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Beyond the cosmopolitan cities of Beijing and Shanghai lie the many faces of China which remain unexplored by tourists. Yet even if we would like to, some of us cannot afford to board a plane to visit this vast country. So the next best thing to a real tour for now could be National Geographic Channel’s new series, Somewhere in China.

The series features the photographer and filmmaker tandem of siblings Jeff and Peter Hutchens at the helm. Somewhere in China takes us to various parts of the country that are "below the surface of what have become familiar images of China," as Peter puts it. The brothers' journey includes a visit to Harbin in northern China, where they lived as children; the city of Kashgar, home to thousands of Chinese Muslims; the province of Xinjiang, which Jeff describes as "China's wild west"; Yangtze River and Three Gorges Dam; the remote region of Inner Mongolia; and Gansu, which they had to leave when several Tibetan communities ignited protests in the province.

Packing all these locations in six episodes, the brothers hope to show a China that is different from the most common impressions of the country. "China is incredibly diverse--linguistically, geographically, and ethnically. If you parachuted into the central square in Kashgar, you would never know you were in China, and the same goes for southern Yunnan," said Jeff when he and Peter came to Manila last week to promote the show.

 

The series hopes to show a China that is different from the most common impressions of the country.

The brothers' work is certainly a visual treat. As the one-time sole photographer of Nat Geo and a multiple awardee of World Press Photo and National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), Jeff was able to capture the diverse moods of the regions and its people in photographs of their journey. And Peter, the youngest filmmaker to produce a program for acclaimed series Wide Angle, was able to document engaging footages of their adventures, including the end of Ramadan in Kashgar, attended by 40,000 to 50,000 men.

While marveling at the transformation of small towns into bustling cities, Jeff and Peter also take viewers to a more drastic change happening along the Yangtze River and Three Gorges Dam: one of the most ambitious construction projects in the world is being built there, displacing more than a million people in the process. Despite impending changes, the scenery in this area remains impressive. "The Yangtze River and the Gorges still retain a sense of mystery--definitely the best place in China to get stranded on a bamboo raft with your older brother," Peter joked.

And don't think the tour may bore you at some points: Jeff and Peter's occasional banter and bouts of sibling rivalry lend a touch of humor to the fascinating documentary. Besides, as the brothers say, China will always be an exciting adventure. "Once you leave the cities, it's pretty much anybody’s guess as to what challenges you will face. Shooting in China requires a lot of patience and creativity," shared Peter.

 
Somewhere in China began airing in National Geographic last October 6 and will air every Sunday at 7PM until November 9. Catch the episode reruns every Monday at 12MN and Saturday at 2PM.

Photo courtesy of National Geographic Channel