Hongcun is part of the World Heritage site of the ancient villages in Anhui province. WANG KAIHAO/CHINA DAILY

In the same episode, singer Ma Boqian questions whether an earthen relic he is standing on is part of the city wall considering its flat appearance. You don't see screen idols discussing ancient myths every day.

Nevertheless, Shan says, the laypeople's points of view may also lead academics to think deeper about the sites from fresh angles. He says the significance of World Heritage sites can be better reflected through their interactions with a wider community.

"I am glad to see such sites haven't become pure tourist destinations after getting the UNESCO World Heritage status and that local people's dignity and interests haven't been sacrificed for the cost of tourism development," he says.

Consequently, when choosing sites for the show, a key approach was to highlight the harmony between the cultural landscape and local residents.

In the upcoming episodes, The Shape of Culture will feature a wide variety of heritage sites that have close relation with local communities: Gulangyu Island, a famed 19th-century international settlement, also known as Kulangsu, and tulou, the traditional earthen residential buildings of Hakka people in Fujian province, West Lake in downtown Hangzhou and ancient villages in southern Anhui province.

Some sites seeking World Heritage status are also included in the program like the ancient tea plantations of Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er, Yunnan province.