China with Ben Fogle
In beautifully crafted episodes, presenter Ben Fogle embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to understand China - to see its most staggering sights, go beyond the stereotypes and discover its true identity. Ben delves into an epic 3000-year tale of how China has got to where it is today - how centuries of Imperial rule gave way to Communist revolution under Chairman Mao and the breakneck economic transformation as the state capitalist China of recent years has emerged. Mixing both the experiences from the people themselves, and a tour of this magnificent region Ben takes the temperature of a country now at the very centre of humanity in the 21st century. So why and how has contemporary China become so important to all our lives?
Episodes
Ben embarks on a journey to China to see its sights, meet its biggest characters, and go beyond the stereotypes to discover its true story. He begins at the Jiankou section of the Great Wall, joining a team dedicated to rebuilding it in its original 17th-century style, then heads to Beijing, where he experiences the capital through its people and its bustling parks.
Ben goes deep into rural China's epic story, embarking on a journey across Sichuan and Yunnan, while exploring how China's deep traditions continue to shape life in a country racing towards the future. He begins at Qingcheng Mountain, the birthplace of Taoism, where a 36th-generation Kung Fu master introduces him to the philosophy and practice of tai chi.
In Shenzhen, China's Silicon Valley, Ben witnesses a nighttime drone display and marvels as 40 of the city's skyscrapers blaze to life, illuminated by 40 million LEDs. With larger than life, super-rich tech entrepreneur Richard Chang as his guide, Ben explores the sprawling Huaqiangbei Electronics Market. He also gains access to one of Shenzhen's live-streaming factories.
