Virtually running the show

Sometimes, they have to rely on their teammates in the real world to search for clues to help them solve puzzles within the virtual realm. This virtual adventure not only demands teamwork and patience but also showcases the participants' physical abilities, adding an extra layer of excitement to the experience.

An Desheng, producer of the program, explains that the decision to design the gameplay in this manner aims to capture the players' sense of tension and fatigue while controlling virtual avatars.

"This immersive approach, where players physically move and engage in the game, is intended to provide a stronger sense of empathy from the viewers compared to the static control of the game using handheld controllers. It enables the audience to truly immerse themselves in the action and experience a heightened sense of involvement," he says.

Additionally, a special focus of this season of the show revolves around the theme of "the speed of China" and aims to showcase the great progress China has made over the past decade in areas such as technological development, environmental protection and intangible cultural heritage preservation.

The program has planned a total of 12 episodes, each visiting a destination that exemplifies the spirit of "the speed of China". These locations include the Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology's factory in Hunan province, the lantern exhibition zone in Zigong, Sichuan province, and the Nanjing Garden Expo in Jiangsu province.