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Cinema Series US Film
  • 5/29/2025
Race Across the World Season 5 Episode 1

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Transcript
00:00Spanning more than 21,000 kilometers across the vast nation of China,
00:23legend says the Great Wall was built along a path carved by a mighty dragon.
00:30Over mountains and through deserts, this fortification of brick, stone, earth and mortar has endured for more than 2,000 years.
00:44And today, just north of Beijing, overlooking the village of Huanghuacheng, is where our race begins.
00:55So many people up already, like, actually working.
01:02Look at them. I love them.
01:05Set for an imminent departure, teenage couple Finn and Seanud.
01:10Wow.
01:11That is the Great Wall of China, don't you?
01:13Yeah.
01:15Stunning.
01:15We've been together four and a half years. Experiencing the world is just top of our list, isn't it?
01:21Yeah. Being from a small town in Wales, we think it's a good challenge for us.
01:25We're still so young. We've not experienced a lot.
01:29We still live with our parents, so it would be nice to see how much we can rely on each other, how much we can stand each other.
01:35You're going to have to help me down.
01:36We always bicker. I might be a bit poody.
01:44A poody?
01:45Poody.
01:46Do you not say poody?
01:47You don't know... poody? You don't know what poody is?
01:50Everyone in Wales knows poody.
01:52It's like a tantrum.
01:53Are we going the right way? Yeah. Look, this is the right way.
01:57Oof, that is stunning. Wow.
02:00I'm a very homey person. Leaving home is a massive deal for me.
02:04Oh, I'm going to cry.
02:05Up here. Right there.
02:06This is so stupid.
02:09It's up here.
02:12Hi.
02:13Ni hao.
02:15Please hand over your mobile phones, cash, and bank cards.
02:19Sure.
02:20Without smartphones, the teams must survive with only essential race kit.
02:25Money belts, safety trackers, and a map.
02:29And here.
02:31Oh, thank you.
02:32And in China, red means good luck. So good luck on your race.
02:35Thank you very much.
02:38Last time we've been away was when?
02:411970s, maybe, together.
02:43It must have been the 70s.
02:45Also ready to race...
02:46What does this remind you of?
02:48What, this river?
02:49Yeah.
02:49The river Derwent?
02:51Oh, maybe.
02:53Retired financial advisor, Brian, and his brother, driving instructor, Melvin.
02:59I'm the younger, the better-looking one.
03:01I was going to say the same thing. I'm the older and the better-looking one. How does that work?
03:04If you look at the hills, that is exactly how you see China.
03:08Yeah, maybe.
03:08The little hills, the mountains.
03:10I'm lucky enough to have gone to lots of places in the world, stayed in nice places, and travelled well.
03:17You would have gone on business class, wouldn't you? If you would have been on our own, you would have gone on business class.
03:20Probably, unless this far.
03:22Brian's lifestyle is lavish, and he definitely wastes money. And I'm not talking about a couple of quid.
03:28I think he lost an awful lot of money on the last car.
03:33I can't believe you didn't take my offer of a bloody personal trainer.
03:37I did offer to pay for you as well, didn't I?
03:39Can you make it?
03:40We're here, man. We're here. We're here.
03:42The longest time we've ever spent together as adults is two, three days.
03:45Hello.
03:46Hi.
03:47Eight, nine weeks with you, Mel.
03:49Whoa.
03:50We'll see.
03:51Thanks very much.
03:53See you.
03:53See you. Bye-bye.
03:54Bye.
03:54Bye.
03:56I sit there, Mel.
03:57We're on our way.
03:58Well, I'll tell you what, let's go and get a cup of tea or something.
04:04Who would have thought, after 31 years, this is where we would end up?
04:08On the Great Wall of China?
04:09On the Great Wall of China.
04:10What, out of breath and on?
04:12Next, to ascend the Great Wall, Yin and Gaz.
04:16When I first met Gaz, this is going to sound really cheesy, but I remember he turned around
04:21and it felt like a bit of a slow motion movie, and I just thought, wow.
04:26We did it all along pretty quick after meeting each other.
04:29Oh, my God.
04:30We're high, aren't we?
04:31Just a little bit.
04:33When we had the takeaway business, we worked together 24-7.
04:37We were a really, really good team together.
04:40Remember that picture that we had in the takeaway?
04:41We had the Great Wall of China.
04:43Yeah.
04:44Well, we're here now, aren't we?
04:44Now we're here, exactly.
04:45Because we've known each other for just under 40 years, that is going to play into our strengths.
04:49Aha!
04:50Oh!
04:51You can't just discount the 40 years of ups and downs.
04:54And here is the map.
04:57We've always grafted.
04:58Yeah.
04:58And I think, like, moving on into race, that's why I'm not so fearful or scared, because I
05:03know that that will come out in both of us.
05:06Bye!
05:07What's bye-bye in Mandarin?
05:08Say, cheer.
05:09Bye-bye.
05:14Nice that we're coming by boat.
05:15I didn't even know that you can get to the Great Wall of China by boat.
05:18Yeah, I didn't know it either.
05:19Floating towards the starting line...
05:22Oh, looks like we're arriving!
05:24...Elizabeth and younger sister, Letitia.
05:27I think we're going to have an advantage, because we're well-traveled in different parts of
05:32the world.
05:32We just come together, and it's like a mighty force.
05:37We're coming like this!
05:40Maybe they'll be seeing us from space.
05:42They're waving, us struggling with our backpacks.
05:45It's like, oh!
05:45We've never actually really travelled together.
05:49No.
05:50Oh, yeah.
05:52What skills do you have?
05:54I've got good people skills.
05:56Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:57You do, yeah.
05:58Yeah.
06:00This one.
06:03You can put up for me.
06:04Yeah.
06:05Which is actually a skill in itself, anyway.
06:08Right, so I'll be in charge of this, then.
06:10I'll also be in charge of that, as well.
06:12What, for Matt?
06:13Oh, no, no, that's yours.
06:14Yeah, that's my role.
06:15Yeah.
06:17Apparently, the wall goes under this water.
06:19Last to arrive.
06:21So, was it flooded afterwards?
06:23It must have been.
06:24I'm Caroline, and I'm absolutely delighted and proud to be doing the race with Thomas,
06:30my only son.
06:31Thank you for doing this.
06:34The fact we get together is pretty good, so we'll be all right.
06:37We'll make sure we're okay.
06:38I don't actually work, although I do feel I work very hard at home.
06:43I'm always cleaning up.
06:44I'm always shopping, preparing meals, cooking, looking after the animals, just being a housewife.
06:51It's really overwhelming, actually, Thomas.
06:53It's a shame, really, because then you find you're old and haven't really done as much as
06:58maybe you would have liked.
07:00You okay?
07:00Sorry, no, wait for me.
07:01No, you've got to...
07:02Come on.
07:02Sorry.
07:03And I feel there's still life out there, and I'd like to grab that opportunity, really.
07:09Look at it.
07:10Oh, my God.
07:12This is one of the wonders of the world.
07:14I can't believe you've done a few already.
07:16I've seen the Coliseum, Machu Picchu.
07:19Yeah, that's it, actually.
07:20Gosh.
07:21This is my first.
07:22I've done nearly ten months of travelling in total now, whereas Mum has done zero, basically.
07:28Hello.
07:29Hello.
07:29I feel like I might know a tiny bit more than Mum, which is quite nice, actually, for the
07:34first time, because everyone always says, Mum's always right, but this time, maybe it's
07:37sons who are always right.
07:38You never know.
07:39Good luck.
07:39Lovely.
07:40Thank you very much.
07:42Are you ready?
07:43I am.
07:44I don't think you have a choice now.
07:47Teams equipped with all the essentials, it's time to find out where the race will lead them.
07:55Ooh.
07:55Ooh.
07:57Final destination is Kanyakumari.
08:00Where is that?
08:02Sounds Japanese.
08:04I don't think it is in China.
08:06No.
08:06This is impossible, man.
08:08That's it?
08:09Yes!
08:09The bottom of India?
08:10No way.
08:12Oh, my God, look!
08:16The finish line.
08:19Kanyakumari.
08:21A journey of over 14,000 kilometres to the southernmost tip of India.
08:29Awaiting the first team to cross the line, a prize of £20,000.
08:34Let's go.
08:35To get there, the teams must pass through seven checkpoints.
08:40Only when they reach one will they learn the destination of the next.
08:45Oh, wow!
08:46They'll need to cross the vast ranging landscapes of three of Asia's ancient civilizations.
08:53China.
08:54My little village has nothing like this.
08:57Nepal.
08:57Very lively place, isn't it?
08:59And India.
09:01It looks like a picture.
09:03Come on.
09:04Oh, my God!
09:06You definitely would not see this in Wales.
09:09And they have to do it all for the lowest budget yet.
09:12Oh!
09:14Let's look at the money.
09:16The equivalent cost of flying the route.
09:19Just over £1,000 per person.
09:22That's not a lot.
09:24Around £22 each per day.
09:27That's not going to buy the accommodation, is it?
09:29It wouldn't buy your normal accommodation.
09:31It would buy what we wanted.
09:33In the shadow of the Great Wall, ready to forge adventurous paths across China,
09:40teams gather at the start line.
09:42It's getting a bit real now, isn't it?
09:44I know.
09:44I think the nerves are kicking in.
09:46It's the first opportunity to meet their rivals.
09:49I feel a bit sick.
09:50I'm like, oh!
09:52There they are.
09:53Oh!
09:54They look scared.
09:56They look good.
09:57I know.
09:58Are you all right?
09:58Hello.
10:00Ah!
10:01Oh!
10:02Hello.
10:03Hello.
10:03Hi.
10:04Everyone's younger.
10:05I know.
10:06I'm sure.
10:09Oh, my goodness.
10:10Oh, my goodness.
10:10It's me.
10:11Hello.
10:12Hello.
10:14Hi, Brian.
10:15Hi.
10:16How do you two know each other?
10:17We're brothers, believe it or not.
10:18Yeah, we are.
10:19We're brothers.
10:21That's damn impressive, isn't it?
10:23That is damn in Brazil.
10:26Hello.
10:27Hi, everybody.
10:27Hi, everybody.
10:28I'm Tom.
10:28Hi.
10:29Hi.
10:29Hi.
10:30Has everybody found the final destination?
10:33Japan, isn't it?
10:34I'm well aware that it's going to be really difficult.
10:46I have a point to prove.
10:48People underestimate them, and I think that's one of our superpowers.
10:52It's going to be completely unique.
10:54Yeah.
10:54Something we've never, ever done before.
10:55I'm always looking to push myself.
10:57We are definitely going to work hard.
10:58It smells, the noise, the chaos, the energy.
11:03It's a race.
11:05We need to be on the ball.
11:08We both have different strengths.
11:09Different strengths, and we can sit.
11:11I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else.
11:13He's probably more resilient than anyone else who's known.
11:19It's about the challenge.
11:20It's about the excitement.
11:22Holding our head up high at the end of it.
11:25If you're going to do it, play to work.
11:28It's about the time they get there.
11:43Oh, my God, there's so many stairs.
11:44Yes, look at that.
11:45It's fringing.
11:46Hold a handrail.
11:47We are not going to fawn.
11:50Come on, mum.
11:51Come on, mum.
11:53Just careful on this bit.
11:56All right, where are we going?
11:57Guangling.
12:002,000 kilometres to the south, the first checkpoint.
12:07Clinging to the slopes of the Huayu Mountains for over 500 years,
12:11Huangling Village.
12:14Famed for conserving its Huay-style dwellings
12:17and its colourful custom of drying chillies on rooftops.
12:21First thing we need to do is find our way out of here.
12:25It seems to be surrounded by mountains.
12:28Oh, I said Beijing.
12:29There is the railway lines going all the way.
12:32We'd both agree it's Beijing to start, don't we, mate?
12:35All routes from there are open.
12:37To reach the checkpoint,
12:39teams will have to navigate the first 100 kilometres
12:42through sprawling suburbs to the heart of Beijing.
12:45From there, high-speed trains connect the whole of China.
12:51Escaping the capital tonight could make or break this first leg.
12:55Do you know English?
12:58Beijing bus to Beijing?
13:01No, she doesn't understand.
13:03It's OK.
13:03Anyway, thank you.
13:05Hello.
13:06Hi, hi.
13:06Do you speak English?
13:08Does anybody speak English?
13:10Do you speak English?
13:11They don't understand.
13:12Let's move on.
13:13Wow, there really is a language barrier, isn't there?
13:15I know.
13:15One team to make a quick getaway from the Great Wall.
13:19Oh, well, now, you know.
13:20Travel savvy sisters Elizabeth and Letitia.
13:24I think we should ask for the main Beijing station.
13:28The fact that we've been exposed to learning other languages.
13:32We're definitely going to be a bit more comfortable
13:35in these kind of settings.
13:36Yeah.
13:37Jan means station.
13:39Jan means station.
13:40Yeah.
13:42I lived in China for six months.
13:44I just start learning Mandarin.
13:47Yeah, I should probably clock up the courage
13:50to ask something.
13:52Yeah, you got this.
13:52Nihao.
13:54Washe Latisha.
13:57Washe 26.
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15:24Getting out of this little village in the middle of nowhere.
15:27Still struggling to get going,
15:29first-time travellers Finn and Seanhead.
15:33Do we sit down?
15:34I think we sit down.
15:35Right, put the map down for a sec.
15:38Once I've got a plan, I'm happy.
15:41She's a control freak.
15:42She's already planned the wedding.
15:44I have no say in it at all.
15:46Yes, you do. Don't be silly.
15:48Your first checkmate is Huangling.
15:50Right, well, straight away I think Shanghai's bad.
15:53To reach the first checkpoint,
15:56teams must traverse eastern China.
15:59Home to some of the country's most trailblazing cities,
16:02it's also the birthplace of profound philosophy
16:05and some transformative inventions.
16:08Silk, porcelain and the compass.
16:12From Beijing, teams could travel along the Yellow Sea coast,
16:17well-connected by China's extensive high-speed rail network.
16:21The route's showstopper,
16:23the glittering metropolis, Shanghai.
16:26The more adventurous could veer inland,
16:30steeped in tradition and history.
16:33Less direct, but with the advantage of fewer crowds.
16:36I do feel like sticking with the city gives you peace of mind.
16:40Oh!
16:41There are bullet trains from Qingdao to Shanghai.
16:44Right, check where Qingdao is.
16:46Come on.
16:46Because once we're in Shanghai,
16:47I feel like it'll be straightforward.
16:50Seanet's plan,
16:51play it safe
16:53and city hopped down the coast via Shanghai.
16:57That's not cheap.
16:58Right.
16:59I feel like not to just splurge on the first leg.
17:01I feel like this is the leg we should splurge on.
17:04Now we've sat down and we have planned,
17:06like, we've got a bit of a...
17:08..inkling of what we're going to do, I guess.
17:11Try to find a bus stop.
17:13Oh, my God.
17:1545 kilometres ahead...
17:17We're practically walking back to the Great Wall of China.
17:19But still, 60 kilometres from the centre of Beijing,
17:23Yen and Gaz have reached the suburb of Huarou,
17:26with nightfall approaching.
17:28We've gone off the bus,
17:30and if I'm brutally honest,
17:31I think we've gone completely wrong.
17:33So I don't know where we are.
17:35We're certainly not in the centre of Beijing.
17:37Just kind of assumed that the bus would take us to the terminal,
17:40but obviously not.
17:42Everyone just jumped off.
17:44We're looking for bus station or train station.
17:47You don't know what I'm talking about.
17:48You don't know what I'm talking about.
17:49You don't know what I'm talking about.
17:50You don't know what I'm talking about.
17:51There's...
17:52Oh...
17:53OK.
17:55Ying one.
17:56You're not...
17:57You're not familiar.
17:58He's not familiar.
17:58You're not familiar.
18:00No, I don't...
18:01No, I don't...
18:02No.
18:03Although I'm Chinese, I was born in the UK.
18:06I've been to China once before,
18:08a really long time ago in the 80s,
18:10and to be fair, my Mandarin is like zero,
18:12so it's just impossible.
18:13Neither of us are getting anywhere, basically.
18:20The problem is, is like, we ask people...
18:22And they speak Chinese to you, yeah.
18:23They speak Chinese to me, because I look Chinese.
18:25Yeah.
18:26We don't get anywhere.
18:27I've kind of lost a bit of heart, to be honest.
18:30I know you have.
18:30OK, but we need to...
18:31We need to...
18:32What do you want to do, then?
18:33There's going to be an answer.
18:34Let's head across there, ask around.
18:37I do feel like I'm a hindrance.
18:39No, you're not a hindrance at all.
18:40No, 100%.
18:41Could you help us?
18:44Is this the city centre, or is this the suburbs?
18:47This is...
18:47Yeah, yeah.
18:48..central Beijing.
18:49Right, and where are we?
18:50Three hours to go by bus.
18:51Oh, wow.
18:52Three hours?
18:53No, three hours by bus.
18:54Oh, wow.
18:57What's kind of, like, a good place
18:58to get a cheap, clean hotel?
19:01Like here...
19:01It's cheaper here.
19:03Right.
19:03Like, folks, the centre...
19:04Yeah, it's more expensive.
19:05OK, so...
19:06Stay here tonight, and then get to Beijing tomorrow.
19:08I think that's the best plan.
19:11Come on, red man, green man.
19:16Hey, green man.
19:17Go, go, go, go, go.
19:1821.
19:19What's the best plan this is?
19:21Beijing, a name that means northern capital.
19:26Once home to imperial dynasties,
19:29today it's the centre of power for the Communist Party.
19:33Twice the size of London,
19:35it's the most visited destination in China.
19:40Is it to the left and then right?
19:41Or straight up here?
19:43Straight up here?
19:43Trying to plot a way out...
19:45Well, decision time, I think.
19:48Brian and Melvin...
19:50It's dark, late, we're tired.
19:52I think we'll find a cafe,
19:54sit down, have a plan.
19:56Do what we need to do,
19:57and then find a hotel tonight.
19:59It's been a long day, really, hasn't it?
20:00Yeah.
20:02You can always get me on a bit of cake.
20:07Personally, I think we should do the most direct route.
20:10I don't fancy ending up at Shanghai,
20:12which is going to be a very bustling and large city,
20:15and I would be more comfortable in the countryside.
20:18But I think you'd actually get to the checkpoint quicker
20:20by going to the Shanghai route.
20:21But we'll miss out on the ancient stuff.
20:25So let's forget the Shanghai route,
20:27not that one on the head.
20:29I am a bit controlling.
20:31That's one of my bad qualities.
20:34So Luoyang is the birthplace of Chinese civilisation.
20:37Okay.
20:38Full stop.
20:38There's Buddhist grottos 1,700 years old.
20:43That's unique.
20:45Yeah, yeah.
20:46My wife said to me,
20:47don't come over all pushy.
20:49Don't come over all pompous, Brian.
20:51That would be brilliant for me.
20:53Do you think it's a risk, Ben?
20:55Yeah, it is a risk,
20:56but we need to see how far it is.
20:58There's the point.
21:00Brian's route will lead the brothers deep inland
21:03to Luoyang in Hernan province,
21:06a dicey detour from the checkpoint.
21:09Is the risk worth it?
21:10Yeah, I think it is.
21:12All right?
21:13No, that's decision made,
21:14because you can't fart about Paul.
21:15Decision made, go.
21:16I think we need to just speed up the pace.
21:22Also gambling on venturing into less travelled territory.
21:25I think we should definitely go inland
21:27where there's more opportunity to do a bed and board
21:30where we can save money.
21:31Elizabeth and Leticia looking to escape the city tonight.
21:35Up here, Beijing Fongtai Station.
21:37Oh, a different...
21:38A different station.
21:39Here to Beijing Fongtai, about 80 kilometres.
21:43But needing to grapple with six major railway stations
21:47and nearly 900 kilometres of metro system.
21:50We're coming in mighty, mighty fire.
21:54It's the slide.
21:55We didn't make it on time.
22:02Which means we have to stay the night here.
22:06We were so close.
22:07Oh, so we're sold out.
22:13So we're buggered.
22:14Also failing to exit Beijing.
22:16Oh, God.
22:18I'm gutted.
22:19Well, we'll call it a night tonight.
22:20Fine accommodation.
22:22Which is brilliant.
22:23Is the one thing that we said...
22:24We didn't want to do.
22:25...we didn't want to do.
22:26So I think the plan for tonight is to...
22:29Eat up, rest up, shut up and back up.
22:32Exactly.
22:33Oh, I think they're going to do cheap buffets.
22:37That's what I need right now.
22:39As day one draws to a close...
22:41..one team has managed to leave the capital
22:44and squeeze into the lead.
22:47Sorry, it's a bit tight.
22:49Yeah, right.
22:51Oh, I love trying.
22:53Finn and Seanhead are looking to leave Beijing
22:55and the competition 650 kilometres behind
22:59via an overnight train to Qingdao.
23:02I think we've done well on our first day,
23:04although we have definitely spent more than we probably...
23:07More than we wanted to.
23:08Wanted to, but we are on a move.
23:10We're on a ten-and-a-half-hour train now.
23:11I do feel like we've got further than we expected to.
23:14Oh, it's a tight squeeze.
23:16Good night, love you.
23:18Yeah, love you.
23:20Boop, boop, boop.
23:22Have a...
23:23I'd love to have a little cuddle tonight.
23:28Tough.
23:29When a prison starts an action, I'd like.
23:31OK.
23:31All right, Thomas, have you got everything?
23:43Yeah, I think so.
23:45I feel so much better.
23:46I washed out my underwear.
23:49I think yesterday was a bit of a shock to the system
23:52and a bit disheartening,
23:53but now we're ready to crack on,
23:56especially as we can see the train station from our room.
23:58One step ahead...
23:59Finally have a ticket.
24:01Yeah, we're making progress.
24:03Elizabeth and Letitia are heading south,
24:05seeking rural homestays to protect their budget.
24:09Do you know what this reminds me of?
24:10The train from Nairobi to Mombuston.
24:13Yeah, look, we can actually even see some mountains over there,
24:16which is quite nice.
24:17Bye, Beijing.
24:18Also venturing inland, Brian and Melvin,
24:23making a journey of over 800 kilometres to enjoy the ancient sites.
24:29Yeah, we're making good speed.
24:30The only thing is we're spending our money.
24:32That's the problem.
24:33So when we get to Luang,
24:34if we can get a pay job and accommodation...
24:37Yeah.
24:37..we might be able to get back on an even keel.
24:40We know where we're going.
24:42All we've got to do is book a train,
24:44take in what Luang has to offer.
24:47Oh, sold out, sold out.
24:49Sold out, sold out.
24:49Look at this.
24:51How are they so busy?
24:52Yeah, we have to get out of Beijing.
24:53We have to get out of Beijing.
24:55It would be really nice to still stick to the plan and go to Luang.
24:58It is the capital of another province,
25:00so it's got great transport links.
25:02Come up with a different method,
25:04and hopefully that'll work.
25:06That might be booked up as well.
25:08And then I don't know what we do.
25:10Probably just start walking to the checkpoint.
25:12It says on here there's some left.
25:15Leave from a different station.
25:17We don't even know where it is.
25:18OK, we'll try going somewhere else, Thomas.
25:19We need to look at other stations and how to get there.
25:22Come on, you're better than me.
25:23You know what you're doing.
25:25Right, line two, the subway.
25:28If we can get on the way to Janang,
25:30then we can get excited.
25:32But until then, I think we're very much race mode.
25:34That looks like us there.
25:379-1-6.
25:38Yeah.
25:38Still just 45 kilometres from the starting line,
25:42Jan and Gaz are finally on their way into Beijing.
25:45After yesterday and kind of having a bit of a meltdown,
25:48I do feel a lot better today.
25:50And now that we're moving, it feels quite good.
25:52We want to get to Shanghai,
25:54cos it is pretty close to the end checkpoint.
25:56Small win, we're good, we're on the move.
25:58I'm just really glad that we didn't get stuck in Beijing last night.
26:05No.
26:07There we go.
26:07Well done, Seanad.
26:08At the front of the pack,
26:10Finn and Seanad have reached China's Yellow Sea coast.
26:14Oh, look at that.
26:16Absolutely massive bridge.
26:18And the sea.
26:19One of the world's longest sea bridges,
26:25spanning 42 kilometres,
26:27connects Zhaozhou Bay to Qingdao.
26:31It was Europe's first colony on China's mainland.
26:35But despite centuries of foreign influence,
26:39the city's culture and cuisine remains resolutely Chinese.
26:43Can you smell fish here, cos I can?
26:45No, I could do with some food, maybe hot food.
26:48Before heading to Shanghai,
26:50Finn and Seanad plan lunch at Quandao Market.
26:54Can't wait for the crispy beef,
26:56the sweet and sour sauce.
26:58Crispy duck.
26:59Oh.
27:02Oh, look at the head.
27:05Oh, wow.
27:07Is that a lung?
27:09Do you want to try a lung, Seanad?
27:10No.
27:10I reckon we should try a lung.
27:11Do you try it?
27:13Do you want to try it?
27:14No.
27:14Periods of food scarcity throughout Chinese history
27:18have led to the nation having a wide-ranging palate,
27:22with everything enjoyed, from insects to offal.
27:26Chinese food at home is a lie.
27:28It's a massive lie.
27:29It's a really big misconception, I think.
27:31Loads of little willies.
27:33It's a bit gross.
27:34I reckon we have to try something we'd never normally eat,
27:38because we have to eat it then, cos we've spent money on it.
27:43This just feels wrong.
27:46Oh.
27:47Oh!
27:48Oh!
27:49Do you know what it reminds me of?
27:50Like, Voldemort, when he's like...
27:53But you haven't watched it, so you wouldn't know.
27:58Oh, my gosh, it's so squishy.
28:00It's so squishy.
28:00I want to ask a local, how do you eat it, cos I don't know how.
28:04Ni hao, do you...
28:06How?
28:07Just...
28:07Just...
28:07Very good.
28:08Anyway, how do we, like...
28:11Mm-hmm?
28:12Or...
28:12Oh, shit.
28:14Ha-ha-ha.
28:15Oh!
28:16Oh!
28:18Oh!
28:18Oh, crud.
28:20What?
28:21Did you just bite it?
28:22It's any...
28:23Oh!
28:23Oh!
28:24I can't eat that.
28:25Oh!
28:25Oh!
28:25OK.
28:26In the capital...
28:29Can we please get any ticket to Janan today, please?
28:33Er, today, no.
28:34There's no tickets?
28:37There's got to be tickets.
28:39Is there any...
28:41What about an overnight?
28:42An overnight train?
28:43A train to Janan?
28:45Today, no.
28:46Tomorrow.
28:46We haven't made it out of Beijing in 24 hours now.
28:50We'll have to start with a plan.
28:52Well, we can't, Thomas.
28:53This is the plan.
28:54Yeah, I know.
28:55OK, OK.
29:02Sorry.
29:06Give me a hug.
29:07But we are so useless.
29:10I'll try.
29:12Come on, we're up to a challenge.
29:13We said that.
29:14I'll give it a go, shall I?
29:15And you can watch me fail.
29:18It's difficult as a parent to see your child struggle,
29:21especially as, I would say, this is more his strength,
29:23because he has travelled on his own before,
29:26and I think he was hoping he'd find it easier
29:28and he could show me.
29:29Mara Monja.
29:30Yes, 620.
29:32202.
29:33Can I have two tickets, please?
29:34Thomas has sorted.
29:35We'll find a hostel.
29:36OK?
29:37I think we just sleep on the street.
29:38I don't know if it's safe.
29:42I feel like I've kind of taken the role that I'm going to take the lead
29:45and take care of you, and I'm worried I can't...
29:47Oh, Thomas!
29:47I can't do that as much already.
29:49We're doing it together.
29:50I'm just worried I'm going to let you down a little bit.
29:52No, oh, darling, no.
29:55Yesterday I was putting on a brave face for Mum,
29:57and that was OK.
29:58I think I tried to do the same again today,
30:00and it just all got a bit too much that built up
30:04that it just kind of forced its way out,
30:06which even took me by surprise, to be honest.
30:08I haven't seen you cry for years.
30:10It was just so overwhelming.
30:14With the way we've been brought up,
30:16I think Mum and Dad have always been quite traditional roles
30:21and values in our family.
30:23I've never really seen Dad get emotional,
30:25and I think you're worried that showing your emotions
30:27can sometimes be perceived as you being weak.
30:30So I think maybe that's why sometimes
30:32I don't show my emotions as much as I'd like to.
30:39Dad would absolutely love these.
30:44With Caroline and Tom stuck in Beijing for a second night,
30:48300 kilometres south,
30:50Elizabeth and Letitia are pushing on to Bang Boon.
30:54Sleeper beds look so nice.
30:57The pillows look so comfy.
30:59Damn it!
30:59It's OK.
31:01We'll save an accommodation.
31:02With a nine-and-a-half-hour overnight journey in third class.
31:09Oh, and it's even hard.
31:11You know when you sit down with something
31:12and you're expecting a cushion?
31:14This is going to be interesting.
31:16Yeah, I'm not getting sick to that.
31:18I don't think so.
31:20Deep inland, in the city of Luoyang.
31:23I wish I knew what she was saying.
31:30With plans to visit the ancient grottos tomorrow,
31:34tonight, Brian and Melvin are earning their bed and board.
31:38OK.
31:39No, I've got it.
31:39I've got it.
31:40I've got it.
31:40It's in hand.
31:41You lead the way.
31:42At Miss Wang's restaurant.
31:47You hold it now.
31:48OK.
31:49There we go.
31:51OK.
31:52She's a bit of a hard worker, isn't she?
31:54What a taskmaster.
31:56She clipped me once.
31:58Is she?
31:58For me, I'm used to the Michelin star restaurant
32:03and the five-star hotel.
32:05Actually, quite a posh restaurant.
32:06There's some business people in there with suits and ties.
32:09A place where I'd certainly eat.
32:11I may have been lucky,
32:13but I've made that luck by hard work.
32:16Do not fall over, bro.
32:18Do not be a prat.
32:19So I'm quite happy to get my hands dirty.
32:22That will help us get those little bits of luxury.
32:26Bye.
32:26Thank you, girls.
32:27Thank you very much.
32:28Bye-bye.
32:30I'll tell you what,
32:31I'll be glad to get into my bed.
32:33So where are we going then?
32:34The restaurant's over there.
32:35There's a hotel up here.
32:36I always wanted to go there, are we?
32:38We're going up a little side alleyway.
32:40It's a bit dark down here, isn't it?
32:41It is, mate.
32:43What's that, Mel?
32:45Yeah, I've seen it.
32:45Oh, right, Phil.
32:46Seen it, seen it.
32:48Thank you very much.
32:50Yeah.
32:51Ah, lovely.
32:53Lovely.
32:56Very good.
32:57People at home think that I probably can't adapt.
33:06My kids don't think that I can adapt.
33:08Where's the loo?
33:09Just over there.
33:10Oh, OK.
33:10No.
33:13OK.
33:14We might not be in a hotel every night,
33:16but I would like a bed at night to lie in and a pillow.
33:20Oh, what's that?
33:21That's just a piece of board.
33:23And the bed and board is literally a board.
33:29Bloody, is there any glass in that window?
33:31There was glass on the floor that I picked up,
33:32but there's none in the window.
33:34Does it smell?
33:35Yeah.
33:36No, it doesn't.
33:37It does.
33:37It smells of wee.
33:38He has a key in the door.
33:44I can't.
33:47Who's going to break it?
33:51Who in the right mind is going to nick out?
33:54What's happened tonight is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping would happen.
34:15I can't remember the last time we laughed like that together.
34:24F*** us.
34:25That stinks.
34:26It's been all bloody days.
34:27I tell you what, I'm happy with the accommodation.
34:29The accommodation is fine.
34:31That is now my problem.
34:33Hello.
34:50This area feels very calm, quite serene.
34:54I like this, yeah.
34:56At the midway point of their journey to Shanghai,
35:00Yin and Gaz have made it to the holy city of the east.
35:04Chu Fu.
35:06That's well cool.
35:07Look at that.
35:07Well over 2,000 years old at least.
35:10Home to a sprawling complex of ancient temples
35:13and the birthplace of China's most renowned philosopher.
35:17That's the man himself.
35:19Confucius.
35:20When you get your fortune cookie and there's a proverb in there,
35:23that's probably come from Confucius.
35:25Born 2,500 years ago,
35:28his teachings on morality and family
35:30garnered such fame that his home was turned into a temple
35:34and decorated in a style usually reserved for emperors.
35:38Do you think they are, dragons?
35:40They are dragons, yeah.
35:41There's a lot of symbolism in Chinese culture.
35:44I know fish is going to be wealth,
35:46dragon of the strength, courage.
35:49Having a really nice time.
35:50It's incredible being able to see the symbolism here
35:53that kind of ties back in with some of like
35:55the things that I grew up with
35:57is really nice to see in its context.
36:00My mum and dad were very traditional Chinese.
36:03They were quite insular.
36:05But I do understand why,
36:07because they were the first wave of immigration.
36:10The writing is so, like, intricate.
36:12Yeah.
36:13And they kind of carved all that scripture in.
36:16I wasn't allowed to go out into town,
36:19go to parties and things like that,
36:21so I found it really challenging to be hemmed in.
36:25So when they first met Gaz,
36:28bear in mind it was in the midst of the 80s
36:31where it was like the rave culture.
36:33I had long hair, I had a goatee beard, you know,
36:35I did look like a bit dodgy character.
36:37There's a big drum.
36:39Oh, that's cool.
36:40That's a big drum.
36:42The first thing that my mum said to me was,
36:44why have you brought a drug dealer into our house?
36:48There is quite a rebellious streak in you as well,
36:50and I think that was almost two fingers to your parents
36:52by saying, look, I'm going to go this way.
36:54We're going to make a...
36:56Wish to win the race.
36:57OK, let's go.
36:59We've got Confucius on our side now.
37:02Come on, we need to get a move on.
37:05This place is huge.
37:07My little village has nothing compared to the size of this.
37:10City hopping south,
37:12teenage couple Finn and Sean Ed
37:14are the first team to reach China's biggest metropolis.
37:17Once a fishing village on the Yangtze River,
37:22today Shanghai reigns as China's dazzling showpiece,
37:26packed with over 24 million people,
37:28a flurry of futuristic skylines
37:30and streets that echo with stories of the past.
37:34Look at his tash.
37:36I think I'm pulling.
37:38Yes!
37:39Oh, she's spinning too quickly.
37:43I'm getting dizzy, Sean Ed.
37:44Yay!
37:46Well done.
37:47Thank you, say cheers.
37:50Let's go.
37:51Right.
37:51I thought she wasn't going to stop then.
37:55Sean, how long have you been walking for?
37:56Probably been like an hour and a half, hour.
37:59My back hurts, right?
38:00You feel really dizzy when I'm trying to...
38:01Oh, my levels are going low now.
38:04Yeah, I think...
38:04You need something.
38:05I need to get some sugar down me.
38:08I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
38:11I was 11 years old.
38:12The exercise will bring down my levels.
38:15So I'm sitting down now,
38:17have fast-acting sugar.
38:18We need to wait for your levels to go up anyways.
38:20I used to be very, I guess, insecure.
38:23I thought it was embarrassing.
38:25I remember the day you found my sensor.
38:27You went here and you touched.
38:28I was like, what's that?
38:29I was like, oh, no.
38:31Like, how did you actually feel when I found it?
38:33Were you like, oh, shit, she's found it?
38:34Gutted.
38:34Or were you...
38:35Really, why?
38:35I think I would have probably hid that for a lot longer.
38:40Oh, that's quite sad.
38:42I feel like I worry about Finn's sugar levels more than he worries about it, to be honest.
38:46I feel like I take on the motherly role a bit with that, especially when his mum's not around.
38:53Who's going to be challenged doing the race?
38:56It's making sure we plan ahead, I think.
38:59I literally inject you now.
39:03Yeah.
39:04Yeah, to be fair, you've injected me in my bottom.
39:06Yeah.
39:07Many times.
39:10Do you think we can get a bit quicker, Mel?
39:11Yeah, but I'll spill my tea.
39:13The key is to see the...
39:14Statues, that's what we're coming for.
39:17Brian's cultural journey west has brought the brothers 1,000 kilometres inland to Longyang,
39:23one of the four great ancient capitals of China,
39:26where Buddhism was first introduced to the nation nearly 2,000 years ago
39:31and home to one of the finest examples of Buddhist art, the Longmen grottos.
39:38It's pretty awesome.
39:40I didn't expect it to be this big again.
39:42I didn't...
39:42This is massive.
39:44Blimey neck.
39:45Hollowed out of the limestone cliffs of the Yi River,
39:49countless caves hold over 100,000 statues.
39:52Amongst them, the 17-metre-tall Varyokana Buddha.
39:59He's a big one, isn't he?
40:00Yeah.
40:04That's hand-cone.
40:05Yeah.
40:07It's tons of these things are missing,
40:08but if you look how well-preserved that is for 1,500 years,
40:12you can forgive the fingers, can't you?
40:15Worth coming, isn't it?
40:16Yeah, definitely worth.
40:17We have taken a step back in the race to come and do this,
40:20but this is the real China.
40:23Come on.
40:25It is nice for me to remember that Melb is similar to me.
40:29What do you think?
40:29It's huge.
40:30It's amazing, really.
40:32As we're getting older,
40:34it's nice spending a bit of time with each other,
40:36which we haven't done in...
40:3850 years.
40:4050 years?
40:40Yeah.
40:41Mainly because we've gone our separate ways.
40:43Let's take a photo.
40:44Yeah.
40:45Hi.
40:46Would you take a photo of us soon?
40:48Okay.
40:48Hey, thank you, mate.
40:49It's just that one there.
40:50Okay, okay.
40:51Brilliant.
40:51Thanks very much.
40:53When we were kids,
40:54we did share interesting things,
40:56youth arsenal and fish and all that kind of stuff,
40:58and it's nice to start that over again
41:00and pick up where we left off.
41:02We've not got on each other's nerves yet.
41:04It's nice at the minute.
41:05It's pleasant.
41:06Yeah.
41:07Thank you, mate.
41:07Brilliant.
41:08You're welcome.
41:10If you think back,
41:12that's the first time
41:13that we've actually been together
41:15on the same photograph
41:16in 20, 30 years, I suppose.
41:19Is it really?
41:20Yeah.
41:21And that's...
41:21Is it?
41:22We need more of it then, don't we?
41:23Yeah.
41:24We need some more memories together,
41:26so we need to throw our camera at people
41:28and get our picture taken a bit more, yeah?
41:30Yeah.
41:30Yeah, let's get on the train.
41:32Come on.
41:32Let's get sorted.
41:34Let's go.
41:35Oh, gosh.
41:41560 kilometres south-east...
41:44Oh, God.
41:44This is so fun.
41:46I love it.
41:46I mean, it is fun.
41:48I just don't want to go...
41:49Oh!
41:49It's, like, going up very steeply.
41:52And heading into hilly farmlands,
41:55Elizabeth and Letitia
41:56are in the rural outskirts of Bangboo.
42:01Look how big.
42:02Yeah.
42:03I didn't even know they'd grow on trees.
42:06Earning their bed and board,
42:07working on the Wang family farm.
42:10OK.
42:11OK.
42:12Kind of, like, pull and then twist.
42:14Get to work.
42:15For generations, they've made their living
42:17growing and selling white pomegranates,
42:21Chinese symbols of prosperity.
42:23Oh, dear.
42:24Oh, dear.
42:25Oh, dear.
42:26Ouch.
42:27If I was being stabbed, like, every two seconds by the fawns,
42:30it's actually quite relaxing.
42:31I don't know how you're getting stabbed so much.
42:34There's a seven-year age gap between the both of us, yeah.
42:38Oh!
42:39Oh!
42:39Oh!
42:40No!
42:40Don't throw them.
42:41You're going to bruise.
42:43I think our dynamic is quite younger sister,
42:46older sister.
42:47Thanks.
42:47But, yeah.
42:48I want to get out of that, though.
42:50You know?
42:51You're not really trying to get out of it.
42:53I think you're even deepening the younger sister vibes.
42:58So just twist, twist, twist, twist, twist, twist.
43:01Twist!
43:01Be careful.
43:03I'm glad to be done perfectly.
43:05Elizabeth.
43:05Nitpicks.
43:06Everything.
43:08I think we need to speed up as well,
43:09because we're going quite slow.
43:11You don't like being told what to do at all?
43:14No.
43:15Oh!
43:17How are you doing?
43:18How are you doing this?
43:20I'm doing this.
43:21Okay.
43:22He didn't say good.
43:23He said, okay.
43:27He's asleep here.
43:29Like a princess room.
43:31Yeah.
43:33It's us back sharing again, isn't it?
43:35So we used to share.
43:36Yeah.
43:38Growing up, it was great having an old sister.
43:41But then Elizabeth went to Italy for nine years,
43:43so we did have that distance.
43:46She left when I was maybe like 15,
43:49and she came back, and I was like an adult,
43:51so we had that gap.
43:54We'll do it.
43:55You can sit here and sit here.
43:57Okay.
43:59Let's eat.
44:00You can sit here and sit here.
44:02Okay.
44:02Okay.
44:03Oh, wow.
44:05Look at this bread.
44:08Mm.
44:09I think my sister still sees this
44:24how I was, like, back then.
44:27It's not spicy.
44:30It's a child.
44:32What's up with that?
44:34Oh, um, her, her, her.
44:37Wow, this is a spirit.
44:38This is a spirit.
44:40Our relationship is very surface level,
44:42so on this race,
44:43I would like her to see me as an adult,
44:46as mature woman.
44:51That was very strong.
44:52Anyway.
44:56Wow.
44:57Where's the smooth bag?
45:00Have you not got it?
45:01No.
45:02You're such a...
45:03Oh, mum.
45:05After their static start,
45:07Caroline and Tom have finally reached
45:09the travel hub of Xinan.
45:12Eager to make up time,
45:14they've secured an overnight train
45:15that will take them 770 kilometres southwards
45:18to the city of Suzhou,
45:21and are riding in the cheapest seats they could find.
45:23This train is really going to help us
45:27cover a lot of distance and save money.
45:29So, look, in the grand scheme of things,
45:31it's not that bad.
45:33Got a seat, it's fine.
45:34There's a shared table.
45:35I didn't expect a bed or anything
45:37or a really comfy seat for the price we paid.
45:40I've tucked my trousers into my socks.
45:43I've got plastic shoes on.
45:45This is what happens when you travel on a budget, so...
45:48I don't care how tough it gets,
45:49but I'll get through it and I'll bounce back.
45:51You're doing well.
45:51I think the lose might present a problem, but...
45:55Go early before it gets worse, perhaps.
45:58This is the kind of travelling I wanted.
46:00I'm sure I wouldn't be your first choice.
46:02You seem to be now.
46:04You're going up in the ranks.
46:06Am I? Fantastic.
46:09You're impressing me.
46:11Yes, it's a really good son.
46:12That's lovely.
46:13I'm quite happy.
46:14Mum is doing pretty good.
46:16I'm sure there's an element of putting a break based on.
46:21We're both very determined.
46:23I think we really want to prove we can come back from this.
46:26And we do everything we can to stay in this race.
46:29I think I love adventurizing now.
46:41Early morning.
46:43Bang-boom.
46:44Oh, this is so cute!
46:46This family has shown such great hospitality.
47:00We really felt really welcoming.
47:01With money saved on accommodation...
47:04Oh, my...
47:04Wow!
47:05..a sister's strategy to spend big on a direct train
47:09550 kilometres to Wu-Yen,
47:13the closest station to the checkpoint town of Huanling.
47:16Hopefully we'll make it to the checkpoint really quickly
47:19and then we can enjoy the pomegranates.
47:24230 kilometres closer to Huanling...
47:26I'm feeling ready to go.
47:30Dear passengers, we are now at Ponceau Station.
47:34Prioritise speed.
47:35We spend so much on transport.
47:37I feel like if we're not there first now,
47:39I don't know what we've done wrong.
47:40No, I know.
47:41Fen and Seanad have one final connection to make
47:44to reach the checkpoint.
47:47Er, we're on?
47:486, 20, 1.
47:50It's all right.
47:51Yes.
47:52So it's five, six hours.
47:53We're not waiting, not long.
47:55Is that earlier?
47:56Only, only this one.
47:58So it's 306, 1.
48:02Another 30 quid.
48:03This is so shit.
48:05OK, we'll maybe come back.
48:07So that's a bit of a kick in the teeth.
48:09When I've made a plan, I just don't like steering from it.
48:12Well, it says bus is this way.
48:14No bus.
48:15No bus?
48:16No bus today at all.
48:17No bus.
48:18What do you want to do?
48:19Because I've had enough of making decisions.
48:21I don't know.
48:23Awesome.
48:24I can't believe this.
48:25You're waiting for me to do every single decision.
48:28No.
48:28This is a joke.
48:29We should not still be in a station.
48:33Well, we can't have a bus.
48:36I think we should have to go pay for the train and just have to wait a stupid amount of time.
48:40I don't think that we have any other options.
48:43The youngest team at a standstill.
48:46We're off.
48:47Woo-hoo!
48:49Behind them in Shanghai, Yunem Gaz have already secured a train towards the checkpoint, departing later in the day.
48:57It's like an onslaught of the senses, really.
49:00Look at that through there.
49:02It's cool, isn't it?
49:03It's like unreal, isn't it?
49:06Giving the pair a chance to wander the streets of the city.
49:10Yeah, look at this.
49:11What's that over there?
49:12I mean, I can't read all of it, but there's like, I'm assuming parents who have put adverts for their children who are seeking marriage or partners.
49:23In a city where tradition meets ambition, many young professionals are too busy to date.
49:29So every weekend, People's Park transforms into a bustling marriage market.
49:35Let's see what's on the market.
49:37Because we're going to find you a nice bride.
49:40You look very, very presentable.
49:42Do I?
49:42Yeah.
49:42Good.
49:44Genuinely, he'd be a catch for anyone.
49:46He's got his own teeth and, you know, he hasn't got very much hair, but he's still, I think, quite a good-looking man.
49:53I mean, you know, Gaz was a great husband.
49:56When the marriage was good, I mean, he was a brilliant husband.
50:02We were together, we were married for, I think we were together for 31 years.
50:07We did split up two or three years, go in our separate ways.
50:10I'd consider Gaz to be a best friend now.
50:12I think at the point of the marriage breakup, I probably hated him.
50:15Little elements of our relationship deteriorated.
50:19We became two separate people living in a house together.
50:22And then before you know it, there's no going back.
50:24It's like a rock going down the hill.
50:26You can see what's happening, but you don't change it.
50:29See if we can find someone with a friendly face we might, we can offer you up to.
50:34I still get people, friends, saying to me,
50:36Oh, are you and Gaz going to get back together yet?
50:38I'm like, absolutely not.
50:41We're over that, aren't we?
50:42We're over that.
50:44Did you look for yourselves to find a match?
50:47Actually, she's not single, but I'm single.
50:50Oh, do you think that Gaz would be a really good prospect?
50:54Too old?
50:55It's not my taste.
50:56Not your taste?
50:58Yes, what about you?
51:00Oh, no, not for me.
51:01Yeah.
51:04Plenty more fish in the sea.
51:05I might find a wife in India.
51:06Oh, well, you'll have lost some weight then, won't you?
51:09So you'll be even more engaged.
51:11Now we need to concentrate on the checkpoint,
51:13because, I mean, we're in touching distance, mate.
51:16As the teams make their final push towards Huan Ling...
51:20Could you take a photo of us two, please?
51:22Brian and Melvin...
51:23Smile, you miserable git!
51:25..are unable to resist another cultural pit stop...
51:29Another one together, it's the second one.
51:30..and are making slow progress towards the checkpoint.
51:33Ahead of them...
51:36Oh, my golly.
51:38..an overnight train has propelled Caroline and Tom south
51:41and back into the race at the lakeside city of Suzhou.
51:46Hello.
51:46We're trying to get a train to...
51:48We can't say it.
51:51We don't know how.
51:53Ooh, yeah.
51:54Yeah.
51:54Ooh, yeah?
51:55Ooh, yeah.
51:56Ooh, yeah.
51:56Ooh, yeah.
51:57Ooh, yeah.
51:57Ooh, yeah.
51:57Ooh, yeah.
51:58Ooh, yeah.
51:58Ooh, yeah.
51:58Ooh, yeah.
51:59Ooh, yeah.
51:59Ooh, yeah.
52:00Ooh, yeah.
52:00Ooh, yeah.
52:00Ooh, yeah.
52:01Ooh, yeah.
52:02Ooh, yeah.
52:03Ooh, yeah.
52:03Nothing simple for us, is it?
52:07But to reach the checkpoint, a 380-kilometre detour,
52:13a serious setback for their race.
52:16Even though we covered a good distance yesterday,
52:18it's shot us in the back because we kind of have to go back
52:22to get to where we need to.
52:24It is very deflating, to be honest.
52:26Closing in on Wu-Yen Station.
52:33If we see people, we're running.
52:36We need to get our chugging on.
52:38I just wonder how fast the others have gone.
52:41Two teams.
52:42We should have been there hours ago.
52:44I know.
52:45We just want to get there now.
52:46Yeah.
52:46It's going to be close, I think.
52:47It's going to be very close.
52:48Race mode is on.
52:59Reaching the closest station to the checkpoint,
53:02teams receive instructions on their tracker.
53:04Oh, my gosh.
53:09Travel to Tietian Su Dao in Huangling
53:13and await further instructions.
53:15Okay.
53:16Oh, my gosh.
53:16It begins.
53:17I would just get a taxi.
53:19Should we just get a taxi?
53:21Look.
53:22Hi, ni hao.
53:22Hi, ni hao.
53:25Woo, woo, woo.
53:27We're on route, route, route.
53:30Quite dear, quite dear.
53:31What did he say?
53:39It's on a mountain.
53:40We have to get a cable car.
53:42To reach Huangling,
53:44teams must ascend into the mountains via cable car,
53:48alighting to cross the Leishin suspension bridge,
53:52their only option to reach the village and the checkpoint.
53:57Oh, wow.
53:58Okay.
53:59Oh, gosh.
54:00Wow.
54:01Table car's there.
54:02It's there.
54:03Go, go, go.
54:04Cable car entrance.
54:06Should we just go?
54:07Let's go.
54:08Let's go.
54:08Let's go.
54:09Oh, my gosh.
54:10Oh!
54:11Okay.
54:12Shall we have a look?
54:13Take cable car B.
54:16B?
54:22And we did not do that.
54:24Oh, my God.
54:25I think we've made a mistake.
54:27This is really, really, really bad.
54:28Go.
54:34We went together as soon as possible.
54:35We've wasted too much time today.
54:38Cable car B?
54:39B?
54:40Right.
54:40First stop.
54:43So, I'm back down again.
54:49We've wasted time.
54:52Wow.
54:53Look at this.
54:54That's stunning.
54:56It's actually really far down.
54:57Holy shit.
54:58Look at the light.
55:00I feel like I'm in Peter Panza.
55:03Tinkerbell will fly out now.
55:04Continue through the ancient village and find the first checkpoint, Huangling, Shaikui Hotel.
55:16All right, let's keep going.
55:17Okay, so after the bridge, find the first checkpoint hotel.
55:24All right, we're here.
55:25There's no hotels on here.
55:27Where's the hotel?
55:29The village is all up and down, up and down.
55:31Could be up there.
55:33I get so confused.
55:34This place just keeps on going.
55:37I feel like we're just getting nowhere.
55:40Oh, wow.
55:42I can imagine it's probably quite a nice view in the daylight.
55:45You can just about see the tops of the trees and stuff.
55:47Oh, God, I can hear your glass cracking.
55:50I think we should ask someone here because there's so many, like, different directions we can go.
55:53Sujie.
55:54Dué, dué, dué.
55:55Sujie.
55:56Ah, I don't know.
55:57I don't know.
55:58I don't know.
55:58I don't know.
55:58I don't know.
55:59I don't know.
55:59I don't know.
55:59Okay.
56:00Okay.
56:00Okay.
56:01Okay.
56:01Okay.
56:01Okay.
56:01Okay.
56:02Come on, oldie.
56:04What the?
56:05We're in a race.
56:06Traffic.
56:07We have to wait a minute.
56:08Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick.
56:09Oh, is that it?
56:10Okay.
56:11Welcome to Falling Chateau Hotel.
56:13Please sign it.
56:14Oh, you open it.
56:15I'm too scared.
56:16I actually genuinely am.
56:17You have successfully reached your hotel.
56:19Oh, no.
56:20Oh, no.
56:21Oh, no.
56:22Oh, no.
56:23Oh, no.
56:24Oh, no.
56:25Oh, no.
56:26Oh, no.
56:27Oh, no.
56:28Oh, no.
56:29Oh, no.
56:30Oh, no.
56:31Oh, no.
56:32Our first checkpoint.
56:33Please sign.
56:34Overleaf.
56:35Oh.
56:36Oh.
56:37Oh.
56:38Wow.
56:39Fair place to them.
56:40Well done.
56:41I'm actually so glad that we just went last.
56:45I'm so happy that we were first.
56:46Yes.
56:47It is good.
56:48I've surprised myself with how well we've actually managed to navigate stuff because China is massive, compared to Wales.
56:58Proud of you.
56:59Well done.
57:00Yay.
57:01Is this it?
57:02Do it.
57:03Go on.
57:04Do it.
57:05Oh, okay.
57:06That's cool.
57:07Third.
57:08To be third was...
57:09Pretty amazing, actually.
57:10Yeah, yeah.
57:11It was amazing because it was a rough start.
57:13I really enjoy being together with you as a team.
57:16I couldn't choose anyone better to do it with.
57:18Yeah, me either.
57:19I was like, OK.
57:20OK, OK.
57:21I'm so happy.
57:22I'll do it.
57:23I'm so happy.
57:24I'm so happy.
57:25I'm so happy.
57:26I'm so happy.
57:27I'm so happy.
57:28My trousers will fall down.
57:29With it.
57:30With it.
57:31Bloody.
57:32There's so many people.
57:34Look at that.
57:37Excuse me, please.
57:39What a beautiful place.
57:43That's it, Mel.
57:48For what?
57:51Brother, mate.
57:53In hindsight, I think we chose the wrong route.
57:57We're going to have to plan a bit better.
57:59We're not last, mate.
58:01Oh, that's good.
58:02Caroline and Tom still out there.
58:06Fran!
58:07Sean, Ed.
58:09Oh, brilliant.
58:11It's going to be really difficult.
58:13I'm not quite sure how I'll cope.
58:14Go on.
58:15Look at this place.
58:16This is just extraordinary.
58:19In general, I think we're quite different.
58:21And I'm hearing more differences the more you talk.
58:23Look at that.
58:25My heart.
58:25Underwear!
58:27We're a couple of old blokes.
58:28Yeah.
58:29This is an opportunity to do things differently.
58:34When we were married in a crisis, we're pretty good.
58:38Whoa!
58:39Because we only just come out of school, we're going to hit bumps.
58:43I need to wise up.
58:44I'm a big girl.
58:45Quick, quick, quick.
58:46Oh, shit, shit, shit.
58:47I have no words.
58:49It is definitely endurance race across the world.
58:57More new thrills, darker threats and out-of-this-world adventures with Doctor Who on iPlayer.
59:02Also back, Six Music's Indie Forever, with new tunes and throwbacks on BBC Sounds.
59:08And then, and we're going to do not get to hear now.
59:09And we'll do not do theSA way.
59:10Let's do it in the theater.
59:11Thanks, guys.
59:11This deutschen and favorite convert may be true.
59:12Oneógrafo, with new lo
59:23talkingmusic and inventories today.
59:24She's not a real exchange at all.
59:25It's dreaming for herself.
59:26With new looks of experience.
59:27We're an amazing generation.
59:28She's not an enemy.
59:29Very cool.
59:30You all are doing this.
59:31Just Vor-itude with me.
59:32I'll do it and see you next time.
59:33And we're doing this stuff.
59:33Keep in mind that's fun.
59:34And we'll do that.
59:34You're doing this.
59:35You're doing this.
59:36It's Any idea.