China is a land of 370 million bicycles. Its 600 bicycle factories manufacture 41 million more every year.

In this lyrical portrait, scenes of bicycles being used to transport huge earthenware urns and bamboo cabinets to market, to haul timber to construction sights, and to simply get from place to place are interspersed with the observations of artist Yi Ling, who spent 4 1/2 years cycling around China's perimeter. He notes that while foreigners may use bicycles for fun, they are essential to the livelihood of many Chinese.

Beautifully photographed, SONG OF THE BICYCLE is an oddly insightful look at the divide in Chinese and Western lifestyles as manifested in the simple use of bicycles.

Part of the SOUTH series.

"A pleasant metaphor for the viewing differences between Chineseand Western cultures. Besides the poetic format, the video supplies anopportunity for discussion about cultural likes and differences - simplyby reference to the bicycle and its meaning in each culture." - Association for Asian Studies

"Conveys the resourcefulness which, throughout the Third World,is perhaps the quality which sets people apart from the products of theindustrial world." - Media Guardian (London)