Billie JD Porter goes in search of the ‘Secrets of China’

Secrets of China is the follow up series to last years Secrets of South America. Presented by Billie JD Porter the latest series will air this summer on BBC Three.

“I will never forget my time in China, nor the real importance of the culture’s three intertwined chief principles: wealth, obedience and marriage. The country’s incredible history has shaped the nation to hold values so contrasting to ours, and it’s been fascinating to see first-hand how different an experience growing up in China is compared to my own.” – Billie JD Porter

In Secrets of China, Billie finds out what it’s really like to grow up in the country with the highest population on Earth. She’ll discover a surprising nation of super-hard workers, romantics and millionaires, peeling back the layers of a sometimes secretive and proud society to ask “what next?” for this complicated and fascinating place.

As Billie travels from the world-famous Great Wall, through Gotham-like megacities, to China’s only tropical island, she discovers what’s most important to Chinese young people, including marriage money, and national pride. She’ll compare their everyday lives with the life she knows in the UK, and see how China sometimes has its own ways of dealing with problems also faced across the world, from internet addiction to economic meltdown.

Billie also witnesses some of China’s unique phenomena, both old and new. At Chinese New Year she is part of the biggest human migration on the planet. She visits one of the world’s largest mass-dating events, and sees how China’s youth pay tribute to the State by raising flags and marching in ranks. Twenty-first century China is a nation discovering new ways to enjoy itself, and Billie meets obsessive gamers, beach virgins and millionaire party animals.

In the first episode Billie explores growing up the Chinese way, where respect for State and elders is being drilled into China’s next generation. While episode two sees Billie investigate the extremes people go to find somebody to marry – marriage markets, dating bootcamps, and even plastic surgery to increase marriage potential. The third edition explores the state of the Chinese economy.

Secrets of China begins on Tuesday 25th August at 9pm on BBC Three