Race Across the World S05E01 (2025)
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🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
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,
12:02the south,
12:04the south,
12:05the south,
12:06the south,
12:07the south,
12:08the south,
12:09the south,
12:10the south,
12:11the south,
12:12the South.
12:13Clinging to the slopes of the Huayu Mountains
12:14for over 500 years,
12:15Huangling Village,
12:17famed for conserving its Hoi-style dwellings
12:19and its colourful custom of drying chillies on rooftops.
12:22First thing we need to do is find our way out of here.
12:25It seems to be surrounded by mountains.
12:27Oh, I said Beijing.
12:28Yeah.
12:29There is a railway lines going over here,
12:31going all the way. We'd both agree it's Beijing to start,
12:35don't we, mate? All routes from there are open.
12:38To reach the checkpoint, teams will have to navigate
12:41the first 100 kilometres through sprawling suburbs
12:44to 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 to Beijing?
13:01No, she doesn't understand. It's OK.
13:04Anyway, thank you.
13:05Hello, hello. Hi, hi.
13:07Do you speak English?
13:08Does anybody speak English?
13:10Do you speak English?
13:11They don't understand. Let'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.
13:19Oh, 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,
13:32we're definitely going to be a bit more comfortable
13:34in these kind of settings.
13:36Yeah.
13:37Jan means station.
13:39Jan means station.
13:40Yeah.
13:41I lived in China for six months.
13:44I had to start learning Mandarin.
13:47Yeah, I should probably pluck up the courage to ask something.
13:52Yeah, you got this.
13:53Nihao.
13:54Oh, okay.
13:55Oh, okay.
13:56Okay.
13:57We need to get open.
13:58Okay.
13:59Okay.
14:00She gave us directions to go down that way to get another connection.
14:05To get the subway.
14:06As the sisters put their faith in a local tip-off,
14:1030 kilometres behind...
14:11Thomas, have you worked out where we are?
14:12We're looking for...
14:13Hiro Wanzhong.
14:14Tom is figuring it out for himself and mother.
14:15...and the mother.
14:16Oh, okay.
14:17Oh, okay.
14:18Okay.
14:19Here.
14:20Okay.
14:21We need to get open.
14:22Okay.
14:23Oh, okay.
14:24She gave us directions to go down that way to get another connection.
14:29To 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 Hiro Wanzhong.
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?
14:48You're really good like that.
14:49If we manage to get on a night bus tonight from Beijing to somewhere,
14:53or a night train, that feeling would be so good.
14:56So, I think that's the plan for now.
14:58I'm just having to see how it goes.
15:00Thomas, this is it.
15:01This is the next stop.
15:03Hiro Shidong.
15:04You have a look.
15:05Hiro Shichang.
15:07Wrong.
15:08No, wrong.
15:09Read what I've written.
15:10Hiro Wuzhong.
15:12There you go.
15:13Is that Hiro Wuzhong?
15:14Isn't that good enough?
15:15No.
15:16Sorry.
15:17Okay.
15:18Not quite.
15:19Nearly.
15:20Okay.
15:21We need to find, like, the way out of here.
15:24I want to feel like I'm getting out of this little village
15:27in the middle of nowhere.
15:28Still struggling to get going,
15:30first-time travellers Finn and Seanhead.
15:34Do we sit down?
15:35I think we sit down.
15:36Right.
15:37Put the map down for a sec.
15:39Once I've got a plan, I'm happy.
15:41Mm.
15:42She's a control freak.
15:43She's already planned the wedding.
15:45I have no say in it at all.
15:47Yes, you do.
15:48Don't be silly.
15:49Your first checkpoint is Huangling.
15:50Right.
15:51Well, I straight away think Shanghai's better.
15:54To 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 and some transformative inventions.
16:08Silk, porcelain, and the compass.
16:13From 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, the glittering metropolis, Shanghai.
16:27The more adventurous could veer inland, steeped in tradition and history.
16:32Less 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.
16:45Come on.
16:46Because once we're in Shanghai, I feel like it'll be straightforward.
16:49Seanette's plan, play it safe and city hop down the coast via Shanghai.
16:56That'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...
17:09..inkling of what we're going to do, I guess.
17:11Try and find a bus stop.
17:13Oh, my God!
17:1545 kilometres ahead...
17:17We're practically walking back to the Great Wall of China.
17:20..but still, 60 kilometres from the centre of Beijing,
17:23Yin and Gaz have reached the suburb of Huarou,
17:26with nightfall approaching.
17:28We'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.
17:37Just kind of assumed that the bus would take us to the terminal,
17:40but obviously not. Everyone just jumped off.
17:43We're looking for bus station or trains to the bus.
17:46We're looking for bus station or train station.
17:48What do I don't know about that?
17:49Do you have your phone?
17:50Do you have your phone?
17:51Do you have your phone?
17:52There's...
17:53Oh!
17:54OK.
17:55Yin one.
17:56You can't...
17:57You can't...
17:58You can't...
17:59You can't...
18:00No, I don't...
18:02No, I don't...
18:03No.
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.
18:18Neither of us are getting anywhere, basically.
18:20The problem is, is that we ask people...
18:22And they speak Chinese to you?
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. OK.
18:31But we need to...
18:32We need to...
18:33What do you want to do, then?
18:34There's going to be an answer.
18:35Let's head across there, ask around.
18:37Oh, I do feel like I'm a hindrance.
18:39No, you're not hindrance at all.
18:40No, 100%.
18:42Could you help us?
18:44Is this the city centre or is this the suburbs?
18:47This is...
18:48Yeah, yeah.
18:49Central Beijing.
18:50Right, and where are we?
18:51Three hours to go by bus.
18:52Oh, wow.
18:53Three hours?
18:54No, three hours by bus.
18:55Oh, wow.
18:57What's kind of, like, a good place to get a cheap, clean hotel?
19:01Like a year...
19:02It's cheaper here.
19:03Right.
19:04The centre...
19:05Yeah, it's more expensive.
19:06OK, so...
19:07Stay here tonight and then get to Beijing tomorrow.
19:09I think that's the best plan.
19:14Come on, red man.
19:15Green man.
19:16Hey, green man.
19:17Go, go, go, go, go.
19:1821.
19:19That's what the price this is.
19:22Beijing.
19:23A 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,
19:36it'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, sit down, have a plan.
19:56Do what we need to do and then find a hotel tonight.
19:59It's been a long day, really, hasn't it?
20:00Yeah.
20:03It could 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.
20:17But I think you'd actually get to the checkpoint quicker
20:20by 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.
20:29Right.
20:30I 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.
20:43That's unique.
20:45Yeah, yeah.
20:46My wife said to me, you know,
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, but 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 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.
21:16Decision made, go all day.
21:19I think we need to just speed up the pace.
21:22Also gambling on venturing into less travelled territory.
21:26I 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.
21:36On here, Beijing Fengtai.
21:38Oh, a different...
21:39A different station.
21:40Oh.
21:41Here to Beijing Fengtai, about 80 kilometres.
21:44But needing to grapple with six major railway stations
21:47and nearly 900 kilometres of metro system.
21:51We're coming in a mighty, mighty flight.
21:55It's the slide.
21:56We didn't make it on time.
21:57Ah.
21:58Which means we have to stay the night here.
21:59We were so close.
22:00Oh, so sold out.
22:01So we're buggered.
22:02Also failing to exit Beijing.
22:03Oh, God.
22:04I'm gutted.
22:05Well, we'll call it a night tonight.
22:06Fine accommodation.
22:07Which is brilliant.
22:08Is the one thing that we said...
22:09We didn't want to do.
22:10We didn't want to do.
22:11So I think the plan for tonight is to...
22:12Eat up, rest up, shut up and perk up.
22:14Exactly.
22:15Oh, I think they'll do cheap buffets.
22:17That's what I need, right now.
22:18I'm not going to do.
22:19Well, 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 650km 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.
23:18I love you.
23:26I'd love to have a little cuddle tonight.
23:28Tough.
23:29Win a prison cell tonight, Jared.
23:31Okay.
23:31All 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 of a bit of a bit of disheartening,
23:54but now we're ready to crack on,
23:56especially as we can see the train station from our room.
23:59One 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 Mombustle.
24:13Yeah, look, we can actually even see some mountains over there, which is quite nice.
24:17Bye, Beijing.
24:20Also 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 a lot of money.
24:32That's the problem.
24:34So when we get to Luang, if we can get a paid job and accommodation...
24:37Yeah.
24:38We might be able to get back on an even keel.
24:41We know where we're going.
24:42All we've got to do is book a train, take in what Janang has to offer.
24:48Oh, sold out, sold 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 and go to Janang.
24:58It is the capital of another province, so it's got great transport links.
25:03Come up with a different method and hopefully that'll work.
25:07That might be booked up as well, and 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 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, then we can get excited.
25:32But until then, I think we're very much in race mode.
25:36That looks like us, yeah.
25:379-1-6.
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,
25:49I do feel a lot better today.
25:50And now that we're moving, it feels quite good.
25:53We want to get to Shanghai, because it is pretty close to the end checkpoint.
25:57Small win, we're good.
25:58We'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.
26:08Well done, Seanad.
26:08At the front of the pack, Finn and Seanad have reached China's Yellow Sea coast.
26:15Oh, look at that.
26:17Absolutely massive bridge.
26:19And the sea.
26:22One of the world's longest sea bridges, spanning 42 kilometres,
26:27connects Zhaozhou 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.
26:44Do you need some more fish yet? Because I can.
26:46No, I could do with some food.
26:48Maybe hot food.
26:49Before heading to Shanghai,
26:51Finn and Seanad plan lunch at Tuandao Market.
26:54Can't wait for the crispy beef,
26:56the sweet and sour sauce.
26:58Crispy duck.
27:00Oh.
27:03Oh, look at the head.
27:06Oh, wow.
27:08Is 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.
27:14Do you want to try it?
27:15No.
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.
27:35I reckon we have to try something we'd never normally eat,
27:38because we have to eat it then,
27:40because we've 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,
27:52when he's like,
27:53but you haven't watched it,
27:56so you wouldn't know.
27:58Oh, my gosh, it's so squishy.
28:00It's so squishy.
28:01I want to ask a local how to eat it,
28:03because I don't know how.
28:05Ni hao, uh,
28:06do you, huh?
28:07Just, just...
28:08Very good.
28:09Anyway,
28:10how do we, like,
28:12or...
28:12Oh.
28:13Oh.
28:13Oh.
28:18Oh.
28:20What?
28:21Did you just bite it?
28:22It's any...
28:23Oh.
28:24Oh.
28:24I can't eat that.
28:25Oh.
28:28In the capital...
28:29Can we please get any ticket
28:31to Jhren today, please?
28:33Er, 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 train?
28:44Train to Jhrenan?
28:45Today, no.
28:46Tomorrow.
28:47We haven't made it out of Beijing
28:48in 24 hours now.
28:51We'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.
28:56It's all right.
29:03Sorry.
29:07Give me a hug.
29:08But we're so useless.
29:11I'll try.
29:12Come on, we're up to a challenge.
29:13We said that.
29:14I'll give it a go, shall I?
29:16And you can watch me fail.
29:18It's difficult as a parent
29:19to see your child struggle,
29:21especially as I would say
29:22this is more his strength
29:24because he has travelled
29:25on his own before.
29:26And I think he was hoping
29:27he'd find it easier
29:28and he could show me.
29:30Yes, 620.
29:32202.
29:33Can I have two tickets, please?
29:35Thomas, it's sorted.
29:36We'll find a hostel.
29:37OK?
29:38I 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
29:45and 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
29:52a little bit.
29:52No, darling, no.
29:55Yesterday, I was putting on
29:56a brave face for Mum
29:57and that was OK.
29:59I think I tried to do
30:00the same again today
30:01and it just all got a bit too much.
30:03It built up
30:04that it just kind of
30:05forced its way out,
30:06which even took me
30:07by 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
30:17have always been quite traditional
30:19roles and values in our family.
30:23I've never really seen Dad
30:24get emotional
30:25and I think you're worried
30:26that showing your emotions
30:27can sometimes
30:28be perceived
30:29as you being weak
30:30so I think maybe that's why
30:32sometimes I
30:33don't show my emotions
30:35as much as I...
30:36I'd like to.
30:39Dad would absolutely love these.
30:44With Caroline and Tom
30:46stuck in Beijing
30:47for a second night,
30:49300 kilometres south,
30:51Elizabeth and Letitia
30:52are pushing on to Bangbu.
30:54Sleeper beds look so nice.
30:57The pillows look so comfy.
30:59Damn it!
31:00It's OK.
31:01We're saving on accommodation.
31:03With a nine and a half hour
31:04overnight journey
31:05in third class.
31:09Oh, and it's even hard.
31:11You know when you sit down
31:12or something
31:13and you're expecting a cushion?
31:14This is going to be interesting.
31:16Yeah, I'm not getting sleep tonight.
31:18I don't think so.
31:19Deep inland
31:21in the city of Luoyang.
31:28I wish I knew what she was saying.
31:31With plans to visit
31:32the ancient grottos tomorrow,
31:34tonight,
31:35Brian and Melvin
31:36are earning their bed and board.
31:38OK.
31:39I've got it.
31:40I've got it.
31:40I've got it.
31:41It's in hand.
31:41You lead the way.
31:43At Miss Wang's restaurant.
31:44You hold it now.
31:48There we go.
31:52OK.
31:53She'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,
32:01I'm used to
32:01the Michelin star restaurant
32:03and the five-star hotel.
32:05Actually quite a posh restaurant.
32:07There's some business people in there
32:08with suits and ties.
32:10A place where I'd certainly eat.
32:12I may have been lucky,
32:13but I've made that luck
32:15by hard work.
32:16Do not fall over, Bart.
32:18Do not be a prat.
32:20So I'm quite happy
32:21to get my hands dirty.
32:23That will help us
32:24get those little bits of luxury.
32:26Bye.
32:27Thank you, girls.
32:27Thank you very much.
32:28Bye-bye.
32:29I 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?
32:35I don't know.
32:35Or is the 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 felt.
32:46Seen it, seen it.
32:48Thank you very much.
32:49I've got a little bit of time on that.
32:50Yeah.
32:51Ah, lovely.
32:53Lovely.
32:56Very good.
33:03People at home
33:04think 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.
33:11I don't know.
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.
33:26It's 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 wind.
33:34Does it smell?
33:35Yeah.
33:36No, it doesn't.
33:37It does.
33:38It smells of wee.
33:42There's 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 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.
34:50This area feels very calm.
34:53Quite 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.
35:04Chufu.
35:06That's well cool.
35:07Look at that.
35:08Well 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.
35:26Born 2,500 years ago,
35:28his teachings on morality and family
35:31garnered such fame that his home was turned into a temple
35:34and 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.
35:44I know if she's going to be wealth,
35:47dragon of the strength, courage.
35:49I'm having 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
35:58is really nice to see in its context.
36:00My mum and dad were very traditional Chinese.
36:04They were quite insular.
36:06But I do understand why,
36:08because they were the first wave of immigration.
36:11The writing is so like intricate.
36:12Yeah.
36:13And they kind of carved all that scripture in.
36:17I wasn't allowed to go out into town,
36:20go 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
36:32where it was like the rave culture.
36:34I had long hair, I had a goatee beard,
36:35you know, I did look like a bit dodgy character.
36:38There'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,
36:45why 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
36:53by saying, look, I'm going to go this way.
36:55We're going to make a...
36:56Wish to win the race.
36:57OK, let's go.
37:00We've got Confucius on our side now.
37:02Come on, we need to get a move on.
37:06This 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.
37:19Once a fishing village on the Yangtze River,
37:21today, Shanghai reigns as China's dazzling showpiece,
37:26packed with over 24 million people,
37:28a flurry of futuristic skylines
37:31and streets that echo with stories of the past.
37:34Look at his tash.
37:36I think I'm pulling.
37:39Yes!
37:39Oh, and she's spinning too quickly.
37:44I'm getting dizzy, Sean Ed.
37:45Yay!
37:46Well done.
37:48Say 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?
37:57Probably been like an hour and a half, hour.
37:59My back hurts, right?
38:00You feel really dizzy when I should have...
38:02Oh, my levels are going low now.
38:04Yeah, I think.
38:05You need something.
38:06I need to get some sugar down me.
38:07I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
38:12I was 11 years old.
38:13The exercise will bring down my levels.
38:15So I'm sitting down now.
38:17I have fast-acting sugar.
38:19We need to wait for your levels to grow up anyways.
38:21Yeah.
38:21I used to be very, I guess, insecure.
38:24I thought it was embarrassing.
38:25I remember the day you found my sensor.
38:27You went here and you touched.
38:29I was like, what's that?
38:30I 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.
38:35Or were you...
38:35Really? Why?
38:36Embarrassed and gutted.
38:37I think I would have probably hid that for a lot longer.
38:41Oh, that's quite sad.
38:43I feel like I worry about Finn's sugar levels more than he worries about it, to be honest.
38:47I 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?
38:56It's making sure we plan ahead, I think.
39:02I literally inject you now.
39:04Yeah.
39:04Yeah, to be fair, you've injected me in my bottom.
39:07Yeah.
39:08Many times.
39:10Do you think we can get a bit quicker, Mel?
39:12Yeah, but I'll spill my tea.
39:13The key is to see the...
39:15Statues, that's what we're coming for.
39:16Brian's cultural journey west has brought the brothers 1,000 kilometres inland to Longyang,
39:24one of the four great ancient capitals of China,
39:27where 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 mean, this is massive.
39:44I mean, eh?
39:45Hollowed out of the limestone cliffs of the Yee River,
39:49countless caves hold over 100,000 statues.
39:55Amongst them, the 17-metre-tall Varyokana Buddha.
39:59He's a big one, isn't he?
40:01Yeah.
40:04That's handicol.
40:06Yeah.
40:07He's touching his fingers, amazing,
40:09but if you look how well-preserved that is for 1,500 years...
40:13Yeah, you 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.
40:24Come on.
40:26It 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.
40:32As we're getting older, it's nice spending a bit of time with each other,
40:37which we haven't done in 50 years, mainly because we've gone our separate ways.
40:44Let's take a photo.
40:45Yeah.
40:45Hi.
40:47Would you take a photo of us, too?
40:48Okay.
40:49Hey, thank you, mate.
40:50It's just that one there.
40:51Okay, on the go.
40:51Brilliant.
40:51Thanks very much.
40:53When we were kids, we did share interesting things.
40:56Youth wrestling, 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.
41:07Yeah.
41:07Brilliant.
41:09If you think back, that's the first time that we've actually been together on the same photograph
41:17in 20, 30 years, I suppose.
41:20Is it really?
41:21Yeah.
41:21And that's...
41:22Is it?
41:22We need more of it then, don't we?
41:24Yeah.
41:24We need some more memories together, so we need to throw our camera at people and get our picture
41:29taken a bit more, yeah?
41:30Yeah.
41:31Yeah, let's get on the train then.
41:32Come on.
41:32Let's get sorted.
41:35Let's go.
41:38Oh, gosh.
41:41560 kilometres southeast.
41:44Oh, my God.
41:44This 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.
41:53And heading into hilly farmlands, Elizabeth and Letitia are in the rural outskirts of
41:59Bangboo.
42:01Look how big.
42:03Yeah.
42:04I didn't even know they'd grow on trees.
42:06Earning their bed and board, working on the Wang family farm.
42:11OK.
42:12OK.
42:12Kind of like pull and then twist.
42:14Get to work.
42:16For generations, they've made their living growing and selling white pomegranates, Chinese
42:21symbols 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.
42:38Yeah.
42:39Oh!
42:40Oh!
42:41Oh!
42:42No!
42:43Don't throw them.
42:44You're going to bruise.
42:45Younger sister.
42:46Old sister.
42:47Vibes.
42:48Vibes.
42:49Yeah.
42:50I want to get out of that, though.
42:51You know.
42:52You're not really trying to get out of it.
42:54I think you're even deepening the younger sister vibes.
42:59So, just twist, twist, twist, twist, twist.
43:01Twist!
43:02Be careful.
43:03You're glad to be done perfectly.
43:05Elizabeth.
43:06Nitpicks everything.
43:07I think we need to speed up, as well, because we're going quite slow.
43:11You don't like being told what to do at all?
43:14No.
43:15Oh!
43:16You're good.
43:17Oh!
43:18How?
43:19Just, uh, something.
43:20No, sorry.
43:21Okay.
43:22He didn't say good.
43:23He said, okay.
43:27You sleep here.
43:29It's like a princess room.
43:31Yeah.
43:32It's us back sharing again, isn't it?
43:35It's easy to share.
43:36Yeah.
43:37Mm.
43:38Growing up, it was great having an old sister.
43:41But then, Elizabeth went to Italy for nine years.
43:43So, um, we did have, like, 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, like, gap.
43:53Okay.
43:55Oh, wow.
44:05Wow.
44:06Look at this bread.
44:07Mm.
44:08Mm.
44:10Mm.
44:11Mm.
44:12Mm.
44:13Mm.
44:14Mm.
44:15Mm.
44:16Mm.
44:17Mm.
44:18Mm.
44:19Mm.
44:20Mm.
44:21Mm.
44:22Mm.
44:23Mm.
44:24Mm.
44:25Mm.
44:26Mm.
44:27Mm.
44:28Mm.
44:29Mm.
44:30It's not spicy.
44:31It's a child.
44:33Yeah, it's not about me.
44:34Ah, 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, I would like her to see me as an adult,
44:47as mature woman.
44:52You are so strong.
44:53I knew I had one.
44:55Whoa!
44:59Where's the smooth bag?
45:00Have you not got it? No.
45:02You're such a truth.
45:04Oh, Mum.
45:06After their static start,
45:08Caroline and Tom have finally reached the travel hub of Xinan.
45:12Eager to make up time, they've secured an overnight train
45:16that will take them 770 kilometres southwards
45:19to the city of Suzhou
45:21and are riding in the cheapest seats they could find.
45:25This train is really going to help us cover a lot of distance
45:28and save money.
45:29So, look, in the grand scheme of things, it's not that bad.
45:33I've got a seat. It's fine. There's a shared table.
45:36I didn't expect a bed or anything
45:37or a really comfy seat for the price we paid.
45:41I've tucked my trousers into my socks.
45:43I've got plastic shoes on.
45:46This 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.
45:52I 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.
46:03You're going up in the ranks, so it's OK.
46:06Am I? Fantastic.
46:08You're impressing me.
46:11Yeah, it's a really good son. That'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.
46:20We're both very determined.
46:23I think we really want to prove we can come back from this,
46:27that we do everything we can to stay in this race.
46:30I think I love adventurizing now.
46:42Early morning, bang-boo.
46:45Oh, this is so cute!
46:48This family has shown such great hospitality,
46:59so we really felt really welcome here.
47:01With money saved on accommodation...
47:03Oh, my...
47:05..a sister's strategy...
47:07..to spend big on a direct train 550 kilometres to Wuyen,
47:12the closest station to the checkpoint town of Huanling.
47:16Hopefully, we'll make it to the checkpoint really quickly...
47:19..and then we can enjoy the pomegranates.
47:23..230 kilometres closer to Huanling...
47:26I'm feeling ready to go.
47:29Dear passengers, we are now at Huanling Station.
47:33Prioritise speed.
47:34We spend so much on transport.
47:36I feel like if we're not there first now,
47:38I don't know what we've done wrong.
47:39No, I know.
47:40Finn and Seanad have one final connection to make
47:43to reach the checkpoint.
47:46Er...
47:47We're on?
47:486, 24.
47:50All right. Yes.
47:51First five, six hours.
47:53We're not waiting, not long.
47:54Is that earlier?
47:56No earlier, only this one.
47:58And it's 361.
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?
48:19Cos I've had enough of making decisions.
48:21I don't know.
48:22Awful.
48:23I can't believe this.
48:24You're waiting for me to do every single decision.
48:27No.
48:28This is a joke.
48:29We should not still be in a station.
48:33Well, we can't have a bus.
48:35Well, I think we should have to go pay for the train
48:37and just have to wait a stupid amount of time.
48:39I don't think that we have any other options.
48:43The youngest team at a standstill...
48:45We're off!
48:46We're off!
48:47Woo-hoo!
48:49Behind them in Shanghai,
48:51Yenam Gaz have already secured a train towards the checkpoint,
48:54departing later in the day.
48:56It's like an onslaught of the senses, really.
48:59Look at that through there.
49:01It's cool, isn't it?
49:02It's, like, unreal, isn't it?
49:04Giving the pair a chance to wander the streets of the city.
49:08Yeah, look at this.
49:10What's that over there?
49:12I mean, I can't read all of it,
49:14but there's, like, I'm assuming parents
49:17who have put adverts for their children
49:20who are seeking marriage or partners.
49:23In a city where tradition meets ambition,
49:26many young professionals are too busy to date.
49:29So, every weekend,
49:31People's Park transforms into a bustling marriage market.
49:34Let's see what's on the market.
49:36Because we're going to find you a nice bride!
49:39You look very presentable.
49:41Do I?
49:42Yeah.
49:43Good.
49:44Genuinely, he'd be a catch for anyone.
49:46He's got his own teeth and, you know,
49:48he hasn't got very much hair,
49:49but he's still, I think, quite a good-looking man.
49:51Um, I mean, you know, Gaz was a great husband.
49:55Like, when the marriage was good, I mean,
49:58he was a brilliant husband.
50:00We were together, we were married for, I think we were together for 31 years.
50:06We did split up two or three years, go in our separate ways.
50:09I'd consider Gaz to be a best friend now.
50:11I think, at the point of the marriage break-up, I probably hated him.
50:14Little elements of our relationship deteriorated.
50:18We became two separate people living in a house together.
50:21And then before you know it, there's no going back.
50:23It'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 might,
50:31we can offer you up to.
50:33I still get people, friends, saying to me,
50:35Oh, are you and Gaz going to get back together yet?
50:37I'm like, absolutely not.
50:40We're over that, aren't we?
50:42We are, yeah.
50:43We're over that.
50:44Did you look for yourselves to find a match?
50:46Actually, uh, she's not single, but I'm single.
50:49Ah!
50:50Do you think that, um, Gaz would be a really good prospect?
50:53Too old?
50:54It's not my taste.
50:55Not your taste.
50:56What about you?
50:59Oh, no, not for me.
51:01Yeah.
51:03Plenty more fish in the sea.
51:04I might find a wife in India.
51:06Ooh!
51:07Well, 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.
51:16As 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..and are unable to resist another cultural pit stop.
51:28Another one together.
51:29It's the second one.
51:30..and are making slow progress towards the checkpoint.
51:35Ahead 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.
51:45Hello.
51:46We're trying to get a train to...
51:48..we can't say it.
51:50We don't know how.
51:51Oh, yeah.
51:52Oh, yeah.
51:53Yeah.
51:54Oh, yeah.
51:55Oh, yeah.
51:56Yeah.
51:57Oh, yeah.
51:58OK.
51:59Suzhou to Hefeinan Station.
52:01Hofeinan?
52:02Transfer in Hefeinan to Uyuan.
52:04Oh, yeah.
52:05Nothing simple for us, is it?
52:07But to reach the checkpoint, a 380-kilometre detour.
52:12A serious setback for their race.
52:15Even though we covered a good distance yesterday,
52:18it's shot us in the back
52:19because 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...
52:32If we see people, we're running.
52:35We need to get our chugging on.
52:37I just wonder how fast the others have gone.
52:40Two teams.
52:41We should have been there hours ago.
52:43I know.
52:44We just want to get there now.
52:45Yeah.
52:46It's going to be close, I think.
52:47It's going to be very close.
52:56Race mode is on.
52:59Reaching the closest station to the checkpoint,
53:01teams receive instructions on the tracker.
53:06Oh, my God!
53:08Travel to Titian Suodau in Huangling
53:12and await further instructions.
53:14Okay!
53:15Oh, my God!
53:16It begins.
53:17I would just get a taxi.
53:18Should we just get a taxi?
53:19Look!
53:20Hi, ninho好!
53:21Oh, ninho.
53:26Rho, ninho.
53:27Rho, ninho, rho, rho.
53:30Rho, rho, rho, rho.
53:31快点,快点!
53:32What did he say, it's on a mountain, we have to get a cable car.
53:43To reach Wang Ling, teams must ascend into the mountains via cable car, alighting to
53:49cross the Leishin suspension bridge, their only option to reach the village, and the
53:55checkpoint.
53:56Oh, wow, okay, oh, oh gosh, wow, it's there, it's there, go, go, go, cable car entrance, should
54:07we just go, let's go, let's go, let's go, oh my gosh, okay, shall we have a look, take cable
54:14car, B, B, and we did not do that.
54:25I think we've made a mistake, this is really, really, really bad.
54:34We went together as soon as possible, we've wasted too much time today.
54:38Cable car B?
54:39B?
54:40Right, first stop.
54:44So, I'm back, down again.
54:50We've wasted time.
54:51Wow.
54:52Look at this.
54:53That's stunning.
54:55It's actually really far down.
54:57Holy shit.
54:58Look at the light.
54:59I feel like I'm in Peter Panza.
55:02Tinkerbell will fly out now.
55:04Continue through the ancient village and find the first checkpoint, Huangling, Shaikui Hotel.
55:16Right, let's keep going.
55:18Okay, so.
55:19After the bridge, find the first checkpoint hotel.
55:23Right, 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.
55:32I get so confused.
55:35This place just keeps on going.
55:36I feel like we're just getting nowhere.
55:40Oh, wow.
55:41I can imagine it's probably quite a nice view in the daylight.
55:44You can just about see the tops of the trees and stuff.
55:47Oh, God, I can hear your glass cracking.
55:49I think we should ask someone here, because there's so many, like, different directions we can go.
55:53Sujie.
55:54Doe, doe, doe.
55:55Sujie.
55:56Ah.
55:57Sujie is not.
55:58Okay.
55:59Okay.
56:00Sujie Hotel.
56:03Shai...
56:04Kiwi?
56:05Kiwi?
56:06Come on, oldie.
56:07What the?
56:08It's a dragon!
56:09We're in a race.
56:10Traffic, we have to wait a minute.
56:11Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick.
56:12Oh, is that it?
56:13I got it.
56:14Welcome to Huangling Shai Chou Hotel.
56:15Please sign it.
56:16Oh, you open it.
56:17I'm too scared, I actually genuinely am.
56:18You have successfully reached your first checkpoint.
56:20Please sign.
56:21Overleaf.
56:22Oh!
56:23Oh, wow.
56:24Fair place to them.
56:25Well done.
56:26I'm actually so glad that we just won't last.
56:29I'm so happy that we're first.
56:30Yes, it is good.
56:31I'm so happy that we're first.
56:32Yes, it is good.
56:33I'm so happy that we're first.
56:34Yes, it is good.
56:35I'm so happy that we're first.
56:36Yes, it is good.
56:37I'm so happy that we're first.
56:38Yes, it is good.
56:39I've surprised myself with how well we've actually managed to navigate stuff because China is
56:56massive compared to Wales.
56:57Proud of you.
56:58Well done.
56:59Yay.
57:00Is this it?
57:01Do it.
57:02Go on.
57:03Do it.
57:04Oh, okay.
57:05That's cool.
57:06Third?
57:07I'll take that.
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.
57:17Yeah, me either.
57:25Woo!
57:26Up the pace.
57:27My trousers will fall down.
57:29With it.
57:31With it.
57:32Bloody, there's so many people.
57:35Look at that.
57:36Excuse me, please.
57:40What a beautiful place.
57:43That's it, Mel.
57:48For what?
57:50Well done, mate.
57:52In hindsight, I think we chose the wrong route.
57:56Really?
57:57We're going to have to plan a bit better.
57:59We're not last, mate.
58:00Ah, it's good.
58:01Caroline and Tom still out there.
58:06Fran!
58:07Sean, Ed.
58:09Oh, brilliant.
58:11It's going to be really difficult.
58:12I'm not quite sure how I'll cope.
58:14Go on.
58:15Look at this place.
58:16This is just extraordinary.
58:18In general, I think we're quite different.
58:20And I'm hearing more differences the more you talk.
58:23Look at that.
58:24My heart.
58:25Underwear!
58:26We'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.
58:37Whoa!
58:38Because we only just come out of school, we're going to hit bumps.
58:42I need to wise up.
58:43I'm a big girl.
58:44Quick, quick, quick.
58:45Oh, shit, shit, shit.
58:46I have no words.
58:48It is definitely endurance race across the world.
59:18Easier her for since congregationsiter in return,
59:19when I'm in the south of DC,
59:20I have no words.
59:21I have no words.
59:22For you to move out to DC...
59:24I have no words.
59:25To be more afraid.
59:26I have no words.
59:27I have no words.
59:28For you to get to...
59:29I will feel...
59:30To be more afraid...
59:31What we need.
59:32To be Addy.
59:33To be found underwall.
59:35These messcree have no evidence,
59:36go away from the shootcareña in reach.
59:37To be acknowledged.
59:38To be remained.
59:39Knownaduer,
59:40Next door has beenoperable from the medical field.
59:41To be rallived there to be a great way.
59:42To be a famous Maintenant than just simply get mixed up directly behind him.