Race Across the World episode 2 2025
Category
🏖
TravelTranscript
00:00Oh, wow.
00:09This is mega.
00:10This is incredible.
00:11Let's walk fast.
00:15Let's go.
00:16Come on.
00:20Come on, you're doing really well.
00:21Nearly there.
00:23You're so close.
00:25Top of top, need your hand.
00:26Let's do it together.
00:28Come on.
00:30Hello.
00:31You ready?
00:32It's all right.
00:33We're 26 hours after the first paper.
00:34It's okay.
00:35It's not a surprise.
00:36It's okay.
00:37We can catch up.
00:39Okay.
00:40Thank you very much.
00:4126 hours.
00:42It's fine.
00:43It's okay.
00:44It's okay.
00:45It's okay.
00:46It's understandable to get upset.
00:49It's okay.
00:50It's okay.
00:51It's okay.
00:52It's okay.
00:53It's okay.
00:54It's okay.
00:55It's okay.
00:56It's okay.
00:57It's understandable to get upset.
00:59But we knew this was going to happen.
01:00Okay?
01:01Okay.
01:02All right.
01:03Okay.
01:04Gutted.
01:09It makes me upset because it means a lot.
01:11Because it's a way of proving something to myself.
01:14And at the moment, all I'm proving is that I'm failing.
01:19I just love the rooftops.
01:33Oh, my gosh.
01:34Look at all the spices.
01:35It's amazing.
01:36This is what I think of when I think of China.
01:38I think of this.
01:39Yeah.
01:40Perched on a 100-metre-tall mountain in East China's Jiangxi province, Huangling.
01:49Wow, this is crazy.
01:51I've never seen anything like it before.
01:54Although six centuries old, the town lay dilapidated until 16 years ago.
02:00Now restored, it has been transformed into a rural destination for tourists.
02:07We knew it was going to be you guys, yeah.
02:10Because you were three hours behind us.
02:12Yes.
02:17How are you feeling?
02:18Very, very tired.
02:19This is definitely starting to feel like race.
02:22It is, it is.
02:23I didn't think I was going to feel this competitive.
02:26After the first leg in the race to Kanya Kumari, on the southernmost tip of India,
02:31less than seven hours separate the top three teams.
02:35But trailing a whole day behind the pack, Ryan and Melvin and Caroline and Tom.
02:42How have you two been working together?
02:44I lost my voice, so I didn't really speak that much.
02:48She's like the social, like, you know, person.
02:50Yeah, talker.
02:51Yeah, talker.
02:52The roles were reversed.
02:53Change.
02:54It was a bit overwhelming at first.
02:56We're from Wales, so it's really quiet.
02:58So it's a whole new speed for us.
03:00Yeah.
03:01So do you speak a little bit of Mandarin then?
03:02None at all.
03:03Oh, none at all.
03:04None at all.
03:05So have you found the language very hard as well then?
03:06Yeah.
03:07Yeah.
03:08It's harder because, like, I look the part but don't sound it.
03:10Yeah.
03:11So that's the struggle.
03:12So everyone comes up to me and just expects me to speak Mandarin.
03:14Yeah.
03:15Because I know you did Mandarin.
03:16Is it one of you?
03:17Or a little bit.
03:18Yeah, a little bit.
03:19Emphasis on little.
03:20Yeah, please.
03:22Top three.
03:23Cheers!
03:24Cheers!
03:25Cheers!
03:26Woo!
03:38On the road again.
03:39Good morning.
03:40This is for you.
03:41I'm nervous.
03:42First to leave, current race leaders, sisters Elizabeth and Letitia.
03:50Your second checkpoint is Sanya.
03:54Sanya, what does it sound like?
03:56Sanya?
03:572,700 kilometres away, lying on the tip of Hainan Island, Sanya.
04:06One of China's most southerly cities.
04:09With palm-fringed beaches and lush rainforests, its tropical climate makes it a magnet for China's wealthy elite, but also for destructive monsoon storms.
04:22Oh, wait, I found it.
04:23That is far.
04:24Oh, we're going to the beach!
04:25I feel like that's what's missing.
04:27I'm like, I just need some sea.
04:29To get there, teams must traverse southeastern China, embracing new landscapes, languages, climate and cuisine.
04:42They have the option to city hop, taking advantage of high-speed trains that run alongside the East China Sea coastline.
04:49Or head inland, kinder on budgets and a chance to explore China's dramatic scenery.
05:01Look at this!
05:02Look at that!
05:03Let's go inland!
05:04Let's go inland!
05:05Because you wanted to go here even before coming to China.
05:08When I was in China previously, I missed the opportunity to go to Ricefields near Guilin.
05:13And it's such a, like, picturesque area.
05:16And it's like, maybe if I have another opportunity to go to China, as we do now, like, we can go there!
05:24One big passion of politicians is Asia.
05:30This is an opportunity there.
05:31We shouldn't pass, really.
05:33Exactly.
05:34Yeah, I just want to experience it.
05:35I am Asia-obsessed.
05:37Especially China.
05:38There's a whole different culture, a whole different language.
05:42Just so unfamiliar to what I'm used to.
05:45Being there, that's when I'm the most happiest.
05:49I think because we came first, we should try our best to keep the lead.
05:52Yeah.
05:53Because they're not that far behind.
05:54They're not that far behind.
05:55At all.
05:56So, we have a plan.
05:57I'm so excited for this leg.
05:59Yeah!
06:00I think it's going to be so good!
06:02The sisters' goal, the Longzhi rice terraces.
06:06Via the well-connected transport hub, Guilin.
06:09Take a train to Shangri.
06:11Whoa, this is fast!
06:13Ah!
06:14It's like, sorry!
06:15Oh, my gosh!
06:16It's like a rollercoaster!
06:17It's like it goes...
06:18Ah!
06:19Whilst Elizabeth and Letitia descend...
06:27It's far.
06:28It's so far.
06:29That doesn't seem easy to get to.
06:31Next to depart...
06:33She just want to leave the place now.
06:35...teenage couple, Finn and Seanhead.
06:38How did we get down?
06:43English!
06:44English!
06:45Please!
06:47Knowing we're second and we're quite close.
06:49This leg, we want to get there quickly.
06:52I enjoy more coastal scenery.
06:56We're going through cities,
06:58so there'd probably be more transport, more English speakers.
07:02We're kind of being safe with it all.
07:04It's a bit of a comfort blanket.
07:07Sticking to their tried and tested strategy,
07:10they are planning to city hop down the coast.
07:14First stop, Siamen.
07:17We don't know where we're going.
07:18I know, I know, I know.
07:19Do you want to go in the checkpoint hotel and ask the taxi?
07:22No, I'm not stopping literally where we started.
07:24Oh, at this point we've just got to get down, Finn.
07:28Got far, didn't we?
07:29This is so embarrassing.
07:32I like these.
07:33I prefer a Yorkshire, but it'll do.
07:3421 hours behind the race leaders.
07:35Brothers, Brian and Melvin.
07:36We messed up terrible.
07:37So do we.
07:38And in last place, mother and son, Caroline and Tom.
07:39I just felt helpless and useless and I just felt like we couldn't do it.
07:43This is way, way out of my comfort zone, totally.
07:44You know, sleeping in places that I would never, ever, ever.
07:48Our strengths are...
07:49It hasn't come to fruition yet.
07:50It hasn't come to the front of our thoughts.
07:51It hasn't come to the front of our thoughts.
07:52We have got experience of life behind us.
07:54But does it really help in this situation, life experience?
07:55We've got nothing else going for us, have we?
07:56No, we haven't, haven't we?
07:57No, we haven't, haven't we?
07:58No, we haven't.
07:59We haven't.
08:00No, we haven't.
08:01We haven't, haven't we?
08:02We haven't.
08:03We haven't.
08:04We haven't.
08:05It's better to be.
08:06Way, way, way out of my comfort zone.
08:07Totally.
08:08Sleeping in places that I would never, ever, ever.
08:09Our strengths are, it hasn't come to the fruition yet.
08:12It hasn't come to the front of our thoughts.
08:15We have got experience of life behind us.
08:18But does it really help in this situation, life experience?
08:22It's going to.
08:23We've got nothing else going for us, have we?
08:24No, we haven't, have we?
08:25I don't know how the youngsters have done it.
08:30It was gutting, absolutely.
08:34Emotional. Yeah, it was.
08:35It was. I didn't think we'd get emotional because it's just a race.
08:38I didn't think it would mean this much.
08:40We all know where the danger's really coming from, don't we, these youngsters?
08:44Who knows? Next checkpoint, it could be first and second.
08:47Oh, wouldn't that be nice?
08:48Good luck.
08:49We'll see.
08:52Sanyar. You heard of it?
08:53Never heard of it, yeah.
08:54No, me either.
08:55Leaving the checkpoint in third,
08:57Yin and ex-husband Gaz.
09:00That's where we're going.
09:02Actually, that's not too far. How exciting.
09:04It'd be quite good to kind of see the rural parts of China.
09:06OK. Maybe do a homestay or something like that.
09:08That'd be nice.
09:09We spent far too much in the first day.
09:11Yeah, we need to save money.
09:13The cost of living is a lot cheaper in the countryside.
09:15Yeah. That's going to save us loads of money.
09:17Tick.
09:17And also, we can see if we can pick up some work.
09:19OK.
09:20With almost one-fifth of their total budget gone,
09:23and seven legs remaining,
09:26the pair are keen to rein in their spending.
09:29Come on, friend. Bring it in.
09:31We've got to stop doing this.
09:32OK, go.
09:33Don't overuse our hand thing.
09:35Their plan?
09:36What I'm discovering about this race is that I'm questioning my own Chinese identity
09:47and what it means to me.
09:49Going rural, there's an opportunity to see things that I've never seen before.
09:54It's going to be a complete contrast to my experience of growing up in a Chinese family in the UK.
10:01Let's go.
10:04As the day draws to a close,
10:07two teams are heading into rural China on overnight trains in the cheapest seats available.
10:14They are smoking on the train.
10:16Great.
10:17Elizabeth and Letitia...
10:19Look at this.
10:22I don't know what Shangro is all about.
10:24Like a cartoon.
10:27I think I found my seat 71, but the man's lying all over it.
10:31And Yin and Gaz.
10:33It's quite rough and ready.
10:34If people bought in their little gaggle of chickens and things like that,
10:38it would not be out of place on this trade.
10:41It's not as bad as British Rail.
10:42It's quite rough and up.
10:47Wow.
10:48Yeah.
10:48308 kilometres, the fastest I've been on a train thing.
10:52Like, I feel like we're going city to city to city.
10:54Yeah, it looks so cool.
10:56After a slow start,
10:58Finn and Sean Ed are prioritising speed.
11:03Spending big on a bullet train to reach Siamen City before morning.
11:07First day on the second leg, and we've spent about £70 so far.
11:13That's not good. Right, it was approximately...
11:16I can't do numbers at all.
11:18Short Ed's probably better with money.
11:2156, seven, eight.
11:24Yeah, I don't think I'd be able to do that day to day.
11:27It's too much, isn't it? It's too much going on.
11:29I've got an A-star in maths GCSE.
11:32Me or Finn don't pay bills because we still live with our parents,
11:37so budgeting for us doesn't really exist.
11:41But I'm hoping to kind of have a plan
11:44and map out what we can spend.
11:49Approximately £160 per leg for eight legs.
11:53160 times eight, what's that?
11:562,280. Is it?
11:59No, it's not.
12:01It is. No, it's really not.
12:04My brain is really bad with maths,
12:08but I know for a fact that you'd not get an A-star if you think that.
12:11Where have I got that number from?
12:13Where have I got that number from before?
12:162...
12:18Shall we just chill and see what happens?
12:20We've got a good head start.
12:22This leg is going to be smooth sailing for us.
12:24I feel like we are coming first.
12:26You're going to follow me? I'm following you, mate.
12:416.45am.
12:43I'm following you, you carry on.
12:45Almost a day after the race leaders departed,
12:48a fourth team leave the checkpoint.
12:51Brothers Brian and Melvin.
12:53What we've learnt from this first leg,
12:55we've been rushing in, haven't we?
12:57Yeah.
12:58Fools rush in, Mel. There you go.
13:00We're a pair of fools then, aren't we, mate?
13:02So we have got more in common than we think.
13:05Our strategy for this leg is start catching people up
13:08to travel quickly without spending the money.
13:11We have got to work.
13:13We're hoping to get a job
13:14where maybe we can get free accommodation.
13:16We've got to plan our routes better.
13:19It says public transportation parking area here.
13:22Well, we found it. That was easy, wasn't it?
13:24Yeah.
13:25Bright door's here.
13:26I knew it was.
13:29I'd love to move up a place to third.
13:31We're going to have to take a gamble
13:32to go as far south as we can and go for it.
13:36I disagree.
13:37I think doing the home stay is far more logical.
13:40Food and board we're getting, isn't it?
13:43We are actually saving money by doing that.
13:46OK, Mel. I'm with you on that then.
13:50I don't know why I'm looking out in front at road signs,
13:52because I can't understand them anyway.
13:57As the brothers motor towards the coast,
14:001,000 kilometres inland, the ancient town of Funghuang.
14:05Named after a mythical bird,
14:07this frontier town connects the Hunan and Guizhou provinces.
14:22Hidden in the mountains,
14:23it was once a useful rallying point for politicians,
14:26warlords and bandits.
14:29And today, it offers Yen and Guizh a chance
14:32to earn back some budget.
14:35Are you hungry? Would you like noodles?
14:38No, no, no, no, no, no. OK.
14:42By helping at Ms Zhao's noodle bar.
14:46This sink is very low.
14:48It's breaking my back.
14:50It's not really made for my height, this sink.
14:53Come on in, come on, come on in.
14:55This leg, it is all about clawing back a bit,
14:58and trying to get the shift done,
15:00maybe have a little wander around the village,
15:02and then it'll be back on the road again.
15:05You want noodles?
15:07Any noodles? You want food?
15:09What? Noodles?
15:11Yes. Yes, would you like to come in for noodles?
15:13I'm not cooking.
15:15I'm just trying to usher you in.
15:17No-one's going to know what he's saying.
15:20When we had the takeaway, Guizh was in front of house
15:23because he was just so confident.
15:25People loved him, he's a people person.
15:27Hello. Would you like any noodles?
15:28Are you hungry? No.
15:30No? OK, all right.
15:32Cheers, cheers, cheers.
15:34And I like the fact that he had a real front about him.
15:37You want some food? You come back?
15:39Yes, thank you, sir.
15:40OK, thank you, sir.
15:42Madam? There you go.
15:46I've got a customer.
15:49That's one of the things that I miss about Guizh.
15:52No, exactly.
15:53That was the charm that it hooked me in.
15:55Yeah, it probably was, actually.
15:57That's what we made.
15:58Do you want to take that?
15:59Perfect.
16:01Got free dinner, got some money.
16:03That wasn't that bad after, was it?
16:05I think I did more work than you did.
16:07I don't think you did. I brought the punters in.
16:11Being married to him was amazing.
16:14I did feel there's security being married,
16:16because you're a unit, you are together.
16:20But the breakdown in the relationship was because I became lazy,
16:24I took you in for granted.
16:26Even to this day, I blame myself.
16:28Oh, that was spicy.
16:31Well, that's nice, isn't it, that view?
16:34The Covid are at the top.
16:36I didn't cope with the breakdown of the relationship at all well.
16:38I became insular.
16:40It was hard and I didn't like it at all.
16:42What do you do?
16:44Oh, let's go down the pub and have six parts of Guinness and forget about it.
16:48Oh, that's nice.
16:53I would drink myself into a stupor because I didn't talk to anyone about it.
16:56One of the big key things with Guinness is she identified that and whilst I was going through my demons and people had given up on me, she never did.
17:08She could see, you know, what I was doing was not right.
17:13We're going on the stepping stones.
17:15We do not want to be falling in.
17:17No, we do not.
17:19I'm at that point now where I'm in a good place.
17:23And by doing the race, I want to repay her because she was there for me through the dark times.
17:31And I don't want to let her down.
17:33I've let her down too many times in the past. I don't want to do it again.
17:37Hello, Piss Cat.
17:39Hello.
17:40Would you take some pictures of the cats?
17:42I did take a little picture of the kitten.
17:43What a surprise.
17:48Tanya City, high speed train station.
17:50Tanya's high speed.
17:52Last to leave the checkpoint, almost 26 hours after the race leaders.
17:57Two people to...
18:05Mother and son, Carline and Tom.
18:08Tanya.
18:09Tanya.
18:11Tanya.
18:13Tanya.
18:15Tanya.
18:16Tanya.
18:17Tanya.
18:18Tanya.
18:19Tanya.
18:20Tanya.
18:21Tanya.
18:22Tanya.
18:23Tanya.
18:24Tanya.
18:25Tanya.
18:26Tanya.
18:27Tanya.
18:28Tanya.
18:29Tanya.
18:30Tanya.
18:31Tanya.
18:32Tanya.
18:33Tanya.
18:34Tanya.
18:35Tanya.
18:36Tanya.
18:37Tanya.
18:38Tanya.
18:39Tanya.
18:40Tanya.
18:41Tanya.
18:42Tanya.
18:43Tanya.
18:44We have to sacrifice experiences.
18:48God, Thomas, it feels so nice to be moving.
18:50Russian book.
18:51Russian book.
18:53I have a point to prove.
18:55I'd like Thomas to realise he has a mother who can achieve things and do things rather than just be a mother.
19:04We are heading to...
19:06Zalman.
19:08As Caroline and Tom begin their dash for the coast...
19:14Wow, this is a different feel to it, isn't it?
19:16That's beautiful, though.
19:19750 kilometres south, one team are already there.
19:24So we're going to go straight to the train station and book our travel for tonight.
19:29And then we're going to the beach!
19:35Once known as the gateway to China,
19:37the ancient tea-trading port of Zalman is now a vibrant cosmopolitan city,
19:45renowned for its long, sandy beaches and blend of European and Chinese architectural styles.
19:53It's like a holiday day.
19:55We've both got a spring in our step.
19:56Before a chance to enjoy the beach,
19:59a plan to action.
20:01Secure overnight transport along the coast towards Hainan.
20:05Don't let me do it by myself.
20:07Shren, only one of us can go.
20:09Why is that always on me?
20:11Communication is your part.
20:13My part's planning.
20:15Why is it always my part?
20:17Because mine's planning and I've planned everything.
20:20Yeah.
20:21We're bigger.
20:22Yeah, we're young.
20:23Somehow I'm in charge again.
20:25As planned it.
20:27So you're sorting it?
20:29To where?
20:30Guangxiao.
20:32No, Zhu Hai.
20:34Vin never listens.
20:36Welcome to my life.
20:37It's not an argument, it's more the...
20:39Yeah, it's just chops in.
20:41Chops in each other, yeah.
20:43Tonight, Zhu Hai?
20:45Zhu Hai.
20:46No drinking.
20:46No drinking.
20:48No.
20:49Tomorrow.
20:50Ah.
20:53That's so annoying.
20:55She's shone.
20:57Brilliant, all right, Sand.
20:59We need to figure this out quickly and then just crack on with sightseeing.
21:03It's getting on my nerves, I just want to chill.
21:07We need to try to find a best friend, I'm not going to lie.
21:09I'm not very confident anymore that we're getting out of here today.
21:14Now we're getting in China, it's definitely overwhelming.
21:16On the race, everything's so foreign and so new.
21:22I feel a bit daunted.
21:24Right, is he helping or is he like...
21:26Well, I'm not sure, Finn, I have never been here before.
21:29It probably is the most we've been tested.
21:32Just because we can't escape each other and I don't catch a break.
21:36The bus station has been suspended.
21:40Oh, please not again.
21:42We're running out of options.
21:44Finn, what's the plan?
21:45I have no plan, to be honest.
21:47Neither do I.
21:48I don't want to decide.
21:49Well, neither do I then.
21:50Oh, please don't start this.
21:53I'm so stressed anyway, so...
21:55..bickering on top of that.
21:58I find myself just thinking, like, I'd just rather be home.
22:02Nothing makes sense in this place.
22:05I just want to see the beaches.
22:14Hello!
22:15Your... Is it Mr. Zhu?
22:17Yeah.
22:19Tucked in the rolling mountains of Fujian,
22:21Brian and Melvin have made it to Chusey Village.
22:26Just picked it and stuck it off us.
22:28It wouldn't let us carry.
22:28It would have had mine, couldn't it?
22:30To work for Mr. Zhu in exchange for bed and board.
22:33Look at this.
22:35This is a... Look at this place.
22:37I've never seen anything like this.
22:39This is amazing.
22:44Built in the 15th century by the Hakka people,
22:48to Lowe's, fortified earthen homes
22:52that housed hundreds of people each,
22:55protecting entire communities from invaders,
22:58thieves and wild animals.
23:03The chef, the chef is brilliant.
23:05It looks brilliant.
23:07Beautiful.
23:11Is it good?
23:14Is it chicken?
23:20Chicken.
23:21Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.
23:24And that's...
23:25Is that...
23:26Moo.
23:27Moo.
23:28Moo.
23:28Yeah.
23:29Yeah.
23:30Whoa.
23:31And beer.
23:33OK.
23:35Oh, I like this man's style.
23:36I really knew.
23:41Whiskey.
23:41Yeah.
23:42You said he's whiskey.
23:45Cheers.
23:46Cheers.
23:46Cheers.
23:47Cheers.
23:47Cheers.
23:47Cheers.
23:48Hello.
23:51It's like moonshine.
23:53Oh.
23:55Oh.
23:56God damn.
23:58That'll make me hair grow back.
24:00No more.
24:01No more.
24:03Melvin persuaded me that we don't go as far south
24:07as I wanted to.
24:10Thank you very much.
24:10See you later.
24:11Good night.
24:12Good night.
24:13Melvin has made that decision and I followed it.
24:17We're up at five.
24:18Rest me aching bones.
24:20It's just been a long day.
24:23We decided to come to this homestay.
24:26I was adamant that it made more sense to do that.
24:29Yeah, I reckon you've got the best bedroom.
24:30It's pissing off me.
24:31I'll snort with you.
24:32You can have the big one.
24:33I feel sorry for the buggers below here, Mel.
24:34Am I snoring?
24:35Mmm.
24:36I don't push myself in a way.
24:40I would have given in to him eventually.
24:43But I feel good about the fact that he actually listened.
24:45He thought about it and got on board with me.
24:48Eventually, he did see sense.
24:51Have a good night.
24:52Well, try not to snow too, Mel.
24:57It's a creaky one.
24:58Look at this.
25:08So beautiful.
25:12Riding a bullet train towards the city Guilin.
25:16Elizabeth and Letitia.
25:18We're going through the mountains.
25:23Speeding through Hunan province and the Guangxi region.
25:27Famed for their karst peaks, over 250 million years old.
25:34I can stare at this view all day.
25:38Remind me a little bit of Skittles.
25:41Little green Skittles.
25:45I think Letitia will be very, very excited.
25:48We need to get the bus to Long G tomorrow.
25:53Rice puddies.
25:55Finally.
25:55I'm excited.
25:57Prayers are coming true.
26:10Glad I pulled that knee band, did you?
26:12Yeah, watch this bit here, Mel.
26:15800 kilometres east.
26:17I'm sweating.
26:17Amongst the forests of Fujian, where the tigers of South China once roamed.
26:23I want a bit of phrase, I'm fucked.
26:25Mr Shue's family have worked the land for nearly two centuries.
26:31It's actually quite nice.
26:33It's lovely, isn't it?
26:34Brian and Melvin are repaying his hospitality,
26:37scaling a mountain to harvest bamboo,
26:40a staple for both local cuisine and construction.
26:44I've been on panda lookout ever since we've been to China.
26:47Melvin.
26:47What?
26:48It's absolutely ridiculous.
26:50Panda?
26:51It's not going to see you panda in here, Mel.
26:53Do we sign up for this?
26:56Whose stupid idea was it to cut bamboo shoots?
26:59So cut it straight down.
27:01It's all right, bro.
27:03You caught one yet, Mel?
27:04Well, there's something to here.
27:06Oh, no, that's a bottle top.
27:07We're a couple of old blokes,
27:10so it's going to be tough for us,
27:13but if we can use our skills that we've acquired over the years
27:17to give us a bit of an advantage,
27:19that's our game plan.
27:21Army days, Mel.
27:22Remember when you were a soldier?
27:23Reminds me of Belize, 50 years ago.
27:28When I left school, I joined the Army,
27:31and I did seven years in the Army.
27:33I'm a light and backpack, tracking through stuff like this.
27:36Then from that, I did a bit of painting and decorating.
27:40Then I joined the prison service.
27:41I did a little bit of private eye work.
27:44I used to run a karaoke evening,
27:47and I like Elvis Presley.
27:49There's a lot of Elvis' songs, so I call myself Melvis.
27:52I've got it.
27:53OK.
27:54I've got it.
27:54That'll be 30 quid, please, labour cost.
27:57And then I trained to be a driving instructor,
27:59and that's what I've been doing ever since.
28:02I've never had a lot of money,
28:03but I've always worked to my means and spent to my means.
28:06I've got four shirts for £9.99.
28:09That's OK.
28:10I'm comfortable in my bamboo, lightweight, soft,
28:14sweat-proof, really nice stuff.
28:16Sweat-proof?
28:17Well, that's not actually.
28:18I managed to sell my company many years ago.
28:24I'm fortunate that I do have the money to do what I want to do.
28:28He's always been a hard worker.
28:30That's where he's got where he's got.
28:31But with Brian, it wasn't physical work.
28:34It was mental work, and it was stressful work for him as well.
28:38There you go!
28:40Is that good?
28:41Yeah, that, that, that.
28:41Yeah, is that it, then?
28:44Yeah.
28:46He's a good lad, and to end up where he's ended up,
28:49he's brilliant, I'm really proud of him for doing it.
28:52What have we managed to get?
28:55Marvellous.
28:56OK, we're off.
28:57Thank you, Mr. Hsu.
29:03Thank you, Mr. Hsu.
29:04Thank you very much.
29:05Right.
29:06So we need to go to the train station.
29:08Inquire about tickets.
29:10Go as far south as we can get.
29:18It's absolutely beautiful.
29:20It does look nice.
29:23City hopping along the coast,
29:25Finn and Seanhead have travelled 700 kilometres
29:28to reach Zhuhai.
29:31Known as the Chinese Riviera,
29:33it is one of the most prosperous regions in China.
29:37I've never seen a city with big buildings
29:41that go on straight to a beach.
29:44I would definitely never have thought this would be in China.
29:48The sea looks like home water.
29:51It's so chill.
29:52I mean, Wales has beautiful beaches.
29:54Yeah, you've got it, like, towards, like, St. David's and stuff
29:57and, like, Barrow-Fundle.
29:58Yeah, it's a lot more of a peaceful life.
30:01It is.
30:01At home, we don't really have hard decisions to make,
30:06and we can depend on other people.
30:08Doing this is just massive.
30:09Like, we have no experience at anything.
30:13I think we're forgetting the fact that we're 18 and 19
30:16and we have gone from, like, above Beijing to Zhuhai,
30:21by ourselves, basically.
30:22Like, where me and Seanhead are from, you know,
30:25our local train station, there's two platforms.
30:30Even then, they still have to ask someone which platform it is.
30:32So, to be in a train station where there's 24 platforms,
30:36it's in Mandarin, it's absolutely, unbelievably hard for us.
30:42I like going to beaches and stuff when I am home.
30:46I mean, it's just, like, quite nice for me
30:48to just be able to just stop for a minute
30:50and have that, like, honed feeling, maybe.
30:58I feel about not being...
31:00Like, not being able to speak to your mum.
31:15Deep breath.
31:17Down to ten.
31:18What is it that you miss?
31:25That familiarity.
31:26I like to have that.
31:28So, I don't like being away from everyone we know and...
31:33..basically just having each other.
31:39Do you regret it?
31:41No.
31:42I know I need to do it.
31:48It's, like, speaking and thinking about home, I don't like it
31:51because I know, like, as much as I feel like I want to be home
31:56right now, I definitely don't.
31:59If I was home, I'd want to be here.
32:00Just trying to adapt to China, adapt to the language,
32:03adapt to the people,
32:05trying to build up my confidence to be a bit more risky.
32:07Everyone misses you, don't worry.
32:11That's not helping.
32:12OK.
32:14Nobody misses you.
32:15Sorry.
32:16Just shush about it.
32:17OK, sorry.
32:25Bath.
32:26Bath.
32:27Bath.
32:28Bath.
32:28It's not bath.
32:29Bath.
32:30It would be a R-T-H, wouldn't it?
32:32So, half the population is right and half is wrong.
32:35Yes.
32:35My side's right.
32:41Brian and Melvin's push south
32:43has brought them to the city of Guangzhou.
32:51Is that what that said?
32:53There is a typhoon.
32:56Follocks.
32:59We have a major problem.
33:01Apparently, there's a typhoon warning
33:03and it's south of the island that we want to go to.
33:07No buses at all tomorrow because of the typhoon,
33:10but apparently the bullet trains are still running.
33:13Takes us to Zhang Zheng,
33:15which is within spitting distance to the island.
33:20It's not going to do our budget any good at all.
33:22That's 520 yuan.
33:26But it gets us there.
33:27If the weather is bad and we can't move,
33:31we've got no choice.
33:32It's the bullet train.
33:33We said we were going to get there.
33:34We've got to get there.
33:36That's 500.
33:37I've got 500.
33:38How much have you got?
33:39I don't know.
33:39I'm going to take my pants off to have a look.
33:42Well, that does...
33:43That was discreet, wasn't it?
33:52We want to head south
33:53and we want to get there as quickly as possible.
33:57Travel, travel, travel.
33:58Also in Guangzhou...
34:00Zhang Zhang.
34:01Let's do that.
34:01Yeah.
34:02But unaware of the impending typhoon,
34:05Caroline and Tom.
34:06Do you have tickets to Zhang Zhang?
34:11Oh, no.
34:13All tickets for today are sold out.
34:16Oh, God.
34:17Tomorrow afternoon, please.
34:20Oh, it's just stressful.
34:21I hate this.
34:21I hate booking tickets.
34:22I hate this part.
34:24Being fifth, I felt most bad for Mum.
34:27Oh, my shoulders are hurting.
34:29Oh!
34:30Vitalik, that's the problem with coming last.
34:32We just have to suck it up.
34:33I just keep on thinking
34:36how she's going to feel
34:37if we get to that book
34:39and it says last again.
34:41We've spent quite a lot.
34:43We've sacrificed experience to gain speed.
34:45We've booked expensive trains,
34:47done the bullet trains.
34:48We've got a train booked to Zhang Ling tomorrow.
34:52The earliest one we could,
34:53which gives us some time to work
34:55and earn some money back on the budget.
34:56Okay.
34:57Enjoy today.
34:58Work tomorrow.
34:59Race.
35:00Perfect.
35:01Let's get in the spirit, Mama.
35:03Yep.
35:03I'll be fine.
35:08Two and a half hours of standing, potentially.
35:10For some reason,
35:11we've chosen to hang out by the toilet.
35:13I'm not sure why.
35:16With three teams positioned along the coast,
35:20Yin and Gaz are forging their way inland,
35:24heading to Xi'an To to work and stay on a local family farm.
35:28Growing up in a Chinese family,
35:30I know how much food is kind of like the central focal point
35:33and I know we'll be fed really, really well.
35:36They will want to share everything.
35:38They're going to be really proud of what they produce,
35:40how they turn that into food for the family.
35:42And I think that experience is priceless, really.
35:52Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye.
35:54Oh, wow!
35:55Nick.
35:56They look so neat and organised.
35:58Look at that.
35:59They look so neat.
36:01Elizabeth and Letitia have made it to Longzhi.
36:05Take off your socks, man.
36:07You'll see if I can get wet.
36:08No, I'll wear your socks after.
36:09No, because I'm going to wear my socks after.
36:11What do you mean?
36:12To fulfil a lifelong dream of Letitia's.
36:16No rain can bother me.
36:19It's like ripples in the sea.
36:21The sea of rice.
36:22And experience one of the world's finest examples of agricultural ingenuity.
36:34Built over 700 years ago by the Zhuang and Yao minorities,
36:40more than 70 square kilometres of cascading rice terraces
36:44weave along the contours of the steep mountain slopes.
36:49Being in the clouds, one with the rice, one with the rain.
36:56It's a shame that we can't see the whole of the field, really.
37:01But I like the ambience.
37:04With this weather, it's given us, like, a unique experience, you know?
37:08I'd be more comfortable in the sun, honestly.
37:11I was dressed for the sun.
37:13Oh, I just love the smell.
37:15Don't you love the smell?
37:17You've been very happy.
37:18I am very happy.
37:19It's good that you're enjoying it.
37:21Yeah, I'm really enjoying it.
37:22Good.
37:25Letitia was very extroverted, actually, when she was young.
37:30She was very loud.
37:32She would always want to be, like, the centre of attention and sing.
37:36It almost looks like the ripples in ice cream.
37:39Mmm.
37:40When I went to Italy, Letitia was still a teenager.
37:46There was more than ten years, really, that we were apart.
37:50You've got the ticket, yeah?
37:51Yeah, I think so.
37:52When I came back to the UK, Letitia had become quite anxious, and she had this introverted quietness to her.
37:59She definitely got a bit shyer, a little bit more reserved.
38:02I'm very short-lived, but, um, you know, it's a great one over there anyway.
38:07Mmm.
38:08It was something that you really wanted to do for a long time, so...
38:12Yeah.
38:13Yeah.
38:13I was just happy that I came here.
38:22It was a nice feeling, and, um, yeah, I just love it.
38:25It just fascinates me, really.
38:26Mmm.
38:27Because I remember you just started having this love, like, your love for Asia started with China.
38:34I was in Italy.
38:35Mmm.
38:36I was just, like, down all the time.
38:38When I wasn't feeling my best, I would watch a, like, Asian movie or something, and it would just make me feel better.
38:48I was just one of those teenagers who didn't leave their room.
38:53I didn't really understand who I was.
38:55A bit depressed, and I feel like Asia culture kind of, like, woke me up, I guess, because I feel like I was just so, like, stagnant.
39:04But it gave me a goal to work towards, maybe I can go to Asia, maybe I can go study there, maybe I can, you know, learn the language.
39:13So it gave me something to, like, look forward to.
39:16It was definitely an escapism.
39:18It was a safe space, because it was very consistent.
39:21It's hard for me to think that you've gone through that, and that I wasn't there.
39:38It's okay.
39:39I'm so glad we came today.
39:43It's lived up to my expectations.
39:45Yeah.
39:46I really liked it.
39:48I'm glad I had the opportunity to, you know, do it.
39:52And also with you, just for you to, you know, see part of my, um, interest.
39:58And this is definitely me getting to know you a lot more.
40:02It's nice actually experiencing it with you.
40:05And I think I wouldn't have wanted to come to China, I think, with anybody else, but you'd honestly.
40:09I'd be highly offended if you went with someone else, not me.
40:13You would survive.
40:14I'd be like, oh, my God.
40:36Beautiful.
40:36This is the best food we've had in China since we've been here.
40:40Yin and Gaz are spending the evening with Mr Lu and his family.
40:44Number one, food. Really good. Yeah, number one.
40:51That's like a fish.
40:52Fish, you catch it.
40:53The fish was caught this afternoon to entertain our esteemed guests.
40:58Oh, thank you.
41:00So nice, so nice.
41:03I'm going to have to stop soon, though.
41:05Oh, oh, thank you.
41:08Oh, poor.
41:09How long have you had the farm?
41:1220? 24.
41:15Are you two husband and wife?
41:18Yeah. Yeah, and do you have children?
41:20We have two daughters.
41:22Two children?
41:23We have one daughter.
41:30That was good, wasn't it?
41:32It's excellent.
41:33When we used to be as a family, instead of, like, Sunday roast,
41:37that would be our equivalent of the Sunday Chinese dinner.
41:40Even the pork chop stew.
41:42Oh, I love that one.
41:43Do you miss that kind of food?
41:45Because we haven't been together for now for about three years.
41:47Chicken's feet and black bean sauce is still my favourite.
41:50But also Autumn likes it as well.
41:52Little A-B's birthday yesterday.
41:56It seems strange to us, like, 23 years of her birthday,
41:59so this is the first one we're not going to be with her.
42:00We've had quite a long marriage.
42:02We did have a child, our daughter, Autumn.
42:04Of all things, that's probably the most thing
42:06we're proud of the most of.
42:08I mean, even, like, when we split up,
42:10we still came together for birthdays,
42:12whether it was mine, yours or Autumn's.
42:14They've always been fun.
42:15We've always managed to put our differences aside for Autumn.
42:18Yeah.
42:18I don't know why it works or how it works, but it works.
42:20Yeah, but it does. It's unique, but it does.
42:35Also, it's quite sad that we're not with her for our birthday.
42:38Yes, I don't cry.
42:41Don't worry.
42:44Taking part in the race, Autumn sees it as, I don't know,
42:49like a last adventure together.
42:52Time has moved on.
42:53Autumn is now grown up.
42:55We both are different people.
42:57She understands me and Gaz are going on a different path,
43:01living our own lives.
43:03We still want to be supportive of each other.
43:06But me and Gaz want to get back to engaging with life again
43:10and start enjoying it again.
43:15The two dogs are shagging each other, sorry.
43:19LAUGHTER
43:35Thomas, this is it.
43:36With a few hours remaining,
43:38before the train departs towards the checkpoint,
43:41Caroline and Tom have picked up work in Foreshan.
43:44it's a gym sir the kung-fu capital of China and birthplace of Bruce Lee's
43:52legendary master it man yeah yeah I think Thomas is loving this he's
43:59desperately wanting to watch but he has to get on with his job
44:03are you like this when I'm good at this okay look at the speed ah I don't do
44:14anything slowly bathrooms I love to be busy all the time I'm quite a restless
44:22person half the jobs I'm sure I invent should be happy and having a good time
44:28it's just generally what she enjoys she just took the broom and she was straight
44:33off just speedy Gonzales mum's role when I was a kid was very much make sure
44:39everything at home is in order or dad's at working it's very much a old-fashioned
44:45upbringing with dad being the provider and mum being kind of the stay-at-home mum
44:50how did you live at a family I do feel until now my life has largely been
44:57predetermined and traditional when I got married I gave up working my husband was
45:03happy to work and wanted me to stay at home I cared for Thomas all the time I
45:09don't financially contribute at home and I do feel guilty and it doesn't make you
45:16feel good you it makes you feel literally not as important I think it's for mum
45:21that's just part of her routine and her normal life and she's I think she quite
45:27enjoys it you know like being needed and wanted I generally didn't even know who mum
45:32would be without those things because I've never really seen it I suppose I've
45:36coasted through life really for the past 20 odd years I haven't done something
45:41that comes from my soul that means something really really important to me
45:47I want to prove that I can have value and do something fulfilling I don't know if
45:53he realizes this means more than just a race to me
45:57oh oh my god look at the size of that spider I can't see it well come closer
46:05look at that oh that's my suit thank you
46:10Thomas how do you expect to be a Kung Fu master if you can't even cope with a spider
46:17before departing there's time to spar with master dong
46:23this is gonna tire us out before we can race it's great seeing mum do something like this this is where
46:46she gets stuck in yeah she's just quite tough she doesn't stop
46:52yeah mama do it oh we got this oh gosh okay
46:57well thank you thank you so much
47:03back in race mode it's nice to know that this is potentially hopefully definitely the last day of this leg
47:13as Caroline and Tom head for their train
47:17oh I think oh I'm in luck yeah yeah I've got a big one
47:32before making their way to the checkpoint
47:35Yin and Gaz are paying for last night's accommodation
47:39digging lotus roots
47:45our hostess has turned up in his jeans and gone straight in
47:48central to Chinese cuisine their host Mr Lu will sell this morning's harvest at the local market
47:56oh that's a good one this is what I think of rural China pictures scenery agriculture
48:09rural China is interspersed with industrial China but then you get rewarded with views like this you feel like such a small speck when you're surrounded by these magnificent mountains
48:31the abundance of our labor
48:36ta-da
48:39we did all this
48:40this is the China that I wanted to see
48:46feel quite honored to have experienced that and experienced it with them as well
48:51you're wonderful thank you sir
48:54after a morning's hard work
48:57Yin and Gaz
48:59we're going to try to get to Sanya
49:01join the other four teams
49:02Sanya
49:04on the final push to Sanya
49:08to get there they need to reach Shuwen Port and board a ferry to Haikou on Hainan Island
49:14before traveling a further 280 kilometers to the second checkpoint
49:20Sanya
49:23if we can get to the checkpoint today that is the dream isn't it
49:27yeah
49:28it's worth the money
49:29it's worth the early start if we can get there today
49:32if we get there today subject to the typhoon not causing us any problems
49:37if the transport's not working we're still and we're still for a day
49:40approaching from the southeast
49:44typhoon trammy
49:46bringing torrential rain
49:48high winds
49:49and major disruption
49:51I can't really see out the window it's so gross
49:55once a storm hits
49:57all transport is typically suspended
49:59meaning teams risk being stranded on the mainland
50:03the weather's bad
50:04I'm not feeling particularly confident today
50:07Elizabeth and Leticia are the first team to set foot on Hainan
50:16oh it's very slippery
50:18a bit nervous actually
50:20oh it's raining
50:23typhoon might be on its way
50:25chop chop chop
50:26why don't we just get a bus
50:29so we're on the road already
50:30yeah let's just get moving
50:32oh there's literally a torrential rain
50:36this bus seems very slow
50:39we think we could have potentially lost our lead
50:42we could have been on a train
50:44that would be faster
50:45I just hope that we're not so far behind
50:49as the sisters begin an arduous bus journey south to Sanya
50:55what's the Titanic
50:57need to be on the front for that
50:59oh I'll sail on the side it's safe
51:01two other teams are approaching the island
51:04so excited to get to the checkpoint
51:06it felt impossible
51:07but we're actually getting somewhere
51:09yeah I'm happy
51:10keep going keep going
51:12a bit of a breeze going through the head
51:15typhoon isn't it
51:16two tickets to Sanya
51:18Sanya
51:20it's the result
51:211840 tickets to Sanya
51:23yes
51:26ah
51:27finally
51:28Sanya
51:29Sanya
51:30tonight
51:31two
51:32huh
51:33yes
51:34oh my gosh yes
51:35ah butterflies are coming
51:37this is the last hush
51:39what is this
51:40this is the calm
51:41before the storm
51:43the storm
51:52race mode is on
51:56make your way to Sanya
51:58Kike
51:59Zan
52:00on the Jufang road by any available means
52:03John is a station
52:05should we just fly down and taxi
52:06no I think we should walk
52:08so let's just go on
52:09we can get some more instruction
52:11Oh
52:13Sonia Kike
52:14Shizan
52:15on the Jufang road
52:16Ozna
52:17not Russian
52:18I'm not Russian
52:19thinks I'm Russian
52:21Jufang ro
52:23Jufang ro
52:24Jufang ro
52:25is it a hotel maybe or
52:27a station
52:28it's going to be somewhere here
52:31I can get you a car
52:33thank you
52:34do you know how much it will be
52:35I'll be happy
52:36are you sure
52:37I'm not
52:38thank you so much
52:39thank you so much
52:40Thank you so much, Jason.
52:41Thank you so much.
52:42Yay!
52:43Why are these directions not clear?
52:45Are you with me, Mel?
52:47To where you're trying to kill me.
52:48It's absolutely pouring it down, and it's pitch black.
52:52See if you can see street names.
52:54Yay!
52:55It's this one.
52:56Yes.
52:57Oh!
52:58If this is a station.
52:59Bus station, if that sounds right.
53:05On foot, head west to find the beach.
53:09Right, hang on, hang on, hang on.
53:10Line your north-all, line your north-all.
53:12OK, west is not that way.
53:14West is not that way.
53:16So west is that way?
53:17That is north.
53:18It's over there.
53:20It's that direction.
53:23West should be that way.
53:26Never eat shredded.
53:29Where do you know, how do you know where north is?
53:33Flooded everywhere.
53:34I can smell the beach, just follow our noses.
53:38So it's down here, man.
53:39No, over there, I think.
53:41I don't, uh...
53:42I feel really, really stupid.
53:45I feel really, really stupid as well.
53:47Argh!
53:50That's the beach.
53:51There you go.
53:52Beach coming up.
53:53Oh.
53:54Head across the bridge to find your checkpoint hotel
53:57in the Phoenix Island Resort.
53:59Oh!
54:00Hmm.
54:01Is it?
54:02That's in the lake.
54:03Isn't it?
54:04There's a bridge over there, look.
54:07Go!
54:08Run after it.
54:09Last push, Mel.
54:10I'm here.
54:11I'm on your tail.
54:12So the bridge was to the right?
54:13Yeah.
54:14Oh, my gosh.
54:15I don't think I can run anymore.
54:17Come on.
54:18We'll make it.
54:19Oh, my gosh.
54:20Oh, my gosh.
54:21Oh, my gosh.
54:22Oh, my gosh.
54:23Ah, breeze.
54:24Ni hao.
54:25Ni hao.
54:26Ni hao.
54:27Ni hao.
54:28Ni hao.
54:29Ni hao.
54:30Ni hao.
54:31Ni hao.
54:32Ni hao.
54:33Ni hao.
54:34Can you stay in here?
54:35Congratulations.
54:36You have successfully reached your second checkpoint.
54:38Ah!
54:39Ah!
54:40Ah!
54:41Where...
54:42Where is it?
54:43What?
54:44What?
54:45Win it!
54:46What?
54:47Wow.
54:48Ah!
54:49Ah!
54:50Ah!
54:51Ah!
54:52We're surprising ourselves, because I think we actually are doing quite a few things right.
54:57Yeah, I feel like this leg, we really balance race and experience.
55:01Even, like, the rice paddies.
55:03I was so happy.
55:05And it's nice to share.
55:06Mm.
55:07Oh!
55:08Oh!
55:09Oh!
55:10Oh!
55:11Oh!
55:12Oh!
55:13Oh!
55:14And in second place.
55:15And look at the time.
55:16I nearly gave you a hug, then.
55:17Don't give me a hug.
55:18That is a big surprise, isn't it?
55:20It's good.
55:21We've never, ever expected to pick up places.
55:25Never.
55:26And the time...
55:27I'm chuffed on that.
55:28Absolutely amazing.
55:29I'm absolutely buzzing now.
55:31Ha-ha!
55:34Oh!
55:35Ni hao!
55:36Ni hao!
55:38Oh!
55:39Wow!
55:40They've made a comeback, Brian and Melvitt.
55:42Wow!
55:43I would have loved to hold that second place position, but I'm very happy with food.
55:48At home, our relationship has no stress.
55:51So, coming here and having only each other, it's a lot.
55:55Proud of us.
55:56I'm proud of us, too.
55:57But this is definitely an experience that I would never want to change.
56:01And we're both so sweaty.
56:03Oh!
56:04Three pairs have made it to the second checkpoint in Sanya.
56:09But two teams are yet to arrive.
56:15Scary.
56:17On Hainan Island...
56:18My feet are soaking now.
56:20I don't know what choice we have.
56:22The weather's conspired against us.
56:28But stranded until morning.
56:31Caroline and Tom.
56:33So near yet so far.
56:35I'm worried about how it may feel when we get to the book.
56:38I think it'll be our fifth again.
56:40I think we're going to feel so deflated.
56:42Still on the mainland...
56:47Why are we not moving?
56:49..Yin and Gaz.
57:03Oh!
57:08What is going on?
57:09There's nothing we can do, we're trapped.
57:11It's definitely been 12 hours.
57:12And we've gone from here, to there, to back here again.
57:16We haven't gone very far at all.
57:18I have no words.
57:19We're just in limbo.
57:20No words.
57:21I'd pull my hair out if I had any.
57:24We are literally in the hands of Mother Nature.
57:31Oof!
57:32Adrenaline's pumping.
57:34The team that arrives in fifth place...
57:35...will be eliminated from the race.
57:37OK, we're in fight mode now.
57:38Look at that!
57:39The first time in 40 years...
57:41...we've got a different type of relationship.
57:43I want more challenges.
57:45I do not want to be going home.
57:46Wow!
57:47If this doesn't make me fall in love, I don't know what will.
57:50No!
57:51We have caught up!
57:52We're one nil down at half-time.
57:54I'm not panicking just yet.
57:55I give up.
57:56No, we can't give up.
57:57Thomas knows.
57:58We need to go quickly.
57:59Ben!
58:00Thomas!
58:01Thomas!
58:02Yes!