It seems the old topic on this has expired so I'm starting a new one.

On BBC Four at the moment there is an excellent documentary on the reconstruction of Warsaw. Presented by former resident Dan Cruickshank, he may not everyone's cup of tea, but I rather like him and this pulls up some great personal stories. Well worth hunting out.

Good to get me prepared for a weekend in the region.

Starting tonight: The Story of China ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06ymzy7 )
(might be a bit late for me, but I'll try to stay awake)

Includes Yin Xu (Oracle bones), Qufu (Confucius) and probably many more.

I'm rather a fan of Michael Wood, but I have to say I rather enjoyed that first episode of the Story of China.

My knowledge of Chinese history is patchy so it is a good level for me, and plenty of WHS in there so far.

Additionally there is a David Attenborough series on at the moment focuses entirely on the Great Barrier Reef, well worth a watch if you want a deep dive into the subject (pun very much intended)

As we have recently been discussing under the "Top sites" subject - Natural sites perhaps don't get the attention they deserve - especially those lacking "Iconic Megafauna"!
The "Laurisilva" of Madeira fits that category. I can remember having a couple of pleasant days walking the Levadas but one tree looks rather like another to the eye of those uneducated in such matters.
Those of you who can get to see BBC programs by one means or another should have a look at the documentary I have linked to below. It has concentrated on the evolutionary aspects of 3 types of islands using Hawaii, Madagascar and Madeira as the examples. I found the Madeiran one very interesting for "explaining" the unique aspects of that island - including, but not limited to, the "Laurisilva" - lots of plants, snails, spiders, lizards and beetles!! They may lack the obvious visual appeal of the Mountain Gorilla or Orang Outang etc but they certainly have their interest! You will have to come to terms with its distinctly geriatric and untrendy presenter who clearly doesn't care a damn about what he wears -so different from the normal youthful BBC action man/woman who often seems to grace our screens!!
See - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06zdkds/natures-wonderlands-islands-of-evolutio n-3-madeira-island-ark

ELS - could you add the Laurisilva to the "Gigantism" connection please. Madeira's most famous example - the Desertas Wolf Spider - doesn't live in the Laurisilva but that iconic plant the "Giant Parsley" does (as do others)!! See http://madeiraislands.net/blog/tag/insular-gigantism/
ALSO
I note that we have the Madeiran Laurislva site allocated to the "Eocene" period - after this program I am not sure this is correct. The Laurisilva itself may go back to that period in Europe before the Ice Ages largely wiped it out BUT Madeira itself is more recent than that. So - which period do we use - that when the flora etc evolved albeit not on Madeira (Eocene) or the period when it established itself on the Island? As far as I can see the Island didn't arise until the Miocene and only became "stable" later - so it can't be earlier than that( "The volcano formed atop an east-west rift in the oceanic crust along the African Plate, beginning during the Miocene epoch over 5 million years ago, continuing into the Pleistocene until about 700,000 years ago. This was followed by extensive erosion, producing two large amphitheatres open to south in the central part of the island." Wiki)

I will second that recommendation for Islands of Evolution, really enjoyable and informative. I had no idea about the "Giant Parsley" nature of the Laurisilva.

I have rather enjoyed Richard Foleys documentaries, there was one a few years back about Mushrooms that was really enlightening. Are there any WHS where fungus plays a large role in the OUV?

I'll change it into Miocene

Yesterday evening the first episode was broadcasted of: Climbing a Tepui in Canaima NP (it proved to be slippery, and we saw men crying)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/steve-backshall-adventures

Yesterday evening on BBC 4 there was an episode of 'The Silk Road'. It covered Iran, starting from the east. There was an interesting (but short) look at the Qanats, and also Persepolis was shown.

As so often, I fell asleep half way. Maybe someone has seen the whole programme? I wonder which other sites in Iran they covered? Tabriz Bazaar?

Yazd (including a very brief view of the Wind Tower at the Bagh-e Dalat Abad - also a visit to a Zurkhaneh (Persian Gymnastics) there - but not the one we visited) Isfahan, Kashan (Fin Garden) and (very briefly) Tehran (in the form of the Azadi tower). From there he flew to Istanbul I guess.

Lut I suppose got a mention in the form of "they had to cross a desert where the temperature reaches 70 degrees"

The 2 previous episodes are worth seeing starting from Xian - not fantastic but worth a look.

I saw this series on i-Player but haven't got around to watching it yet. Though I did see five minutes of the first episode and it looked promising. Will let you know if I get a chance to watch some more.

It was a very superficial show indeed. Also that fragment about the Qanats! "Hey - look we have a hole in the ground here marked by tires (they are of more recent date of course). And there's water flowing beneath it. Let's go on to Persepolis!"

I was watching episode 3 of the 2013 series Rise of the Continents (being repeated and thus back on iPlayer).

The presenter went down a mine in the City of Potosí. He had the frightening experience of hearing the nearby blasts of other miners whilst he was in a ramshackle shaft himself!

Probably several other WHS in the series, focusing as it does on geology.

On "From Our Own Correspondent" this week, episode date Saturday 30th July, the fourth dispatch came from the new WHS in Gibraltar, Gorham's Cave Complex. The correspondent talked about Neanderthal links with Homo Sapiens and seemed to confirm that the main cave is indeed inaccessible to tourists.....

Thanks for that Eltomozo, it was an interesting listen.

It is here starting at 16:53 if anyone else wanted a listen.

Episode two of Masters of the Pacific Coast pays a visit to SG̱ang Gwaay Llnagaay.

I must admit I've really enjoyed this series, even though I have been sceptical of Jango Cooper's style in the past. It has done a really good job of explaining a hitherto remote society to me in an understandable and respectful way.