[ Dominic Ozanne ] 

In the 21st century China has experienced unprecedent economic growth. Hundreds of millions in China’s teaming cities now have access to consumer goods and technology that they never had before. But many, in rural China, have been left behind and still live in relative poverty.

Justin Rowlatt and Anita Rani embark on two very different road trips from Beijing to Shanghai. While Anita is driving a flashy, Chinese made 4 x 4 and heading down the highways to the cities, Justin is driving a cheap, humble ‘bread van’, so called because it looks like a loaf of bread, and is taking the winding back roads through China’s villages.

They explore China’s political history as well as her current, dizzying transformation. They meet a first generation of drivers who could never have dreamed of owning a car before. While Anita meets many of the newly rich middle-classes and business entrepreneurs, Justin spends time with the small farmers in remote villages.

Together they paint a fascinating picture of the world’s most populous country in transition.