"China from Above", a documentary TV series produced by the China Intercontinental Communication Center (CICC), the U.S. National Geographic Channel (NGC) and three other agencies under the supervision of the State Council Information Office of China, won the Best International Communication Award and was nominated for the Best Film of Chinese Subject (international production) at the 5th China Academy Awards of Documentary Film held on December 27, 2015.

The documentary was jointly produced by CICC, NGC, Natural History New Zealand (NHNZ), Beach House Pictures of Singapore and Norddeutscher Rundfunk  of Germany (NDR). It presents aerial shots and personal stories across over 20 provinces, cities and autonomous regions in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xinjiang and Yunnan, showcasing the kaleidoscopic wonders of China’s history, culture and development.

The shooting techniques and content of "China from Above" received high appreciation from the panel. Through innovative aerial photography, the documentary offers a never-before-seen view of China’s vast territory and diverse landscapes. It displays China’s land and culture in high-definition aerial shots, bringing the rich beauty of this great Oriental country to the world in a truly awe-inspiring way.

It hit NGC’s US Channel on September 24, 2015 to coincide with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the US. During this time in China, it was broadcast on the channels of CCTV-9 Documentary, CCTV-13 News, CCTV-1 General and CCTV-4 International. The documentary also aired on NGC’s UK Channel on October 19 and South Africa Channel on December 5 to coincide with President Xi’s visits to the United Kingdom and South Africa respectively. Furthermore, the documentary will be broadcast on NGC channels in 45 languages, reaching over 440 million households in 171 countries and regions.

Since it was put on the Chinese VOD platform Tencent, "China from Above" has gone viral with 140 million views. According to an analysis issued by China Mainland Media Research Co., Ltd., China from Above is 2015’s most viewed documentary TV series. A chart reflecting the daily number of mentions on Sina Weibo shows that China from Above received favorable comments from 69% Weibo users and neutral comments from the rest 31%, setting a record of zero negative feedback; particularly on China’s National Day, the documentary evoked a widespread wave of patriotism through its magnificent shots and exquisiteness.

Since the China Academy Awards of Documentary Film was first held in 2011, it has become an important academic, cultural and exchange event in documentary film-making and known as the Chinese “Oscar” for documentary with a concept of “viewing from national perspective, adhering to strict academic standards, broadening international vision and promoting Chinese style.”

At the 5th China Academy Awards of Documentary Film, "How China Works", another co-production by the CICC and the Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, was also among the finalists for Best Film of Chinese Subject (international production).