Race Across the World 2025 S05 E01
Race Across the World S05 E02 >>> https://dai.ly/x9ispko
Race Across the World S05 E02 >>> https://dai.ly/x9ispko
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00:00SPANNING MORE THAN 21,000 KILOMMETRES ACROSS THE VAST NATION OF CHINA,
00:24LEGEND SAYS THE GREAT WALL WAS BUILT ALONG A PATH CARVED BY A MIGHTY DRAGON.
00:31OVER 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 HUANGUA CHUNG, IS WHERE OUR RACE BEGINS.
00:55SO MANY PEOPLE UP ALREADY, LIKE, ACTUALLY WORKING.
01:03LOOK AT THEM. I LOVE THEM.
01:06SET FOR AN IMMINENT DEPARTURE, TEENAGE COUPLE FINN AND SHAWNED.
01:10WOW. THAT IS THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, DON'T?
01:13YEAH.
01:15STUNNING.
01:17WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.
01:19EXPERIENCING THE WORLD IS JUST TOP OF OUR LIST, ISN'T IT?
01:22YEAH. BEING FROM A SMALL TOWN IN WELLS, WE THINK IT'S A GOOD CHALLENGE FOR US.
01:26WE'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.
01:33YEAH. HOW MUCH WE CAN STAND EACH OTHER.
01:35YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP ME TOWN.
01:38NO, NO.
01:41WE ALWAYS BECKER. I MIGHT BE A BIT POODIE.
01:44A POODIE?
01:45POODIE?
01:46POODIE?
01:47DO YOU NOT SAY POODIE?
01:48YOU DON'T KNOW... POODIE?
01:49YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT POODIE IS?
01:51EVERYONE IN WELLS KNOWS POODIE.
01:52IT'S LIKE A TANTRUM.
01:54ARE WE GOING THE RIGHT WAY?
01:55YEAH, LOOK, THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY.
01:57OOF, THAT IS STUNNING.
01:59WOW.
02:00I'M A VERY HOMEY PERSON.
02:02LEAVING HOME IS A MASSIVE DEAL FOR ME.
02:04OH, I'M GONNA CRY.
02:05UP HERE, RIGHT HERE.
02:07THIS IS SO STUPID.
02:09I THINK IT'S UP HERE.
02:13HI.
02:14Nihau.
02:15Nihau.
02:16Please hand over your mobile phones, cash and bank cards.
02:20Sure.
02:21Without smartphones, the teams must survive with only essential race kit,
02:25money belts, safety trackers and a map.
02:29Xie xie.
02:30And here.
02:31Oh, thank you.
02:32And in China, red means good luck, so good luck on your race.
02:36Thank you very much.
02:39Last time we've been away was when?
02:411970s maybe together.
02:42I don't know.
02:43It must have been the 70s.
02:45Also ready to race.
02:47What does this remind you of?
02:49What, this river?
02:50Yeah.
02:51The River Derwent.
02:52Maybe.
02:54Retired 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.
03:02I'm the older and the better looking one.
03:04How does that work?
03:05If you look at the hills, that is exactly how you see China.
03:08Yeah, maybe.
03:09The little hills, the mountains.
03:10Yeah.
03:11I'm lucky enough to have gone to lots of places in the world, stayed in nice places and travelled
03:17well.
03:18You would have gone on business class, wouldn't you?
03:19If you would have been on our own, you would have gone on business class.
03:21Probably this far.
03:23Brian's lifestyle is lavish and he definitely wastes money.
03:27And I'm not talking about a couple of quid.
03:29I think he lost an awful lot of money on the last car.
03:32I can't believe you didn't take my offer of a bloody personal trainer.
03:37And I did offer to pay for you as well, didn't I?
03:40Can you make it?
03:41We're here now.
03:42We're here, we're here.
03:43The longest time we've ever spent together as adults is two, three days.
03:46Hello.
03:47Hi.
03:48Eight, nine weeks with you, Malf.
03:50Whoa.
03:51We'll see.
03:52Thanks very much.
03:54See you.
03:55Bye-bye.
03:56Bye.
03:57We're on our way.
03:58Well, I'll tell you what, let's go and get a cup of tea or something.
04:02Who would have thought, after 31 years, this is where we would end up?
04:08On the Great Wall of China?
04:10On the Great Wall of China.
04:11What, 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,
04:20but I remember he turned around and it felt like a bit of a slow motion movie.
04:25And I just thought, wow.
04:27We did roll in luck pretty quick after meeting each other.
04:30Oh, my God.
04:31We're high, aren't we?
04:32Just a little bit.
04:33When we had the takeaway business, we worked together 24-7.
04:38We were a really, really good team together.
04:40Remember that picture that we had in the takeaway?
04:42Yes.
04:43We had the Great Wall of China.
04:44Yeah.
04:45Well, we're here now, aren't we?
04:46Now we're here, exactly.
04:47Because we've known each other for just under 40 years, that is going to play into our strengths.
04:50Aha!
04:51Oh!
04:52You can't just discount the 40 years of ups and downs.
04:55And here is the map.
04:57We've always grafted.
04:58Yeah.
04:59And I think, like, moving on into race, that's why I'm not so fearful or scared,
05:03because I know that that will come out in both of us.
05:07Bye!
05:08What's bye-bye in Mandarin?
05:09Say it to you.
05:10Bye-bye.
05:11Bye-bye.
05:12Nice that we're coming by boat.
05:15I didn't even know that you could get to the Great Wall of China by boat.
05:18Yeah!
05:19I didn't know it either.
05:20Floating towards the starting line...
05:22Oh!
05:23Looks 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-travelled in different parts
05:32of the world.
05:33We just come together, and it's like a mighty force.
05:36We're coming like this!
05:38Well-travelled!
05:39Maybe they'll be seeing us from space.
05:42They're waving, us struggling with our backpacks.
05:45Like, oh!
05:47We've never actually really travelled together.
05:50No.
05:51Oh, yeah!
05:52What skills do you have?
05:54I've got a bit of good people skills.
05:56Okay, yeah, yeah, you do, yeah.
05:58Yeah.
05:59Oops.
06:01This one.
06:03You can put up with me.
06:04Yeah.
06:05Which is actually a skill in itself, anyway.
06:08Right, so I'll be in charge of this then.
06:10And everything.
06:11I'll also be in charge of that, as well.
06:13What, for Matt?
06:14Oh, no, no, that's yours.
06:15Yeah, that's my world.
06:16Yeah.
06:17Apparently the wall goes under this water.
06:20Last to arrive.
06:22So was it flooded afterwards?
06:23It must have been.
06:25I'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 with me.
06:33Thanks.
06:35The fact we get together is pretty good, so we'll be all right.
06:38We'll make sure we're okay.
06:39I don't actually work, although I do feel I work very hard at home.
06:43I'm always cleaning up, I'm always shopping, preparing meals, cooking, looking after the animals, just being a housewife.
06:52It's really overwhelming, actually, Thomas.
06:54It's a shame, really, because then you find you're old and haven't really done as much as maybe you would have liked.
07:00You okay?
07:01Sorry, no, wait for me.
07:02No, you've got it.
07:03Come on.
07:04Sorry.
07:05And 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, and whereas Mum has done zero, basically.
07:28Hello.
07:29Hello.
07:30Hello.
07:31I feel like I might know Tyne a bit more than Mum, which is quite nice, actually, for the first time,
07:35because everyone always says Mum's are always right, but this time maybe it's sons are always right.
07:39You never know.
07:40Good luck.
07:41Lovely. Thank you very much.
07:43Are you ready?
07:44I am.
07:45I don't think you have a choice now.
07:48Teams equipped with all the essentials, it's time to find out where the race will lead them.
07:56Ooh.
07:57Final destination is Kanyakumari.
08:00Where is that?
08:02Sounds Japanese.
08:04I don't think it is in China.
08:06No.
08:07This is impossible, man.
08:08That's it?
08:09Yes!
08:10The bottom of India?
08:11No way!
08:12Oh, my God!
08:13Look!
08:14The finish line.
08:15Kanyakumari.
08:16A 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.
08:36To get there, the teams must pass through seven checkpoints.
08:41Only when they reach one will they learn the destination of the next.
08:45Oh, wow!
08:47They'll need to cross the vast ranging landscapes of three of Asia's ancient civilizations.
08:54China.
08:55My little village has nothing like this.
08:57Nepal.
08:58Very lively place, isn't it?
09:00And India.
09:01It looks like a picture.
09:04Come on.
09:05Oh, 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!
09:15Let's look at the money.
09:17The equivalent cost of flying the route.
09:19Just over £1,000 per person.
09:22That's not a lot.
09:25Around £22 each per day.
09:28That's not going to buy the accommodation, is it?
09:30It wouldn't buy your normal accommodation, but it's what we wanted.
09:34In the shadow of the Great Wall, ready to forge adventurous paths across China,
09:41teams gather at the start line.
09:43It's getting a bit real now, isn't it?
09:44Yeah, I know.
09:45I think the nerves are kicking in.
09:46It's the first opportunity to meet their rivals.
09:50I feel a bit sick.
09:51I'm like, oh!
09:53There they are.
09:55They look scared.
09:58Hiya!
09:59Hello!
10:01Oh!
10:02Hello!
10:03Hello!
10:04Hi!
10:05Everyone's younger.
10:06I know!
10:07I'm sure.
10:10Oh, my goodness.
10:11Oh, my goodness.
10:12Hello!
10:13Hello!
10:15Hi, Brian!
10:16Hi!
10:17How do you two know each other?
10:18We're brothers, believe it or not.
10:19Yeah, we are.
10:22That's damn impressive, isn't it?
10:24That is damn in Brazil.
10:25Hello!
10:26Hello!
10:27Hello!
10:28Hi, everybody!
10:29I'm Tom.
10:30Hi, Zoe.
10:31Hi!
10:32Has everybody found the final destination?
10:33Japan, wasn't it?
10:35Yeah!
10:44I'm well aware that it's going to be really difficult.
10:47I have a point to prove.
10:48People will underestimate them, and I think that's one of our superpowers.
10:52It's going to be completely unique.
10:54Yeah.
10:55Something we've never ever done before.
10:56I'm always looking to push myself.
10:58We are definitely going to work hard.
11:00Smells, the noise, the chaos, the energy.
11:03It's a race.
11:04We need to be on the ball.
11:08We both have different 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'd known.
11:19It's about the challenge.
11:20It's about the excitement.
11:22Holding our head up high at the end of it.
11:24If you're going to do it, play to win.
11:33Oh, my God!
11:34There's so many spins!
11:35Yes, look at that.
11:36It's frenzy.
11:37Hold a handrail.
11:38We are not going to fawn.
11:39Come on, Mum.
11:40Come on, Mum.
11:41Let's get up on this bit.
11:42All right.
11:43Where are we going?
11:44One bling.
11:452,000 kilometres to the south,
11:46the south,
11:47the south, the south,
11:48the south,
11:49the south,
11:50the south,
11:51the south,
11:52the south,
11:53the south,
11:54the south,
11:55the south,
11:56the south,
11:57the south,
11:58the south,
11:59the south,
12:00the south,
12:01the south,
12:02two kilometres to the south,
12:03the south.
12:04The south,
12:05the south,
12:06the south,
12:07the south,
12:08the south,
12:09the south,
12:10clinging to the slopes
12:11of the Huayyuh Mountains
12:13for over 500 years,
12:14Huangling Village.
12:15Famed for conserving its Huay-style dwellings
12:18and its colourful custom of drying chiles on rooftops.
12:22First thing we need to do is find our way out of here.
12:27It seems to be surrounded by mountains.
12:28Oh, is it Beijing?
12:29Yeah.
12:30There is the railway lines going all the way.
12:33We'd both agree it's Beijing to start, don't we, mate?
12:35All routes from there are open.
12:38To reach the checkpoint, teams will have to navigate the first 100km
12:42through sprawling suburbs to the heart of Beijing.
12:47From there, high-speed trains connect the whole of China.
12:51Escaping the capital tonight could make or break this first leg.
12:56Do you know English?
12:58Beijing bus?
13:00To Beijing?
13:01No, she doesn't understand.
13:03It's OK.
13:03Anyway, thank you.
13:05Hello, hello.
13:06Hi, hi.
13:07Do 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.
13:16One team to make a quick getaway from the Great Wall.
13:20Oh, well, we know, you know.
13:21Travel savvy sisters Elizabeth and Letitia.
13:24I think we should ask for the main Beijing station.
13:27The fact that we've been exposed to learning other languages,
13:32is we're definitely going to be a bit more comfortable in these kind of settings.
13:36Yeah.
13:37Jan means station.
13:40Jan means station.
13:41Yeah.
13:41I lived in China for six months.
13:45I just start learning Mandarin.
13:48Yeah, I should probably clock up the camera, sure, to ask something.
13:52Yeah, you got this.
13:53Oh, OK, how, how, how.
14:18Here, OK?
14:21We need to get over.
14:22OK.
14:25She gave us directions to go down that way to get another connection to get the subway.
14:30As the sisters put their faith in a local tip-off, 30 kilometres behind...
14:35Thomas, have you worked out where we are?
14:37We're looking for Hai-Rou-Wanzong.
14:40Tom is figuring it out for himself and Mother Caroline.
14:43I'm just kind of taking the lead for a little bit.
14:45You have confidence in your own ability, don't you?
14:47You're really good by that.
14:49If we manage to get on a night bus tonight from Beijing to somewhere,
14:53or a night train, that feeling will be so good.
14:56So, I think that's the plan for now.
14:57I'm just going to have to see how it goes.
15:00Thomas, this is it.
15:01This is the next stop.
15:02Hai-Rou-Shi-Dong.
15:03You have a look.
15:04Hai-Rou-Shi-Chang.
15:07Is that it?
15:07No, wrong.
15:08Read what I've written.
15:10Hai-Rou-Wuzong.
15:11There you go.
15:12Is that Hai-Rou-Wuzong?
15:13Isn't that good enough?
15:14No, it isn't.
15:15Sorry.
15:16OK.
15:17No, not quite.
15:18Nearly.
15:18OK.
15:20We need to find, like, the way out of here.
15:23I want to feel like I'm getting out of this little village
15:26in the middle of nowhere.
15:27Still struggling to get going,
15:29first-time travellers Finn and Seanhead.
15:34Do we sit down?
15:35I think we sit down.
15:36Right.
15:36Put the map down for a sec.
15:38Once I've got a plan, I'm happy.
15:41She's a control freak.
15:43She's already planned the wedding.
15:44I have no say in it at all.
15:46Yes, you do.
15:47Don't be silly.
15:49Your first checkpoint is Huangling.
15:50Right, well, I straight away think Shanghai's bad.
15:53To reach the first checkpoint, teams 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.
16:11From Beijing, teams could travel along the Yellow Sea coast,
16:17well-connected by China's extensive high-speed rail network.
16:22The route's showstopper, the glittering metropolis, Shanghai.
16:27The 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.
16:41Oh!
16:42There are bullet trains from Qingdao to Shanghai.
16:44Right, check where Qingdao is.
16:46Come on.
16:46Because once we're in Shanghai,
16:48I feel like it'll be straightforward.
16:50Seanet's plan,
16:52play it safe
16:53and city hop down the coast via Shanghai.
16:55That's not cheap.
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.
17:11Let's try and find a bus stop.
17:14Oh, my God!
17:1545 kilometres ahead...
17:17We're practically walking back to the Great Wall of China.
17:20..but still 60 kilometres from the centre of Beijing,
17:23Yin and guys have reached the suburb of Huarou,
17:27with nightfall approaching.
17:29We've gone off the bus, and 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.
17:38Just 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.
17:47What do you understand?
17:49Do you have your phone?
17:50Do you have your phone?
17:51Do you have your phone?
17:52There's...
17:52Oh...
17:53OK.
17:55Ying one.
17:57You're kind of...
17:57He's kind of...
17:59He's kind of...
17:59He's kind of...
17:59He's kind of...
17:59He's kind of...
18:00No, I don't...
18:02No, I don't...
18:02No.
18:02No.
18:04Although I'm Chinese, I was born in the UK.
18:07I'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 that we ask people...
18:22And they speak Chinese to you, yeah.
18:24They speak Chinese to me, because I look Chinese.
18:26Yeah.
18:27We don't get anywhere.
18:28I've kind of lost a bit of heart, to be honest.
18:30I know you have.
18:31OK, but we need to...
18:32We need to...
18:32What do you want to do, then?
18:33There's going to be an answer.
18:35Let'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...
18:48Yeah, yeah.
18:48..central Beijing.
18:49Right, and where are we?
18:50Three hours to go by bus.
18:52Oh, wow.
18:52Three hours?
18:53No, three hours by bus.
18:54Oh, wow.
18:57What's kind of, like, a good place to get a cheap, clean hotel?
19:01Like here...
19:02It's cheaper here.
19:03Right.
19:03Like, folks, the centre...
19:04Yeah, it's more expensive.
19:06OK, so...
19:06Stay here tonight, and then get to Beijing tomorrow.
19:09I 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.
19:19I don't know what the place this is.
19:22Beijing, a name that means northern capital.
19:26Once home to imperial dynasties,
19:29today it's the centre of power for the Communist Party.
19:34Twice the size of London,
19:35it's the most visited destination in China.
19:40Is it to the left and then right?
19:42Or straight up here?
19:43Straight up here?
19:44Trying to plot a way out...
19:46Well, 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,
19:58and then find out and tell tonight.
19:59It's been a long day, really, hasn't it?
20:01Yeah.
20:03It could always get me on a bit of cake.
20:08Personally, 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
20:20quicker by going to the Shanghai route.
20:22But 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.
20:32That's one of my bad qualities.
20:34So Luang is the birthplace of Chinese civilisation.
20:37OK.
20:38Full stop.
20:39There's Buddhist grottos, 1,700 years old.
20:44That'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.
20:52That'd be brilliant for me.
20:53Do you think it's a risk, then?
20:55Yeah, it is a risk,
20:57but we need to see how far it is.
20:59There's the point.
21:00Brian's route will lead the brothers deep inland
21:03to Luang 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?
21:13Yeah, that's decision made.
21:15Yeah.
21:15Because you can't fart about all day.
21:15Decision made.
21:16Go all day.
21:18I think we need to just speed up the pace.
21:22Also gambling on venturing into less-traveled territory.
21:25I think we should definitely go inland
21:28where there's more opportunity to do a bed and board
21:31where we can save money.
21:32Elizabeth and Letitia looking to escape the city tonight.
21:35On here, Beijing Fengtai-chan.
21:38Oh, a different...
21:39A different station.
21:40Oh.
21:40Here to Beijing Fengtai, about 80 kilometres.
21:44But needing to grapple with six major railway stations
21:47and nearly 900 kilometres of metro system.
21:50We're coming in a mighty, mighty fire.
21:55It's a slide.
22:01We didn't make it on time.
22:03Which means we have to stay the night here.
22:06We were so close.
22:11Oh, so we're so dead.
22:13So we're buggered.
22:14Also failing to exit Beijing.
22:17Oh, God.
22:18Got it.
22:18Well, we'll call it a night tonight.
22:21Fine accommodation.
22:22Which is brilliant.
22:23It's the one thing that we said we didn't want to do.
22:27So I think the plan for tonight is to...
22:29Eat up, rest up, shut up and perk 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,
22:42one team has managed to leave the capital
22:45and squeeze into the lead.
22:47Sorry, it's a bit tight.
22:49Yeah, right.
22:52Oh, hello, Sean.
22:53Finn and Seanhead are looking to leave Beijing
22:56and 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...
23:08More than we wanted to.
23:09Wanted to, but we are on a move.
23:10We're on a ten-and-a-half-hour train now.
23:12I do feel like we've got further than we expected to.
23:15Oh, it's a tight squeeze.
23:17Good night. Love you.
23:18Love you.
23:25I'd love to have a little cuddle tonight.
23:28Tough.
23:29Win a prison cell tonight, Chad.
23:31OK.
23:42All right, Thomas, have you got everything?
23:44Yeah, 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,
23:54but now we're ready to crack on,
23:56especially as we can see the train station from our room.
23:58One step ahead...
24:00Finally have a ticket.
24:01Yeah, we're making progress.
24:03Elizabeth and Letitia are heading south,
24:06seeking rural homestays to protect their budget.
24:09Do you know what this reminds me of?
24:10The train from Nairobi to Mombasa.
24:13Yeah, look, we can actually even see some mountains over there,
24:16which is quite nice.
24:17Bye, Beijing.
24:20Also venturing inland, Brian and Melvin,
24:23making a journey of over 800 kilometres
24:26to enjoy the ancient sites.
24:29Yeah, we're making good speed.
24:30The only thing is we're spending a lot of money.
24:32That's the problem.
24:34So I'm going to get to Luang.
24:35If we can get a pay job and accommodation...
24:37Yeah.
24:38We might be able to get back on an even keel.
24:41We know where we're going.
24:43All we've got to do is book a train,
24:44take in what Janang has to offer.
24:48Oh, sold out, sold out.
24:49Sold out, sold out.
24:50Look at this.
24:51How are they so busy?
24:53Yeah, we have to get out of Beijing.
24:54We have to get out of Beijing.
24:55It would be really nice to still stick to the plan
24:57and go to Janang.
24:58It is the capital of another province,
25:00so it's got great transport links.
25:03Come up with a different method,
25:04and hopefully that'll work.
25:07That might be booked up as well,
25:08and then I don't know what we do.
25:10Probably just start walking to the checkpoint.
25:13It says on here there's some left.
25:16Leave from a different station.
25:17We don't even know where it is.
25:18OK, we'll try going somewhere else, Thomas.
25:20We need to look at other stations
25:21and 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.
25:32OK.
25:33But until then, I think we're very much race mode.
25:36That looks like us, yeah.
25:37916.
25:38Yeah.
25:39Still just 45 kilometres from the starting line,
25:42Yin and Gaz are finally on their way into Beijing.
25:46After 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.
25:53We want to get to Shanghai
25:54because it is pretty close to the end checkpoint.
25:57Small win. We're good. We're on the move.
26:01I'm just really glad
26:02that we didn't get stuck in Beijing last night.
26:05No.
26:07There we go.
26:08Well done.
26:08At the front of the park,
26:11Finn and Seanard have reached China's Yellow Sea coast.
26:15Oh, look at that.
26:16Absolutely massive bridge.
26:19And the sea.
26:22One of the world's longest sea bridges,
26:25spanning 42 kilometres,
26:28connects Jiaozhou Bay to Qingdao.
26:32It was Europe's first colony on China's mainland.
26:36But despite centuries of foreign influence,
26:39the city's culture and cuisine remains resolutely Chinese.
26:43Can you smell fish yet? Because I can.
26:46No.
26:46I could do with some food.
26:48Maybe hot food.
26:49Before heading to Shanghai,
26:51Finn and Seanard plan lunch at Qingdao Market.
26:54Can't wait for the crispy beef,
26:56the sweet and sour sauce.
26:58Crispy dirt.
27:00Oh.
27:03Oh, look at the head.
27:05Oh, wow.
27:07Is that a lung?
27:09Do you want to try a lung, Seanard?
27:10No.
27:10I reckon we should try a lung.
27:11Do you try it?
27:13Do you want to try it?
27:14No.
27:16Periods of food scarcity throughout Chinese history
27:19have 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.
27:32Loads of little willies.
27:34It's a bit gross.
27:36I reckon we have to try something we'd never normally eat,
27:38because we have to eat it then,
27:40because we spent money on it.
27:43This just feels wrong.
27:47Oh.
27:48Oh.
27:49Oh.
27:49Do you know what it reminds me of?
27:51Like, Voldemort, when he's like,
27:53abarakadabra.
27:55But you haven't watched it, so you wouldn't have.
27:58Oh, my gosh, it's so squishy.
28:00It's so squishy.
28:01I want to ask a local how do you eat it,
28:03because I don't know how.
28:05Ni hao, do you want help?
28:07Just, just...
28:08Very good.
28:09Anyway, how do we, like...
28:12Mm-hmm?
28:12Or...
28:13Oh, shit.
28:14Oh.
28:19Oh, crud.
28:20What?
28:21Did you just bite it?
28:22It's any...
28:23Oh.
28:24I can't eat that.
28:25Oh.
28:25In the capital.
28:30Can we please get any ticket to Janan today, please?
28:33No, today, no.
28:35There's no tickets?
28:37There's got to be tickets.
28:40Is there any...
28:41What about an overnight?
28:42An overnight?
28:43A train to Janan?
28:45Today, no.
28:46Tomorrow.
28:46We haven't made it out of Beijing in 24 hours now.
28:51We'll have to start with a plan.
28:52Well, we can't.
28:53Thomas, this is the plan.
28:54Yeah, I know.
28:55OK.
28:56OK.
29:03Sorry.
29:07Give me a hug.
29:08We're so useless.
29:09I'll try.
29:12Come on, we're up to a challenge.
29:13We said that.
29:14I'll give it a go, shall I, and 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,
29:24because 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.
29:29Maramonia.
29:30Yes, 620.
29:32202.
29:33Can I have two tickets, please?
29:35Thomas has sorted.
29:36We'll find a hostel.
29:37OK?
29:37I think we just sleep on the street.
29:40I don't know if it's safe.
29:42I feel like I've kind of taken the role
29:44that I'm going to take the lead and take care of you,
29:46and I'm worried I can't...
29:47Oh, Thomas!
29:48I 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, no, darling, no!
29:55Yesterday I was putting on a brave face for Mum,
29:57and that was OK.
29:59I think I tried to do the same again today,
30:01and 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 I don't show my emotions
30:35as 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, Elizabeth and Letitia are pushing on to Bangboo.
30:54The sleeper beds look so nice.
30:57The pillows look so comfy.
30:59Damn it!
31:00It's OK.
31:01We're saving our accommodation.
31:03With a nine-and-a-half-hour overnight journey in third class.
31:06Oh, and it's even hard.
31:11You know when you sit down with something and you're expecting a cushion?
31:14This is going to be interesting.
31:16Yeah, I'm not going to say it's fine.
31:18I don't think so.
31:21Deep inland, in the city of Luoyang...
31:23I wish I knew what she was saying.
31:31..with plans to visit the ancient grottos tomorrow.
31:34Tonight, Brian and Melvin are earning their bed and board.
31:38OK, I've got it, I've got it, I've got it.
31:41It's in hand.
31:41You lead the way.
31:43..at Miss Wang's restaurant.
31:47You hold it now.
31:48OK.
31:50There we go.
31:52OK.
31:52She's a bit of a hard worker, isn't she?
31:55What a taskmaster.
31:57She's clipped me once.
31:58Is she?
32:00For me, I'm used to the Michelin star restaurant and the five-star hotel.
32:05Actually quite a posh restaurant.
32:07There's some business people in there with suits and ties.
32:10A place where I'd certainly eat.
32:12I may have been lucky, but I've made that luck by hard work.
32:16Do not fall over, but do not bear prapped.
32:19So I'm quite happy to get my hands dirty.
32:23That will help us get those little bits of luxury.
32:26Bye.
32:27Thank you, girls.
32:27Thank you very much.
32:28Bye-bye.
32:29I'll tell you what, I'll be glad to get into my bed.
32:33So where are we going then?
32:34The restaurant's over there?
32:35I don't know.
32:35There's a hotel 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?
32:42It is, mate.
32:44What's that, Mel?
32:45Yeah, I've seen it.
32:46Oh, I've seen it.
32:46Seen it, seen it.
32:48Thank you very much.
32:49I've got a good time.
32:50Yeah.
32:51Ah, lovely.
32:53Lovely.
32:56Very good.
33:03People at home think that I probably can't adapt.
33:06My kids don't think that I can adapt.
33:09Where's the loo?
33:09Just over there.
33:10OK.
33:11No.
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?
33:22That's just a piece of board.
33:24The 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,
33:33but there's none in the window.
33:34Does it smell?
33:36Yeah.
33:36No, it doesn't.
33:37It does.
33:38It smells of wee.
33:38He has a key in the door.
33:45I can't.
33:47He'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***.
34:26It would have been all bloody days.
34:28I tell you what, I'm happy with the accommodation.
34:30The accommodation is fine.
34:31That is now my problem.
34:33Hello.
34:34This area feels very calm, quite serene.
34:54I like this, yeah.
34:55At the midway point of their journey to Shanghai, Yin and Gaz have made it to the holy city of the east.
35:03Chufu.
35:05That's well cool.
35:07Look at that.
35:08Well over 2,000 years old at least.
35:09Home to a sprawling complex of ancient temples and the birthplace of China's most renowned philosopher, Confucius.
35:20When you get your fortune cookie and there's a proverb in there, that's probably come from Confucius.
35:26Born two and a half thousand years ago, his teachings on morality and family garnered such fame that his home was turned into a temple and decorated in a style usually reserved for emperors.
35:39Do you think they are, dragons?
35:40They are dragons, yeah.
35:42There's a lot of symbolism in Chinese culture.
35:45I know fish is going to be wealth, dragon of the strength, courage.
35:48Having a really nice time, it's incredible being able to see the symbolism here that kind of ties back in with some of, like, the things that I grew up with is really nice to see in its context.
36:01My mum and dad were very traditional Chinese.
36:03They were quite insular, but I do understand why, because they were the first wave of immigration.
36:10The writing is so, like, intricate and they kind of carved all that scripture in.
36:15I wasn't allowed to go out into town, go to parties and things like that, so I found it really challenging to be hemmed in.
36:25So when they first met Gaz, bear in mind it was in the midst of the 80s where it was like the rave culture.
36:33I had long hair, I had a goatee beard, you know, I did look like a bit dodgy character.
36:37There's a big drum.
36:38Oh, that's cool.
36:39That's a big drum.
36:40The first thing that my mum said to me was, why have you brought a drug dealer into our house?
36:47There is quite a rebellious streak in you as well.
36:49And I think that was almost two fingers to your parents by saying, look, I'm going to go this way.
36:54We're going to make a...
36:55Wish to win the race.
36:56OK, let's go.
36:57We've got Confucius on our side now.
37:01Come on, we need to get a move on.
37:04This place is huge.
37:06My little village has nothing compared to the size of this.
37:09City hopping south, teenage couple Finn and Sean Ed are the first team to reach China's biggest metropolis.
37:18Once a fishing village on the Yangtze River, today Shanghai reigns as China's dazzling showpiece.
37:25Packed with over 24 million people, a flurry of futuristic skylines and streets that echo with stories of the past.
37:34Look at his tash.
37:36I think I'm pulling.
37:37Yes!
37:42Oh, and she's spinning too quickly.
37:43I'm getting dizzy, Sean Ed.
37:45Yay!
37:46Well done.
37:47Thank you, say cheers.
37:50Let's go.
37:51Right.
37:52I thought she wasn't going to stop then.
37:55Sean, how long are we walking for?
37:56Probably been like an hour and a half, hour.
37:59My back hurts, right?
38:00You feel really dizzy right now, Sean Ed?
38:02Oh, my levels are going low now.
38:04Yeah, I think.
38:05You need something.
38:06I'm going to get some sugar down me.
38:09I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
38:11I was 11 years old.
38:12The exercise will bring down my levels.
38:14So I'm sitting down now.
38:15I have fast-acting sugar.
38:18We need to wait for your levels to go up anyways.
38:20Yeah.
38:21I used to be very, I guess, insecure.
38:23I thought it was embarrassing.
38:24I remember the day you found my sensor.
38:26You went here and you touched.
38:28I was like, what's that?
38:29I was like, oh, no.
38:30Like, how did you actually feel when I found it?
38:32Were you like, oh, shit, she's found it?
38:33Gutted.
38:34Or were you...
38:35Really? Why?
38:36Embarrassed and gutted.
38:37I think I would have probably hid that for a lot longer.
38:40Oh, that's quite sad.
38:43I 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.
38:52Who's going to be challenged doing the race?
38:55Making sure we plan ahead, I think.
39:01I literally inject you, Mel.
39:03Yeah.
39:04Yeah, to be fair, you've injected me in my bottom.
39:07Many times.
39:09Do 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.
39:15Brian's cultural journey west has brought the brothers 1,000 kilometres inland to Longyang,
39:23one of the four great ancient capitals of China,
39:27where Buddhism was first introduced to the nation nearly 2,000 years ago
39:32and 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 mean...
39:43This is massive.
39:44I mean, heck.
39:46Hollowed out of the limestone cliffs of the Yi River, countless caves hold over 100,000 statues.
39:54Amongst them, the 17-metre-tall Varyokana Buddha.
39:58He's a big one, isn't he?
40:00Yeah.
40:04That's Han to come.
40:05Yeah.
40:07His tops of his fingers are missing, but...
40:09But if you look how well-preserved that is for 1,500 years.
40:12Yeah, you can forgive the fingers, can't you?
40:15Worth coming, isn't it?
40:16Yeah, it definitely was.
40:17We have taken a step back in the race to come and do this, but 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?
40:30It's huge.
40:31It's amazing, really.
40:33As we're getting older, it's nice spending a bit of time with each other, which we haven't done in...
40:3950 years?
40:4050 years?
40:41Yeah.
40:42Mainly because we've gone our separate ways.
40:44Let's take a photo.
40:45Yeah.
40:46Hi.
40:47Would you take a photo of us two?
40:48Okay.
40:49Hey, thank you, mate.
40:50It's just that one there.
40:51Okay, on the go.
40:52Thanks very much.
40:53When we were kids, we did share interesting things.
40:56Youth hustling, fishing, all that kind of stuff.
40:58And it's nice to start that over again and 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.
41:08Brilliant.
41:11If you think back, that's the first time that we've actually been to the
41:15together on the same photograph in 20, 30 years, I suppose.
41:19Is it really?
41:20Yeah.
41:21And that's...
41:22Is it?
41:23We need more of it then, don't we?
41:24Yeah.
41:25We need some more memories together, so we need to throw our camera at people
41:28and get our picture taken a bit more, yeah?
41:30Yeah.
41:31Yeah, let's get on the train.
41:32Come on.
41:33Let's get sorted.
41:35Let's go.
41:38Oh, gosh!
41:41560 kilometres south-east.
41:44Oh, my God!
41:45This is so fun!
41:46I love it!
41:47I mean, it is fun.
41:48I just don't want to go...
41:49Oh!
41:50It's, like, going up very steeply.
41:52And heading into hilly farmlands, Elizabeth and Letitia are in the rural outskirts of
41:58Bangboo.
42:01Look how big!
42:02Yeah.
42:03I didn't even know they'd grow on trees.
42:05Earning their bed and board, working on the Wang family farm.
42:11OK.
42:12Oh, OK.
42:13Kind of, like, pull and then twist.
42:14Get to work!
42:15For generations, they've made their living growing and selling white pomegranates,
42:20Chinese symbols of prosperity.
42:22Oh, dear.
42:23Oh, dear.
42:24Oh, dear.
42:25Oh, dear.
42:26Ouch.
42:27If I was being stabbed, like, every two seconds by the thorns, it's actually quite relaxing.
42:31I don't know how you're getting stabbed so much.
42:33There's a seven-year age gap between the both of us, yeah.
42:38Oh!
42:39Oh!
42:40Oh!
42:41No!
42:42Don't throw them.
42:43You're going to bruise.
42:44I think our dynamic is quite younger sister, older sister.
42:47Vibes.
42:48Yeah.
42:49I want to get out of that, though, you know.
42:51You're not really trying to get out of it.
42:54I think you're even deepening the younger sister vibes.
42:57So, just twist, twist, twist, twist, twist.
43:00What?
43:01Be careful.
43:02I've got to be done perfectly.
43:04Elizabeth, nitpicks, everything.
43:07I think we need to speed up, as well, because we're going quite slow.
43:10You don't like being told what to do at all?
43:13No.
43:14Oh!
43:15How?
43:16Okay.
43:17He didn't say good.
43:18He said, okay.
43:20Please leave here.
43:21It's like a princess room.
43:22Yeah.
43:23It's us back sharing again, isn't it?
43:24We used to share.
43:25Yeah.
43:26Growing up, it was great having an old sister, but then Elizabeth went to Italy for nine years,
43:43so we did have, like, distance.
43:46She left when I was maybe, like, 15, and she came back, and I was, like, an adult,
43:51so we had that, like, gap.
44:05Oh, wow.
44:06Look at this bread.
44:07Mmm.
44:20I think my sister still sees me as how I was, like, back then.
44:29It's not spicy.
44:31As a child.
44:32Oh, um, her, her, her.
44:36Wow, this is a spirit.
44:38It's so strong.
44:39Our relationship is very surface level, so on this race, I would like her to see me
44:45as an adult, as a mature woman.
44:49You're so strong.
44:52I knew it.
44:54Wow.
44:57Where's the smooth bag?
44:59Have you not got it?
45:00No.
45:01No.
45:02You're such a...
45:04Oh, Mum.
45:05After their static start, Caroline and Tom have finally reached the travel hub of Xinan.
45:12Eager to make up time, they've secured an overnight train that will take them 770 kilometres southwards
45:18to the city of Suzhou, and are riding in the cheapest seats they could find.
45:24This train is really going to help us cover a lot of distance and save money.
45:29So, look, it's...
45:30In the grand scheme of things, it's not that bad.
45:32I've got a seat.
45:33It's fine.
45:34There's a shared table.
45:35I didn't expect a bed or anything, or 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, but I'll get through it and I'll bounce back.
45:51You're doing well.
45:52I think the lose might present a problem, but...
45:55Go early before it gets worse, perhaps.
45:57I know.
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, so it's OK.
46:06Am I?
46:07Fantastic.
46:09Let's go home.
46:10You're impressing me.
46:11Yes, really good son.
46:12That's lovely.
46:13I'm quite happy.
46:15Mum is doing pretty good.
46:17I'm sure there's an element of putting a brave face on.
46:21We're both very determined.
46:23I think we really want to prove we can come back from this.
46:26That we do everything we can to stay in this race.
46:30I think I love adventurising now.
46:41Early morning.
46:42Bang-boom.
46:45Oh, this is so cute!
46:47It's so cute.
46:50It's so cute.
46:51It's so cute.
46:54Lucky.
46:57This family has shown such great hospitality,
46:59so we really felt really welcome here.
47:02With money saved on accommodation...
47:04Wow!
47:06..the sister's strategy to spend big on a direct train
47:09550 kilometres to Wuyen,
47:12the closest station to the checkpoint town of Huanling.
47:17Hopefully we'll make it to the checkpoint really quickly
47:20and then we can enjoy the pomegranates.
47:24230 kilometres closer to Huanling...
47:27I'm feeling ready to go.
47:30Dear passengers, we are now at Hansel Station.
47:34Prioritise speed.
47:35We spend so much on transport.
47:37I feel like if we're not there first now,
47:38I don't know what we've done wrong.
47:40No, I know.
47:41Finn and Seanard have one final connection to make
47:44to reach the checkpoint.
47:47Er, Wuyen?
47:496, 24.
47:51Alright.
47:52First five, six hours.
47:54We're not waiting, not long.
47:55Is that earlier?
47:57Earlier, only this one.
47:59And it's 306-1.
48:02Another 30 quid.
48:03This is so shit.
48:05OK, we'll maybe come back.
48:08So that was a bit of a kick in the teeth.
48:10When I've made a plan, I just don't like steering from it.
48:13It says bus is this way.
48:15No bus.
48:16No bus?
48:17No bus today at all.
48:18No bus.
48:19What do you want to do?
48:20Because I've had enough of making decisions.
48:22I don't know.
48:24Awesome.
48:25I can't believe this.
48:26You're waiting for me to do every single decision.
48:28This is a joke.
48:29We should not still be in a station.
48:31Wow, 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.
48:48Woo-hoo!
48:50Behind them in Shanghai, Yenam 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?
49:13I 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 presentable.
49:42Do I? Good.
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.
49:52Erm, I mean, you know, Gaz was a great husband.
49:56Like, when 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.
50:16Little 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.
50:25You can see what's happening, but you don't change it.
50:28See if we can find someone with a friendly face 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?
50:43We're over that.
50:44Did you look for yourselves to find a match?
50:47Actually, she's not single, but I'm single.
50:51Do 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.
50:59Why not you?
51:00Oh, no, not for me.
51:01Yeah.
51:04Plenty more fish in the sea.
51:05I might find a wife in India.
51:07Ooh.
51:08Well, you'll have lost some weight then, won't you?
51:09So you'll be even more engaged.
51:10What does that mean?
51:11Now, we need to concentrate on the checkpoint,
51:13because, I mean, we're in touching distance, mate.
51:15As the teams make their final push towards Huan Ling...
51:19Could 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...
51:28Another 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.
51:37..an overnight train has propelled Caroline and Tom south...
51:41..and back into the race at the lakeside city of Suzhou.
51:45Hello.
51:46We're trying to get a train to...
51:48..we can't say it.
51:51We don't know how.
51:52Oh, yeah.
51:53Oh, yeah.
51:54Yeah.
51:55Oh, yeah.
51:56Oh, yeah.
51:57Oh, yeah.
51:58Yeah.
51:59OK.
52:00Suzhou to Hefeinan Station.
52:02Hofeinan?
52:03Transfer in Hefeinan to Uyuan.
52:05Nothing simple for us, is it?
52:07But to reach the checkpoint, a 380-kilometre detour...
52:12..a serious setback for their race.
52:15Even though we covered a good distance yesterday,
52:18it's shot us in the back because we kind of have to go back
52:21to get to where we need to.
52:23It is very deflating, to be honest.
52:30Closing in on Wuyen Station...
52:33If we see people, we're running.
52:36We need to get our own jogging on.
52:38I just wonder how fast the others have gone.
52:40..two teams.
52:42We should have been there hours ago.
52:44I know.
52:45We just want to get there now.
52:46Yeah.
52:47It's going to be close, I think.
52:48It's going to be very close.
52:57Race mode is on!
52:59Reaching the closest station to the checkpoint,
53:02teams receive instructions on their tracker.
53:05Oh, my God!
53:07Oh, my God!
53:08Oh, my God!
53:09Travel to Titian Suo Dao in Huangling
53:13and await further instructions.
53:15OK!
53:16Oh, my God! It begins!
53:17I would just get a taxi.
53:18Shall we just get a taxi?
53:19Look!
53:21Hi, ni hao!
53:22Hi, ni hao!
53:23Oh, ni hao!
53:24Woo!
53:25Woo!
53:26Woo!
53:27Woo!
53:28Woo!
53:29Woo!
53:30Woo!
53:31Woo!
53:34What did he say?
53:35It's on a mountain.
53:36We have to get a cable car.
53:37To reach Huangling, teams must ascend into the mountains
53:39via cable car.
53:40A lighting to cross the Leishin suspension bridge.
53:43Their only option to reach the village and the checkpoint.
53:46Oh, wow!
53:47OK!
53:48Oh, gosh!
53:49Wow!
53:50It's there!
53:51It's there!
53:52Go!
53:53Go!
53:54Go!
53:55Cable car entrance.
53:56She just got to go.
53:57Oh, my God!
53:58Oh, my God!
53:59Oh, my God!
54:00Oh, my God!
54:01Oh, my God!
54:02Oh, my God!
54:03Oh, my God!
54:04Oh, my God!
54:05OK.
54:06Shall we just go?
54:07Let's go, let's go, let's go.
54:08Oh, my gosh.
54:09Oh!
54:10OK.
54:11Shall we have a look?
54:12Take cable car, B.
54:15B!
54:16And we did not do that.
54:23I think we've made a mistake.
54:26This is really, really, really bad.
54:32Go!
54:33Go!
54:34We went together as soon as possible.
54:35We've wasted too much time today.
54:38Cable car, B.
54:39B?
54:40Right.
54:41First stop.
54:46So, I'm back down again.
54:50We've wasted time.
54:52Wow!
54:53Look at this.
54:54That's stunning.
54:56It's actually really far down.
54:57Holy shit!
54:58The light.
54:59The light.
55:00I feel like I'm in Peter Panza.
55:03Tinkerbell will fly out now.
55:10Continue through the ancient village and find the first checkpoint, Huangling Shai Kui Hotel.
55:15All right, let's keep going.
55:16OK, so...
55:17After the bridge, find the first checkpoint.
55:18Hotel.
55:19Right, we're here.
55:20There's no hotels on here.
55:21Where's the hotel?
55:22The village is all up and down, up and down.
55:23Could be up there.
55:24You get so confused!
55:25This place just keeps on going.
55:26I feel like we're just getting nowhere.
55:27Oh, wow.
55:28I can imagine it's probably quite a nice view in the daylight.
55:29You can just about see the tops of the trees and stuff.
55:30Oh, God, I can hear your glass cracking.
55:31Maybe we should ask someone here, because there's so many, like, different directions we
55:32can go.
55:33See, yeah.
55:34Do it.
55:35Do it.
55:36Do it.
55:37Do it.
55:38Do it.
55:39Do it.
55:40Do it.
55:41Do it.
55:42Do it.
55:43Do it.
55:44Do it.
55:45Do it.
55:46Do it.
55:47Do it.
55:48Do it.
55:49Do it.
55:50Do it.
55:51Do it.
55:52Do it.
55:53Do it.
55:54Do it.
55:55Do it.
55:56Do it.
55:57Do it.
55:58Do it.
55:59Do it.
56:00Do it.
56:01OK.
56:02OK.
56:03helpful.
56:04Shine.
56:05Here we, here we.
56:07Come on now, we'll see.
56:10What the?
56:11We're in a race!
56:13Traffic.
56:14We have to wait a minute.
56:15Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick.
56:17Oh, it's that it.
56:21Welcome to Huangling Shaiqiu Hotel.
56:25Please sign it.
56:26Oh, you open it.
56:27I'm too scared, actually.
56:28Genuinely am.
56:29You have successfully reached your first checkpoint.
56:33Please sign Overleaf.
56:41Oh, wow.
56:42Fair play to them.
56:43Well done.
56:44I'm actually so glad that we just went last.
56:48I'm so happy that we were first.
56:50Yeah, we're first.
56:51It is good.
56:52I've surprised myself with how well we've actually managed to navigate stuff, because
56:55China 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.
57:08I'll take that.
57:09To be third 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.
57:26Woo.
57:27Up the pace.
57:28My trousers will fall down.
57:30Ha, ha, ha.
57:31With it.
57:32With it.
57:33Bloody.
57:34So many people.
57:37Look at that.
57:38Ha, ha, ha.
57:39Excuse me, please.
57:42What a beautiful place.
57:43Ha.
57:44Ha, ha, ha, ha.
57:45That's it, Mel.
57:47For what?
57:48Well done, mate.
57:51In hindsight, I think we chose the wrong route.
57:56Brilliant.
57:57We're going to have to plan a bit better.
57:59We're not last, mate.
58:00Aye, it's good.
58:01Caroline and Tom still out there.
58:03Friends!
58:04Short hands!
58:05Oh, brilliant.
58:06It's going to be really difficult.
58:07I'm not quite sure how I'll cope.
58:08Go on.
58:09Look at this place.
58:10This is just extraordinary.
58:11In general, I think we're quite different.
58:13And I'm hearing more differences the more you talk.
58:15Look at that.
58:16My heart.
58:17Underwear!
58:18We're a couple of old blokes.
58:19Yeah.
58:20This is an opportunity to do things differently.
58:21When we were married, in a crisis, we're pretty good.
58:38Whoa!
58:39As well, when you 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.
59:17I have no words.