Lonely Planet Six Degrees - Season 1 (2011)

Lonely Planet's star report Oli Pettigrew starts a journey to discover China trough six major cities in Shanghai, a true metropolis with a history of cosmopolitanism unrivaled in mainland China since the colonial age and a huge, active ex-pats population which is surprisingly well integrated, as proved in a charitable boxing benefit. A versatile, major artist shows Oli a dazzling glitter world of business and society networking. Oli overcomes his initial reserves to the bizarre experience of a luxury spa.

Oli continues his tour of China's great cities in Chengdu, an ancient imperial capital, in the central province of Sechuan, a fertile agricultural region since a major river diversion é" centuries ago. Oli is amazed by its relatively large ex-pat community and cosmopolitan musical and nightlife scene. He also takes to its hot-spicy cuisine, based on scorching peppers and organic vegetables. He enjoys trying out calligraphy and a spectacular traditional tea-house, regrets a professional ear cleaning and still volunteers to get his son's name tattooed and play a small ...

Oli enjoys a visit to Nanjing, China's ninth metropolis, land-inward from Shanghai on the mighty Yangtze and a tributary, with the world's largest city wall. The dating scene is gruesome, due to a structural girls deficit allowing them excessive arrogance against Confucian tradition. Oli volunteers as sword fight sparring partner but really enjoys co-modeling for a modern designer who contributed to reviving the city's traditional industry, gold brocade (actually with silver and silk), traditionally reserved for the imperial family.