When a geographical term transcends its physical boundaries, it inevitably carries profound layers of human and historical significance. In the collective imagination, the "Balkans" hold an almost mythical aura—a byword for violence and savagery. Yet this peninsula, no larger than France, is home to nearly 20 distinct ethnic groups. The history of the "Balkan Peninsula" traces back to the 8th century. From the 14th century onward, following the Ottoman conquest, the region became a crucible of three faiths—Islam, Catholicism, and Orthodoxy—coexisting yet clashing. A patchwork of ethnicities settled here, their borders jagged and contested, sowing the seeds of relentless conflict. The meddling of modern empires only deepened the fractures. For centuries, the Balkans have been a stage for regional wars and diplomatic upheavals. To journey through the Balkans is to traverse a land where cultures collide, to savor the present amid the echoes of a tumultuous past, and to glimpse the future through the prism of intricate geopolitics.
Slovenia (sLOVEnia) – the only country in the world with "love" in its name – is a petite yet vibrant land blessed with diverse landscapes, a rich history, and a distinctive cultural identity, not to mention mouthwatering local delicacies. The remnants of the Cold War era still linger, embodied by the Morgan Line Monument, where encounters with elderly locals bring stories from a not-so-distant past to life. And so, our journey begins here.
| Producer | Liu Yi |
| Director of Photography | Wu Zhenxu |
Sarajevo—a name once deeply familiar to an older generation of Chinese—now stands as a city half-alive, half-tomb. Sasha, a Bosnian artist active in Sarajevo, fled before the outbreak of the Bosnian War in the 1990s, yet he could never escape the scars it left on him. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the war’s end, but smiles remain scarce on the streets of Sarajevo. The aftermath of war cannot be digested in just one or two generations. Its wounds are not merely the bullet-riddled walls, but something far deeper—the lingering hostility between people. That is the true weight of war.
| Producer | Liu Yi |
| Director of Photography | Wu Zhenxu |
Croatia boasts the longest coastline in the former Yugoslavia region. Here, the sea is not just a border—it is the very origin of its history. The azure waters of the Adriatic have shaped its culture and way of life. Marco Polo himself was a product of this maritime civilization. His legendary journey began with the sea, as the winds of the Adriatic carried him toward the unknown East. While he is widely believed to have been Venetian, some historians argue that the Croatian island of Korčula was his true birthplace.
| Producer | Liu Yi |
| Director of Photography | Wu Zhenxu |
The name "Montenegro" traces its roots to early Venetian dialect—Monte meaning "mountain" and Negro meaning "black"—hence, the "Black Mountain." Though small (13,810 km², slightly smaller than Beijing) with a population of just 700,000, it boasts one of the world’s most stunning coastlines. The poet Lord Byron once called it "the most beautiful encounter of mountains and sea." Our journey begins in Kotor, a bay embraced by towering peaks, then winds along a legendary serpentine road—built in the 1880s with 25 hairpin turns, an adrenaline-pumping drive leading to Cetinje, the former royal capital. Along the way, we pass Njeguši, a sacred village in Montenegrin hearts, before reaching the mausoleum of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš in Lovćen National Park. Here lies the legendary poet-king, a national hero whose legacy embodies Montenegro’s spirit. From medieval tribes to a short-lived kingdom and now a modern republic, each chapter of Montenegro’s history echoes its people’s unyielding pursuit of independence, dignity, and self-determination. Njegoš’s verses, the nation’s fierce resilience, and an unshakable pride are eternally etched into this land.
| Producer | Liu Yi |
| Director of Photography | Wu Zhenxu |
Returning to Belgrade—once the heart of former Yugoslavia—the film poses a poignant question: What has become of the lands that once formed Yugoslavia? Guided by local filmmakers, artists, and scholars, we uncover a new Serbia emerging from its turbulent transition. Through their eyes, we witness a nation grappling with its past while forging an energetic, modern European metropolis.
| Producer | Liu Yi |
| Director of Photography | Wu Zhenxu |
This episode weaves a dual narrative between Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić and the ancient Bosnian city of Travnik. Andrić—born to a Croatian Catholic family yet later embracing Serbian identity—embodies the Balkans' complex heritage. Meanwhile, Travnik, once the Ottoman provincial capital, reveals its multicultural legacy through the iconic 16th-century Suleiman Mosque. Today, the Islamic waqf system still sustains communities through shop rentals, while a pandemic-era café revives Andrić's literary spirit. Here, Ottoman stonework and wartime scars transform into living dialogues between empires, faiths, and generations.
| Producer | Liu Yi |
| Director of Photography | Wu Zhenxu |
