Ben Fogle: “I’m reconciled to the fact I might not be returning to China any time soon”

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Ben Fogle admits he doesn’t expect to be able to return to China in the near future. He’s serious about this – his new documentary series about the country could lead to him being banned from visiting.

We had to be very cautious while filming, as some of our footage is likely to upset the local authorities. Although we had a government observer with us, they frequently disappeared, often distracted by tea and cake. As a result, our documentary offers a genuine and unfiltered look at what we experienced.

I wholeheartedly recommend visiting China. It was easily the most fascinating trip I’ve ever taken. Here are some of the things that made it special.

Jiankou

The Great Wall

I expected ‘fixing’ a section of the Great Wall to be a superficial TV moment – holding a brick with a group and pretending to contribute. I was surprised to learn that in China, when you’re asked to do something, you actually do it. I ended up physically lifting and mixing cement for bricks that were centuries old, which was a deeply moving experience. Even just seeing the Wall near Beijing’s popular tourist areas is amazing.

The Great Wall is truly breathtaking. Its immense size and beauty, stretching across mountains and valleys, is something you have to experience to believe. It left me speechless.

Chengdu

A Chinese medicine market

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Hengdian World Studios

Playing a ‘Chinawood’ extra

I’ve been amazed learning about Hengdian – it’s this huge outdoor film studio, and it’s actually where these micro-dramas all started! You know, those short videos made for phones that everyone’s watching now? It’s become a massive industry, worth billions, and they have around 100 different sets constantly being used, day and night. It’s incredible to see how busy it is!

The studio has amazing sets – including a complete replica of the Forbidden City and a Shanghai waterfront. I even got to be a background actor in a movie, which was a dream come true from when I was a kid!

Okay, so I play a guy who seemingly rescues a woman in China from a group of really nasty thieves. But honestly? It’s not quite what it seems. There’s a clever little twist at the finale that completely changes things, and I’m already starting to think this performance could land me an Oscar nomination. It’s a really strong role, and the ending… well, you’ll have to see it to believe it!

Longji

Getting down and dirty on the rice terraces

The rice terraces of Longji are breathtakingly beautiful – they feel like something from another world and completely timeless. I was fortunate enough to visit during the annual planting festival, which marks the start of the rice season. During the festival, water fills all the terraces, creating stunning reflections of the sun and bringing vibrant color back to the landscape after the winter. It’s an incredible sight to see tens of thousands of terraces come to life.

This isn’t just a formal event; it’s a real community effort. Everyone pitches in to clear the fish from the fields, and both animals and people work together to plow the land, getting everyone covered in mud. It’s a remarkable sight – a display of tradition that has remained largely the same for thousands of years. It’s truly beautiful.

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Sichuan

Pretending to be a panda

We visited a facility that helps giant pandas get ready to live in the wild. To make sure the pandas don’t become used to people, the staff have to dress up like pandas – it was a total surprise!

It was a little funny because the panda costumes we used were quite simple – nothing like professional movie quality. But they worked! We were able to get surprisingly close to the pandas, and it was a completely new experience for me – I’d never seen one before, either in the wild or at a zoo.

It’s unclear if the pandas were tricked by the disguises. It’s likely that viewers of the show will notice one of them appearing unimpressed.

China with Ben Fogle begins on Monday 6 April at 9pm on 5.

Authors

Ed GrenbyAssociate Editor, TopMob

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2026-03-30 20:35