Talk of the town

Viewers flock to a TV program that shows local officials in an unexpectedly casual light, as Cao Yin reports.

Shelley Fan, who has lived in the United States for 20 years, was desperate to catch up with her favorite Chinese TV show, even though she had watched an episode online just a few days before. "A TV program has never made me miss my hometown so much," said the 39-year-old native of Datong, in the northern province of Shanxi.

The show that has captured her imagination is The Impressive Scenery of Shanxi, which has been broadcast every Friday since May 9. Although viewing figures are not available, the show is thought to attract millions of viewers on TV and via online catch-up services.