Jeff and Peter Hutchens begin their China journey in Chinas westernmost province, Xingjiang. Populated by locals known as Uyghars, the brothers try to learn the ways of these rough people. They begin their journey in the city of Kashgar. Located near the only passes through the nearly impassible Pamir mountains, Kashgar was the last stop before starting out on the "the Silk Road" to western markets. In Kashgar, they barter for hats in the market, obtain a Uyghar knive, attend a cock-fight, celebrate the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, and even eat goats head! On the Silk Road, the brothers buy silks, hunt for precious white jade, ride a camel caravan through the desert, and play a version of polo with a goats head. Theyll do all of this to understand the traditional and modern way of life of the Uyghar people.
In this episode, Peter and Jeff Hutchins visit the Chinese province of Yunnan. Yunnan is province with largest diversity in all of China. There are 25 different minorities in this province. To learn about these different minorities, the brothers visit the National Ethnic Minorities Park. The brothers soon discover that to really understand the cultures of these people, they will need to visit them in their native villages. Pete and Jeff attend a Lisu festival that includes an 11 story sword ladder and walking on hot coals! Peter decides to take a shaky ride on an old-fashioned Ferris wheel and they join in on a traditional crossbow competition. Then they take a zip line over a steep gorge to a Lisu village. They visit a Bai elephant park and get a surprise elephant massage. From here they go on to participate in the Dai Water Splashing Festival. The brothers have had fun exploring these unique cultures, but they can't help but notice how many of them are just becoming tourist attractions.
In this episode, Peter and Jeff Hutchins visit with the Buddhist monks of China. Buddhism was once the predominant religion of China. Now the brothers will explore the traditions of the Buddhist monks. In Ganzu, they will be the first westerners to film into the yellow hat Tibetan monks temple. Then they will visit the red hat and Ban sects. In Yunnan, Pete and Jeff will visit the rainforest and temples of the Dai Buddhists. And they will finish their journey at a graceful and explosive Dai ceremony. The brothers have seen many changes in China, but are surprised to find Buddhist traditions still thriving.
In this episode, Peter and Jeff Hutchens visit the capital of Beijing. They will seek to compare the old and new traditions in this rapidly changing nation. Peter and Jeff join a punk band and then play Ping-Pong with a member of the Communist Youth League. They will compare a traditional hutong neighborhood to a modern skyscraper under construction. Then it is off to Inner Mongolia where the people's way of life has gone relatively unchanged for centuries and the brothers will compete in the age-old sports of wrestling and archery. Back in Beijing, Pete and Jeff will party with the "new rich" and practice with traditional Chinese acrobats.
In this episode, Peter and Jeff Hutchens revisit the cold, Communist city of their youth: Harbin. And what they find is a vibrant commercial city that has come to embrace its icy heritage. The brothers will also embrace the ice (quite literally) as they swim in icy waters, make an ice sculpture, race down an ice slide, and drink in a bar made of ice! Then they will visit the world famous Harbin Ice Festival. Here the largest and most beautiful ice sculptures in the world are on display. As the brothers board a train headed out of Harbin, the lights of the ice festival can be seen the distance, and they are amazed at the new vibrancy of the ice city from their youth.
In this episode, the Hutchens Brothers take a journey on the worlds third longest river, the Yangtze. Peter and Jeff grew up near the Yangtze as boys and now they are returning to this part of the river known as the Three Gorges to get one last look before this land that inspired poets and artists for centuries is consumed by the rising waters. The Chinese government is building the worlds biggest dam on the Yangtze in this region. It will displace millions of people from theirs homes and a way of life they have always known.
