Telling China's 'small stories' beautifully

Taishan Mountain gives up no soil, thus it becomes majestic; rivers and seas accept all small streams, thus they achieve their depth. The ancient Chinese poem reflects the ever-changing nature of the world which can be attributed to the subtle elements revolving around humankind. That's why when we share China's stories with the rest of the world, it is the human voice that narrates and the human heart that listens.

China spreads its influence through the enchanting power of "small and beautiful" stories, both in verse and prose. Take for instance, a poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907) Meng Haoran's couplet: This morning of spring in bed I lie. Not waking up till I hear birds cry. Or the lines by another Tang Dynasty poet Yang Wanli: What after a long day's nap can I do with pleasure? I only watch the kids catch willow down at leisure. They capture the essence of spring that is universally felt.

Verses like these touch the heart. They harmonize with the most subtle, the tender-most depths of human spirit. The popularity of ancient Chinese poetry reminds us that words have the power to move souls. It is in the minutiae that the heart truly stirs, entwined in the tender fibers of humanity's core. Poetry encompasses emotions, the dance of the seasons, the ebb and flow of the times, the cycle of life's breath and the tapestry of love and strife.