Race Across The World contestants, mum and son, Caroline and Tom, have zoomed from The Great Wall of China to the most Southern point of India, all with the hope of winning £20,000.
The unlikely duo have been dashing across borders, sleeping on buses and trains, and pleading with whoever can help them to get to the finish line.
Viewers will find out tonight, during the season finale of Race Across The World on BBC One, how the pair did on their adventure. Perhaps the bigger prize though, is that they got to tread an obscure path so few tourists walk.
The duo will have transversed 14,000km, travelling through China, Nepal and India. But speaking to Metro, they reveal the one place they’re desperate to return to — and where they’re happy to never see again.
A lesser-known gem in rural China
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A highlight for Caroline and Tom was when they stumbled across Funing County, in the Yunnan province in China.
The diverse 2,066 sq mile area sits in the south of China, about 43 miles from the border of Vietnam.
Unlike the mega cities of Shanghai and Beijing, Funing County is nestled in the mountains, with small traditional villages connected by winding roads and rivers.
While Caroline and Tom’s time there came with a sprinkle of drama when Tom lost their money belt, they both agreed without hesitation that Funing County is the one place people should definitely visit.
‘After seeing people rushing to work in the cities, it felt like people were just enjoying their lives a lot more,’ says Tom.
‘We could have spent hours just people watching. We saw butchers on the back of a tuk-tuk, which I never thought that would be a thing, but that was really cool.
‘We even saw five people on one moped, a family of five, which was just crazy. It was one of those places you had to sit back and just watch.’
How to get to Funing County
A trip to Funing County is not for the faint-hearted, and perhaps better-suited to well-seasoned travellers, as it’s very much off the beaten track.
First, UK travellers will need to head to Kunming, the capital of the Yunnan Province, known as ‘the City of Eternal Spring’ due to its year-round mild climate.
There are no direct flights, so you’ll most likely make a stop elsewhere in China before continuing onward to your destination.
There are currently flights available with Air China from London Gatwick to Kunming, with a 2 hour 20 minute connection in Beijing. In total, the journey takes 16 hours.
From Kunming, you can take local trains which will get you to Funing County in around two hours.
Like Caroline and Tom though, most travellers will make Funing County and the Yunnan Province part of a wider trip across China or southeast Asia.
What to do in Funing County and Yunnan Province
The province of Yunnan is home to a staggering 26 ethnic minority groups. There are several villages to visit, where travellers can learn about traditional culture and daily life.
In Funing County, Guichao Town is built on the ruins of the Ming and Qing Dynasty town of Fuzhou and retains many historical sites. Visit during the first two months of lunar year, when it plays host to the ‘Ganlongduan’ festival, featuring performances of Zhuang Opera, Han folk songs, and Yao bronze-drum music.
Perhaps the most popular though is Lijiang Old Town, which sits further north in Yunnan. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and an important 12th century trading hub. It boasts restaurants, shops and even nightclubs (and a unique McDonald’s). It also sits in the shadow of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a 5596m mountain which can be reached by cable car.
There are also impressive natural sights in Yunnan. In Funing County, there’s the Puyang Waterfall, which has a drop of 96 metres and the Qinghuadong Scenic Area, a system of caves with boat tours available for tourists.
Back in Kunming, there’s the Stone Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site about 90 minutes outside of the city. Wonder through the massive limestone rock formations, which were thought to have begun forming about 270 million years ago.
In the main city, the Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archways were originally built during the Ming Dynasty. Both are near to various shops and restaurants for those keen to pick up souvenirs and try the local cuisine. Go at night for the best photo opportunities.
And for some traditional Chinese street food, head to Nanqiang Street for its vibrant night market. Travellers say that ‘the later it gets, the livelier it becomes’ and that ‘once you start eating, you won’t want to leave.’
In the west of Yunnan is the city of Dali, with its popular Old Town, which Lonely Planet call ‘the original backpacker hang-out in Yunnan’ and where you can find some of the best noodles in the region. It’s also a good spot for the more adventurous type, as you can hike around the Cangshan mountains. For something a little more low key, Lake Erhai with its fishing villages and ancient temples is also worth visiting.
Race Across the World’s Tom and Caroline’s top travel hacks
Tom and Caroline have become pros when it comes to resourceful travelling.
Caroline’s top tip? ‘Speak to the young,’ she says. ‘The younger people seem to want to talk.’
‘The pure kindness of strangers surprised us both,’ adds Thomas. ‘Locals don’t help… purely because they can, and it just gives you such a lovely understanding for the country as well. I I think the people make a country when you travel.’
Caroline insists every traveler needs to pack two essential items. ‘Packing cubes are fantastic in a rucksack. Everything just spills out of the rucksack all the time but they were fantastic. And sandals, because depending where you’re going, it’s not always the cleanest place, and the showers can be slippy.’
What’s next for Race Across The World’s Tom and Caroline?
‘We are planning on backpacking through Kazakhstan,’ says Tom. ‘It’s going to sound stupid, but it’s mainly because of Borat.
‘It’s not even filmed there but it’s always tickled my pickle, and a couple of my mates have spoken about wanting to go there before, so I did a little bit of research and apparently it’s brilliant.’
They’re are also keen to head back to Nepal, after spending such a short time there during their race.
Tom says: ‘It was just the most beautiful, peaceful and kind country. There’s so much to see and do and learn and we obviously couldn’t do it, but, but it just promised so much.’
He’s also keen to see a different side to China. ‘I would love to go back and do some of the more rural options,’ he says. ‘I would love to go see a bit more of the Himalayas, more of the equivalent of village life here in China, the small towns and the history.’
Of course, there are also destinations they’re not hurrying to book flights back to. Caroline admits she had high hopes for the capital city Beijing, only to be underwhelmed.
‘I think we had the idea of it, or I certainly had the idea that it was the capital, and it must be really nice and easy to get around, but we just ended up getting stuck,’ says Caroline.
‘I think that was more because of our experience, rather than Beijing itself but just from what we saw in Beijing, I’m not in a rush to go back there.’
Race Across The World airs Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC One and is available to watch on iPlayer.
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