The screen at Times Square shows scenes from a 1-minute looped commercial that has been specially made for "China Experience", a promotional display that is part of a major campaign to promote a truer image of China abroad. The commercial features some of China's most famous faces, including Yao Ming. [Sun Yuting/China News Service]

A new publicity video about China may add cheers to Chinese across the globe who are now celebrating the Spring Festival with fireworks and family dinners, and might also provide more insights to foreigners eager to understand the mysterious country.

The 17-minute documentary, the "sister version" of the 60-second video shown on New York City's Times Square, will be aired over several foreign TV networks, including Discovery Asia, starting Thursday.

The premiere is arranged to coincide with the first day of the Spring Festival, when the Chinese people welcome in the Lunar New Year together with their families.

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"We'd like to present to the world a more diversified China, a goal that could not be achieved with the one-minute version," said Shen Zanchen, producer of the film.

Shen said unlike the previous "China Faces", which strikes an impression with the flash of 59 Chinese faces, the new documentary tries to interpret contemporary Chinese society from more perspectives.

Also, in the 8-part video, ordinary Chinese from all walks of life express their opinions on heated Chinese issues, ranging from education to Internet to social gaps.

"I would say this is progress, that the voice of ordinary Chinese replaced that of officials," said Lang Hsien Ping, professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who in the video also remarked about China's goal of "concealing wealth in public".

"I hope in the future, more chances will be given to ordinary Chinese to have their voices heard, such as the youngsters' concerns on employment and housing," said Lang.

Actually, many Chinese, who have seen the online version before the official debut, are expressing their feelings on the documentary, either being favorable or negative.

"Some Chinese classmates think it's too nationalist," said netizen "Blossoming Lemon", who is studying in the United States. "But many American friends said it was successful publicity, that China was better than they had imagined."