Thousands of kilometers of rail track connect Madrid, the Spanish capital, to Yiwu, a Chinese city — delivering goods to billions of consumers all around the world. But in between these two geographical centers are vastly different countries and regions, which the trains must traverse safely and quickly. Our Host James Chau jumps onboard this story.

Tasmin Little has joined The China Current as Culture Contributor after a three decade career as one of the world's leading concert violinists. She will look at the music and instruments of China, but so much more — including the ideas, traditions, lifestyles that shape the lives of 1.4 billion people today. In this episode, Tasmin looks at her own story and how it connects to her videos for us.

Yading, a nature reserve in China, is one of the most enchanting places in the world. Our Nature Contributor, Kyle Obermann, shares how his 6-day trek through the mountains of this region inspired his work.