China with Ben Fogle— Episode 1

Overview

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?

Documentary

Current EpisodeSeason 1 • Episode 1Aired: 2026-04-0668 min

1. Episode 1

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.