Food show and spy-themed TV drama for May Day holiday

China central Television is lining up a three-part documentary about Cantonese cuisine for its May Day holiday programming. But viewers in search of intense drama can tune in to a 36-episode spy thriller.

"A Bite of Shunde" premieres in Shunde

The city of Shunde, in southern China's Guangdong Province, has long been regarded as the heart of Cantonese cuisine. Now, it's tasty offerings are about to be showcased in a television documentary. 

"A Bite of Shunde" will serve up steamed grass carp, stir-fried milk with egg whites, and even double-layer milk custard among its treasured dishes.

"A Bite of Shunde" will serve up steamed grass carp, stir-fried milk with egg whites, and even double-layer milk custard among its treasured dishes.

Liu Shuo, who's behind CCTV's famous "A Bite of China" series, directed this three-episode program. 

"We intend to explore the traditional Shunde cuisine from different angles," said Liu Shuo, director of "A Bite of Shunde".

"Each episode has its own emphasis: the history of the farming tradition; the evolution of the cuisines; and the people's attitudes towards food. Viewers can savor this traditional Cantonese cuisine through our show".

"The land of Shunde is rich in ingredients, and the people of Shunde have been creating delicious food since ancient times," said Chen Xiaoqing, CCTV documentary Channel.

"At the same time, they were trading with other areas, so the cooking experience was gradually enriched from outside influences as well. The distinctive traditions have been kept, meaning that the food in Shunde is a kind of living fossil of Chinese cuisine."

Meanwhile, CCTV-1 will offer Chinese audiences a spy-themed TV drama entitled "Father's Identity". Set in 1948, the 36-episode series centres around a Communist-Part agent named Yu Beiping who infiltrates the Kuomingtang government during a time of civil war. But his own children work for the government, creating intense drama and conflict. 

The show stars veteran actor Chen Jianbin in the title role and is directed by the renowned Gao Qunshu.