Better fathers

"We want to get closer to the fathers' inner world," says Li.

"The TV program is a serious talk show that aims to trigger a nationwide discussion on the responsibilities, strengths and concerns brought about by fatherhood."

Li says that she was shocked earlier this month after she read comments about a video shared by the People's Daily on its official Sina Weibo micro blog account, in which males aged 5 to 50 took part in a word association game about their fathers on camera.

"Most of the words they used to describe their fathers were positive," Li says.

"But most of the 8,000 comments left by Weibo users were quite the opposite."

Key words like "arrogant", "grumpy", "overbearing" and "shallow" dominated the comments. And some netizens even pointed out that quite a number of Chinese mothers were forced to raise their children as "virtual widows" since their husbands were so far removed from the role of a responsible father.

"This confirmed my decision to run with the idea of the show and help society ponder how men can become better fathers by listening to other people's father-son stories," Li says.

In the first episode of the talk show, Wang Kai, who runs We Media－a public WeChat account and an app－for children in China, shared his childhood memories about his stern father.

Wang grew up in a traditional family in Beijing, and his father barely articulated love and care for him in a direct way. On the contrary, his father was a strict disciplinarian who seldom praised him.

One day, his father ruined the handicraft Wang made during a primary school class because he thought it was not good enough, which triggered a long period of "cold war" between them.

After Wang became a father himself, he realized that the role of the father was key to providing a counterpoint to that of the mother. He discovered it was necessary for the father to show concern for their children, but at the same time give them the freedom to make their own choices.

Although being busy in the recording studio every day, the storyteller known to millions of Chinese families, still insists on reading bedtime stories for his children.

Li adds she would like to show a more diverse image of fathers by talking to fathers of different ages and professions.

And she would like to launch a follow-up to the show to highlight stories about mothers within the next year.

"The show reflects men's increasing awareness of being a good father in line with the development of our society," commented one audience member on Sina Weibo.

"Personally, it reminds me of the warmth of family bonds and encourages me to take a look at my relationship with my father and my child.

"It would be better if more touching stories could be dug out during the conversations."