Random Tour

Travelling, culture, food + hot geges

I started this for Chen Zhe Yuan & Ryan Cheng but the travelling, culture and food exploration was such an extra treat that I truly loved. The variety show is about six celebrities/actors who are divided into two teams and travel to different places in China in order to explore the culture, heritage and sightseeings. Every two episodes are dedicated to a city, and in the second episode of each one, the two groups do presentations about their experience. There are also extra episodes in between, with fun activities/talks as additional footage.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
- Travelling to different parts of China (see the locations below), culture, heritage, food, sightseeings exploration, you really get everything. I feel like this variety show is great in promoting China’s tourism to less known places for young chinese people as much as foreigners like me who love chinese cdramas.

- Hot Geges and learning more about them. I loved that I got to see the actors as normal and awkward human beings. I learned more about the personality, emotional struggles and past experiences of everyone, especially Chen Zhe Yuan, Ryan Cheng and Xu Kai. Che Zhe Yuan being a goofball was hilarious while Ryan Cheng was unexpectedly being shy and less talkative at first.

- Great development. Each episode got better and better. The group starts kind of timid and you see as they spend more time together, how everyone opens up more and becomes comfortable with each other. In the end, I felt like they had created a great bond between each other through this travelling experience.

- Guest appearances, which was a great addition to the show, especially Xu Kai.

- Interesting presentations that got more creative with each travel city, although sometimes it felt like a repetition of what we’ve already seen.

- Funny on-screen animations that enhanced the watch experience.

- Princess/diva vibes. Ok that’s a very personal opinion but at the beginning I didn’t like at all the attitude of the female actress. I didn’t really know her before this but she left a bad impression on me as during a challenge, she criticised some of the guys in the group saying none of them had famous scenes for her to impersonate. It was very awkward and one of the guys even called her out on it. She was also very obsessed about looking good in front of the camera to the point of refusing to do some of the travel experiences (as it would ruin her makeup) and she insisted on sitting on the left side of the car because it's her good profile. However, her attitude towards the later episodes did get better.


TRAVEL LOCATIONS PER EPISODE:

Ep 0
Pilot episode. The group assembles and gets ready to travel.

Ep 1-2 Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
A good start. Tame vibes. The group is getting to know each other and not as close yet. The presentations are just ok. Lots of fun activities and relaxations are shown.

Ep 3-4 Zhangzhou, Fujian
Favourite episodes so far, and the presentations were super entertaining to watch. Lots about seafood, fishing etc

Ep 5-6 Changsha, Hunan
Loved these episodes, filled with music and singing. The concert was a fantastic addition to the travel guide.

Ep 7-8 Zhongwei, Ningxia (Xu Kai as special guest)
This trip starts at the end of ep 6. Desert vibes. The most human and deep episode. We truly see who the actors are as people, their fears and hidden pains. Adventure and self-reflection. The final part of ep 7 brought me to tears.

Ep 9-10 Chengdu, Western Sichuan
Cute episode with Pandas but too much talking and not enough sightseeings.

Ep 11 Kangba Altay
Grassland games, super fun to watch with beautiful scenery. I’m not familiar with Tibetan culture but it reminded me of The Long Ballad drama. Really cool photography and challenge. This episode felt the most heartwarming as the whole group was together the whole time rather than separated.

Ep 12 Kangba Altay
Mountain walks in the same grassland and graduation ceremony (reminiscing of all travel places). Ryan Cheng was not present as he had to leave early.

Ep 13 Kangba Altay
Final goodbye from everyone. The end of the trip.

OVERALL:
I recommend this variety show if you love to travel and like at least some of the actors (as you get to learn more about them here) + want to learn more about China's culture, heritage, food and sightseeings.

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Travel, Culture, Food & Genuine Bonds

I initially started watching Random Tour for a few specific actors, but it quickly became much more than that. The combination of travelling, cultural exploration, local food, and celebrity interactions turned out to be a surprisingly wholesome and engaging experience.

The concept is simple yet effective: six celebrities are divided into two teams and travel to different cities across China, exploring local culture, heritage, food, and scenic spots. Every two episodes focus on one city, ending with creative presentations about their experiences. There are also special episodes filled with games, reflections, and extra interactions that add depth to the show.

What makes this variety show stand out is the authenticity. The cast doesn’t feel overly scripted or excessively performative. Instead of exaggerated praise or forced humor, their interactions feel natural—sometimes awkward, sometimes chaotic, but very human. Over time, you can clearly see their growth as a group. They begin cautiously, but as the journey progresses, they open up emotionally and form genuine bonds.

The travel segments are beautifully filmed and serve as subtle yet powerful tourism promotion for lesser-known locations in China. From deserts and grasslands to seafood cities and musical hotspots, each destination offers something different. The cultural immersion, traditional activities, and food explorations make it both entertaining and informative.

Emotionally, the later episodes are the strongest. The desert trip and the final grassland episodes especially highlight vulnerability, self-reflection, and support among the cast. The sibling-like dynamic between some of the members caring, teasing, encouraging that adds warmth to the show. Moments of reassurance and quiet concern feel sincere rather than staged.

There are minor flaws: sometimes the presentations feel repetitive, and occasionally certain members come across as overly image-conscious. However, as the show progresses, most dynamics improve, and the cast becomes more comfortable and balanced.

Overall

Random Tour is a great watch if you:
Enjoy travel and cultural exploration
Like seeing celebrities in a more relaxed, real-life setting
Appreciate organic friendships and emotional growth
Want to discover beautiful (sometimes underrated) parts of China

It’s not just a travel show it’s a journey of connection, reflection, and growth. A warm, entertaining, and surprisingly heartfelt experience.

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