Back with dinosaurs

Twenty-five years after it first captivated global audiences, the landmark BBC documentary Walking with Dinosaurs has returned with a new six-episode series, once again capturing the imagination of Chinese viewers with its vivid portrayal of prehistoric life.

Narrated by British actor Bertie Carvel, a two-time Laurence Olivier Award winner, the new series has been available for streaming in China since May 28 — both on China Central Television's two channels specializing in geographical and cultural content, and the digital platform iQiyi — bringing state-of-the-art visual storytelling and scientific insight to a new generation of fans.

Spanning 84 million years of Earth's history, when the planet was dominated by the roaming giants, the documentary embarks on a globe-trotting journey to reimagine the lives of six different dinosaurs, including a teenage Albertosaurus, a young Pachyrhinosaurus, and a colossal, long-necked Lusotitan.

From the windswept sands of the Sahara Desert and the dramatic landscapes of the badlands of Utah in the United States, to the lush forests of Canada and the rugged hills of Portugal, each 50-minute episode features one protagonist. For example, the first episode follows an orphaned baby Triceratops as it encounters a fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex, while the second part imagines the heartwarming parenting of a Spinosaurus — a newcomer to fatherhood.

First airing in 1999, Walking with Dinosaurs became the most-watched science program in British television history during the 20th century, winning multiple honors, including three Primetime Emmy Awards and an Annie Award.