China

After exploring what it is like to grow old in India, Miriam Margolyes, Wayne Sleep, Rosemary Shrager and Bobby George reunite for another global adventure. This time they sample retirement in China. The group stay in the capital of the Sichuan Province, Chengdu. A bustling city of over 14 million people, all the group find the language barrier difficult, and Miriam in particular struggles with the regional cuisine. A swim in a high-tech pool, in one of the world's biggest buildings, makes a bad situation worse as Miriam discovers a modern China at odds with her memory of it from a trip 30 years ago. After experiencing city life, the group opt for an overnight stay in a country retreat. A ride on a high-speed bullet train takes them high into the mountains surrounding the city. Home to the giant panda, a feeding session at a local sanctuary leads to an emotional moment for Miriam, while Rosemary can't quite understand what all the fuss is about. Back in Chengdu, a final night at the Sichuan opera gives the group an opportunity to reflect on their bewildering and dazzling time in China.