A different view of the capital

City's progress and traditions given unique treatment with an innovative style in documentary, Li Yingxue reports.

"My name is Bro Qiang, and I'm a Beijing swift. I was born at the Zhengyangmen Gate on the Beijing Central Axis," says the bird with human characteristics, not least language. It is fair to say that this is a unique view of Beijing. In actual fact it is a scene from the third episode of documentary miniseries Flavor of Beijing, which was released on Sept 23. It tells the capital's story through multiple perspectives to the world.

With a height of 43.65 meters, Zhengyangmen Gate is one of the most magnificent entrances on the Central Axis of Beijing, and Beijing swifts have been living there for over 600 years.