Pulse of the Planet is an inspirational new series which will tell the history of remarkable global trade networks through eight products, exploring key moments, worldwide shifts, and changing trends. Mandarin Film worked with renowned UK indie Lion TV to make it happen.

In Shanghai, we filmed leading specialty coffee brand Seesaw, one of the earliest whisky bars Labs Whisky & Cocktail, and the most popular bicycle franchise Brompton Junction. In Yiwu, we filmed handbag dealers in one of the largest markets in the world. Different key products have shed light on how China has become the most important market in the world. We interviewed the founders and key staff to discover how their innovative ideas could impact Chinese economy and reshape people’s lifestyles.

Mandarin Film took on producing the China segment of “Pulse of the Planet”. We helped research potential interesting stories, logistics planning, helped the crew to apply for J2 visa and obtained all location permits.

Applying for J2 visa for the crew and the filming permits in the city’s most iconic places with little time proved challenging. Right before the crew was due to arrive from the UK there was the Spring Festival (China’s biggest holiday) and National Congress Conference (China’s major political conference), making the administrative procedure to approve international crew filming in China slow and lengthy.

It was a wonderful trip for the filming crew: the shoot began with enjoying Seesaw’s many flavours of specialty coffee, tasting aromatic Scottish whiskey, and wrapping up with a cocktail in hand, sitting on the balcony of the historical Fairmont Peace hotel and enjoying the amazing night view of the Bund. 

Lion Television is one of Britain’s largest and most successful independent production companies providing programming for all of the major UK terrestrial broadcasters, (BBC, PBS ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5) and many of the digital and cable channels. Mandarin Film is proud to have cooperated with Lion TV for numerous projects in China over the last 12 years.

The news documentary was aired on BBC World News in September 2019.