Fujian through Arab eyes—is realistic and friendly, bypassing cultural barriers and making it easier for the Arab audience to interact. Regarding its broadcasting strategy, the program has built an integrated network combining the initial television broadcast with multi-platform interaction. Relying on overseas social media accounts such as “Seeing Fujian,” short videos, thematic interactions, and Q&A sessions are posted on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook, making it easier for younger audiences to follow the program and share their opinions at any time.
Additionally, an upgraded digital version of the Arab reporter “Avo” has been launched. He appears wearing traditional Fujian attire and is equipped with an instant voice interaction function in Arabic. Consequently, the audience can speak with him on social media platforms, ask questions about tourism, cuisine, or the history of overseas Chinese culture in Fujian, and receive an enjoyable instant interactive experience. These innovations not only demonstrate the advancement of media technology but also reflect the deep expansion of Chinese-Arab cooperation in the field of digital content.
The creators and producers of the program stated in a press interview: “The launch of the fifth season of ‘Fujian Time’ coincides with another distinguished year in the history of Chinese-Arab relations.” They added: “We believe that through every authentic shot and every moving ordinary story, the Arab people will see a Fujian that is both ancient and modern, opening its arms to everyone. This is the original idea of the ‘China Through Foreign Eyes’ project; by building bridges of communication through images, grassroots ties grow closer and closer.”
From the ancient lighthouse of Quanzhou Port in China to the modern shops of “Dragon City” in Dubai; from the long journey of a small tea leaf to the return of a “Qiao Pi” (remittance letter), the camera of “Fujian Time” Season 5 proves that despite the long distances, the relationship between Fujian and the Arab world has never been severed.
Instead, it has become more vibrant in the new era.