Peking Express

Peking Express is a Dutch–Flemish reality game show that follows a series of couples as they hitchhike to or from Beijing (only in the first three seasons; seasons four and five are set in South America). The series has already gone through five seasons. In the Netherlands it is screened by Net 5 and in Belgium by VT4.

For other uses, see Peking Express (disambiguation).

Peking Express
Official logo
Created byLudo Poppe
Theme music composerBrian Tyler
Country of originBelgium
Netherlands
Original language(s)Dutch
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes76
Production
Producer(s)Gert van Kerckhove
Release
Original networkNet 5 (Netherlands)
VT4 (Belgium)
Original release2004 –
present
Chronology
Related showsThe Amazing Race
External links
Website

A German version was shown in 2005. The concept has also been sold to Scandinavia where it was broadcast for the first time in the autumn of 2007. The Scandinavian version is shown on Kanal 5 in Sweden, TVNorge in Norway and Kanal 5 in Denmark. A French version named Pékin Express is screened by M6, with twelve seasons aired so far from 2006 to 2019, and a thirteen and fourteen planned for 2020. It can be seen on TV5 outside France. In Spain, the first four seasons of local version Pekín Express aired on Cuatro from 2008 to 2011; Atresmedia acquired the rights in 2015 and has produced two seasons since.[1] An Italian version has been produced since 2012 by RAI and shown on Rai 2 successfully. In Poland, the series has been broadcast on TVN since 2016 and was known for its first two seasons, which were set in Asia, as Azja Express. From season 3 onwards, it has been known as Ameryka Express, with its production location changing to America; a fourth season premiered in spring 2020. In Romania, the series has aired successfully on Antena 1 since 2018 as Asia Express, with three seasons so far.

General theme

The theme of the show is to demonstrate how various couples deal with the challenges and pitfalls of attempting a long-distance hitchhike to a strange city, together with all the difficulties presented by trying to communicate in a language they don't understand. Tension was added by including couples who had broken up "in real life", but were willing to work together for the sake of winning the race.

In somewhat similar fashion to The Amazing Race, couples that come in last at various checkpoints along the way are eliminated from further competition. In the second series, each of the couples was given €1 per person/per day as their stipend along the route.

Theme music

The music used during the opening sequence is "Summon the Worms" from Brian Tyler's soundtrack to the 2003 miniseries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune.

Winning couples in the international versions

Africa

Moroccan Seasons
Dakar Fès Express Season Winning couple Route Visited countries
2011 Hind & Abd el Hakim  Senegal, Dakar to  Morocco, Fez  Senegal  Mauritania  Morocco
2012 Samid Ghilan & Younès Lazrak  Indonesia, Sulawesi to  Indonesia, Manado  Indonesia

America

Colombian Seasons
Asia Express Season Winning couple Route Visited countries
2016 Jairo & Eliseo  Vietnam, Hai Duong to  Thailand, Bangkok  Vietnam  Laos  Cambodia  Thailand
2020
(on hold due to Covid-19 pandemic)		 TBD  Vietnam, ? to TBA, ?  Vietnam

Mexican Season
Abandonados Asia Season Winning couple Route Visited countries
2016 Gabriel & Guillermo  Vietnam, Hai Duong to  Thailand, Bangkok  Vietnam  Cambodia  Laos  Thailand

Europe

Belgium/Netherlands/Flemish Seasons
Peking Express Season Winning couple Route Visited countries
2004 Rani & Hans  Russia, Moscow to  China, Beijing  Russia  Mongolia  China
2005 Karla & Sophie  China, Beijing to  India, Mumbai  China    Nepal  India
2006 Yves & Wendy  Vietnam, Mekong Delta to  China, Lhasa  Vietnam  Cambodia  Laos  China
2006
VIP		 Chimène & Bart  India, Gangotri to Kochi  India
2007
 Pascal & Miranda  Brazil, Rio de Janeiro to  Peru, Lima  Brazil  Bolivia  Peru
2008
 Mark & Marlinde  Mexico, Mexico City to  Venezuela, Caracas  Mexico  Nicaragua  Venezuela
2012
 Annebet & Quintin  South Korea, Seoul to  Philippines, Manila  South Korea  Philippines
2017
 Brecht & Cedric  Vietnam, Hạ Long to  Cambodia, Angkor  Vietnam  Laos  Cambodia

Denmark/Sweden/Norway Seasons
Peking Express Season Winning couple Route Visited countries
2007 Tyra & Stefan  Russia, Moscow to  China, Beijing  Russia  Mongolia  China

German Seasons
Peking Express Season Winning couple Route Visited countries
2005 Anja & Marc  Russia, Moscow to  China, Beijing  Russia  Mongolia  China
Star Race 2012 Jimi & Nino  Philippines, Bolinao to  Philippines, Manila  Philippines

French Seasons
Pékin Express Season Season's

subtitle

 Winning couple Route Visited countries
2006 La Route du Transsibérien Fathi & Médi  France, Paris to  China, Beijing  France  Russia  Mongolia  China
2007 La Route de l'Himalaya Nadine & Sylvie  China, Beijing to  India, Mumbai  China    Nepal  India
2008 La Route des Incas Gérard & Cédric  Brazil, Rio de Janeiro to  Peru, Lima  Brazil  Bolivia  Peru
2009 La Route des Dragons Albert & Laurence  Vietnam, Ha Long bay to  Indonesia, Bali  Vietnam  Cambodia  Laos  Thailand  Indonesia
2010 La Route du bout du monde Cécilia & Mathieu  Ecuador, Equator/Amazon rainforest to  Argentina, Ushuaia  Ecuador  Chile  Argentina
2010
VIP		 Duos de choc Taïg Khris & Chloé (saison 5)  India, Bhatwari to Pondichery  India
2011 La Route des grands fauves Jean-Pierre & François  Egypt, Cairo to  South Africa, Cape Town  Egypt  Kenya  Tanzania  Lesotho  South Africa
2012
All-Stars		 Le Passager mystère Ludovic & Samuel (saison 7)  South Korea, Seoul to  Australia, Sydney  South Korea  Philippines  Australia
2013 Le Coffre maudit Linda & Salim  Cuba, Habana to  United States, Miami  Cuba  Mexico  United States
2014
All-Stars		 À la découverte des mondes inconnus Caroline (saison 4) & Sabrina  Myanmar, Man Lawae to  Sri Lanka, Colombo  Myanmar  India  Bhutan  Sri Lanka
2018 La Course infernale Christina & Didier  Malaysia, Kuching to  Japan, Tokyo  Malaysia  Philippines  Japan
2019 La Route des 50 volcans Laeticia et Aurélie  Guatemala, lake Atitlan to  Colombia, Bogotá  Guatemala  Costa Rica  Colombia
2020
All-Stars		 Retour sur la Route Mythique Julie & Denis  Russia, Moscow to  China, Beijing  Russia  China
2020
(on hold due to Covid-19 pandemic)		 TBD TBD  Uganda, Entebbe to  United Arab Emirates, Dubai  Uganda  Ethiopia  United Arab Emirates

Hungarian Seasons

In this version, there are mainly Hungarian VIP couples.

Ázsia Expressz Season Season's subtitle Host Winning couple Runner up Third placed Continent Route Visited countries
2017 A sárkány útja Ördög Nóra Ambrus Attila & Berki Krisztián Kulcsár Edina & Szabó András "Csuti" Megyeri Csilla & Molnár Zsolt Asia  Vietnam, Hải Dương to  Thailand, Bangkok  Vietnam  Cambodia  Laos  Thailand
2019 Horváth Gréta & Meggyes Dávid Janicsák Veca & Ladányi Jancsó Ábel Demcsák Zsuzsa & Kandász Andrea  Sri Lanka, Negombo to  Thailand, Chiang Mai  Sri Lanka  India  Thailand
2020
(on hold due to Covid-19 pandemic)		 TBD TBD TBD  Philippines, TBA to  Taiwan, Taipei  Philippines  Taiwan

Italian Seasons

In this version, there are mainly VIP couples.

Pechino Express Season Season's subtitle Host Winning couple Runner up Third placed Continent Route Visited countries
2012 Avventura in Oriente Emanuele Filiberto Alessandro Sampaoli & Debora Villa (Gli Attori) Andrés Gil & Anastasia Kuzmina (I Ballerini) Costantino della Gherardesca & Barù (Zio e Nipote) Asia  India, Haridwar to  China, Beijing  India    Nepal  China
2013 Obiettivo Bangkok Costantino della Gherardesca Massimiliano Rosolino & Marco Maddaloni (Gli Sportivi)[2] Francesca Fioretti & Ariadna Romero (Le Modelle) Daniel Moreno Mendoza & Laura Caratelli (I Laureati)  Vietnam, Hanoi to  Thailand, Bangkok  Vietnam  Cambodia  Laos  Thailand
2014 Ai confini dell'Asia Stefano Corti & Alessandro Onnis (I Coinquilini) Amaurys Perez & Angela Rende (I Pérez) Eva Grimaldi & Roberta Garzia (Le Cougar)  Myanmar, Mandalay to  Indonesia, Bali  Myanmar  Malaysia  Singapore  Indonesia
2015 Il nuovo mondo Antonio Andrea Pinna & Roberto Bertolini (Gli Antipodi) Christian Kang Bachini & Son Pascal (Gli Espatriati) Giulia Salemi & Fariba Mohammad Tehrani (Le Persiane) America  Ecuador, Quito to  Brazil, Rio de Janeiro  Ecuador  Peru  Brazil
2016 Le civiltà perdute Alessio Stigliano & Alessandro Tenace (I Socialisti) Diego Passoni & Cristina Bugatty (I Contribuenti) Lory del Santo & Marco Cucolo (Gli Innamorati)  Colombia, Bogotá to  Mexico, Mexico City  Colombia  Guatemala  Mexico
2017 Verso il Sol Levante Ema Stokholma & Valentina Pegorer (Le Clubber) Antonella Elia & Jill Cooper (Le Caporali) Achille Lauro & Boss Doms (I Compositori) Asia  Philippines, Pagbilao to  Japan, Tokyo  Philippines  Taiwan  Japan
2018 Avventura in Africa Patrizia Rossetti & Maria Teresa Ruta (Le Signore della TV) Fabrizio Colica & Tommy Kuti (Gli Scoppiati) Linda Morselli & Rachele Fogar (Le Mannequin) Africa  Morocco, Tangier to  South Africa, Cape Town  Morocco  Tanzania  South Africa
2020 Le stagioni dell'Oriente Nicole Rossi & Jennifer Poni (Le Collegiali) Enzo Miccio & Carolina Gianuzzi (I Wedding Planner) Ema Kovac & Dayane Mello (Le Top) Asia  Thailand, Ko Phra Thong to  South Korea, Seoul  Thailand  China  South Korea
Pekin Express 2021 (On hold due to Covid-19 pandemic) TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBA TBA to TBA TBA

Polish Seasons

In this version, there are only celebrity couples.

Azja Express Season Winning couple Route Visited countries
2016 Michał Żurawski & Ludwik Borkowski  Vietnam, Hai Duong to  Thailand, Bangkok  Vietnam  Laos  Cambodia  Thailand
2017 Antoni Pawlicki & Paweł Ławrynowicz  Sri Lanka, Sigiriya to  India, Mumbai  Sri Lanka  India
Ameryka Express 2018 Aleksandra Domańska & Dawid Domański  Ecuador, San Antonio de Ibarra to  Peru, Cusco  Ecuador  Peru
2020 Karolina Pisarek & Marta Gajewska-Komorowska  Guatemala, Antigua to  Colombia, Cartagena  Guatemala  Colombia

Spanish Seasons
Pekín Express Season Season's subtitle Winning couple Route Visited countries
2008 La Ruta del Transiberiano Fernando & María (couple in crisis)  Russia, Pskov to  China, Beijing

 Russia  Mongolia  China

2009 La Ruta del Himalaya Carmela & Antonio (rural friends)  China, Beijing to  India, Mumbai

 China    Nepal  India

2010 La Ruta del Dragón Sandra & Belinda (sisters)  Vietnam, Hanoi to  Indonesia, Bali

 Vietnam  Cambodia  Laos  Thailand  Indonesia

2011 Aventura en África Mar & Vanesa (sisters)  Kenya, Rift valley to  South Africa, Cape Town

 Kenya  Tanzania  South Africa

2015 La Ruta de los Mil Templos Ángel & Bea (siblings-in-law)  Myanmar, Mandalay to  Singapore, Singapore

 Myanmar  Malaysia  Singapore

2016 La Ruta de los Elefantes Matías & Nabil (geek cousins)  Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura to  India, Mumbai  Sri Lanka  India

Romanian Seasons

In this version, there are only celebrity couples.

Asia Express Season Season's subtitle Host Winning couple Runner up Third placed Continent Route Visited countries
2018 Drumul Dragonului Gina Pistol and Marius Damian Raluca Nistor & Ana Baniciu Liviu Vârciu & Andrei Ştefănescu Daniela Crudu & Vica Blochina Asia  Vietnam, Hạ Long to  Thailand, Bangkok  Vietnam  Laos  Cambodia  Thailand
2019 Drumul Elefantului Gina Pistol, Liviu Vârciu and Andrei Ștefănescu Eduard Mihail Andreianu & Ionuț Dongo Ana Claudia Grigore & Adrian Robert Andra Gheorghe & Bogdan Boantă  Sri Lanka, Negombo to  India, Mumbai  Sri Lanka  India
2020 Drumul Comorilor Gina Pistol, Ionuț Dongo and Marius Damian Sorin Bontea & Răzvan Fodor Ștefan Sprianu & Ștefania Codreanu Ada Alexandra Moldovan & Cătălin Rizea  Philippines, Lucena to  Taiwan, Taipei  Philippines  Taiwan
2021 (On hold due to Covid-19 pandemic) TBA Gina Pistol TBD TBD TBD TBA TBA to TBA TBA

International versions
Name Country Host Route and Visited countries Channel Website
Peking Express Netherlands
Belgium (Flanders)		 Ernst-Paul Hasselbach (2004)
Art Rooijakkers and Roos Van Acker (2005-2008)
Sol Wortelboer (2012)
Sean Dhondt and Rik van de Westelaken (2017)		 2004: Moscow – Beijing
2005: Peking – Mumbai
2006: Rach Gia – Lhasa
2006: Gangotri – Kochi
2007: Rio de Janeiro – Lima
2008: Mexico City – Caracas
2012: Seoul – Manila
2017: Hạ Long – Angkor 		NET 5
VT4 (2004-2008)
Q2 (2017)		 Official website Netherlands
Official website Belgium
Peking Express
Star Race		 Germany Patrice Bouédibéla
Roberta Brandao		 2005: Moscow – Beijing
2012: Bolinao – Manila 		RTL
Pékin Express France Stéphane Rotenberg 2006: Paris – Pskov – Beijing
2007: Beijing – Mumbai
2008: Rio de Janeiro – Lima
2009: Ha Long Bay – Bali
2010: Nueva Loja – Ushuaia
2010: Gangotri – Pondicherry
2011: Cairo – Cape Town
2012: Seoul – Sydney
2013: Habana – Miami
2014: Lashio – Colombo
2018: Kuching – Tokyo
2019: lake Atitlan – Bogotá
2020: Moscow – Beijing
2021: Entebbe – Dubai 		M6 Official website
Peking Express Denmark
Sweden
Norway		 – 2007: Moscow – Beijing TVNorge
Kanal 5		 Official website Norway
Pekín Express Spain Paula Vázquez (2008)
Raquel Sánchez-Silva (2009–2010)
Jesús Vázquez (2011)
Cristina Pedroche (2015–2016)		 2008: Madrid – Pskov – Beijing
2009: Beijing – Mumbai
2010: Hanoi – Bali
2011: Rift Valley – Cape Town
2015: Mandalay – Singapore
2016: Anuradhapura – Mumbai 		Cuatro (2008–2011)
Antena 3 (2015)
laSexta (2016)		 Official website (Cuatro)
Official website (Antena 3)
Official website (laSexta)
Dakar Fès Express Morocco Hicham Mesrar 2011: Dakar – Fez
2012: Wori – Manado 		2M Official website
A Grande Aventura Portugal Fernanda Serrano 2012: Manado Tua – Manado TVI Official website
Pékin Express Belgium (Wallonia) Michel De Maegd 2012: Wori – Manado RTL Official website
Pechino Express (1–8)
Pekin Express (9–)		 Italy Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia (2012)
Costantino della Gherardesca (2013–2020)
TBD (2021–)		 2012: Haridwar – Beijing
2013: Hanoi – Bangkok
2014: Mandalay – Bali
2015: Quito – Rio de Janeiro
2016: Bogotá – Mexico City
2017: Pagbilao – Tokyo
2018: Tangier – Cape Town
2020: Ko Phra Thong – Seoul
2021: TBD		 Rai 2 (2012–2020)
Sky Italia (2021–)		 Official website
Asia Express Colombia Ivan Lalinde 2016: Hanoi – Bangkok
2021: TBA 		Caracol Televisión Official website
Abandonados Asia Mexico Paola Nuñez 2016: Hanoi – Bangkok Azteca 7 Official website
Azja Express (1-2)
Ameryka Express (3-4)		 Poland Agnieszka Woźniak-Starak (2016-2018)
Daria Ładocha (2020-)		 2016: Hanoi – Bangkok
2017: Sigiriya – Mumbai
2018: San Antonio de Ibarra – Cusco
2020: Antigua – Cartagena 		TVN Official website
Ázsia Expressz Hungary Nóra Ördög 2017: Hải Dương – Bangkok
2019: Negombo – Chiang Mai
2021: Lucena – Taipei 		TV2 Official website
Asia Express Romania Gina Pistol (2018-)
Marius Damian (2018, 2020-)
Liviu Vârciu (2019)
Andrei Ștefănescu (2019)
Ionuț Dongo (2020-)		 2018: Hạ Long – Bangkok
2019: Negombo – Mumbai
2020: Lucena – Taipei
2021: TBD		 Antena 1 Official website

Annual routes
Year Netherlands
Belgium		 Germany France Norway
Sweden
Denmark		 Spain Morocco Italy Belgium Portugal Colombia Mexico Poland Hungary Romania
2004 --
2005 -- --
2006 ---
--
2007 -- --- --
2008 -- -- --
2009 ---- ---
2010 --
----
2011 ---- -- --
2012 - -- --
2013 -- ---
2014 --- ---
2015 -- --
2016 - -- --- --- ---
2017 -- -- - ---
2018 -- -- - ---
2019 -- -- -
2020 - -- - -
On hold -- TBD - TBD

References
  1. Antena 3 arrebata a Cuatro el reality 'Pekín express'
  2. http://www.pechinoexpress.rai.it/dl/portali/site/personaggio/ContentSet-21b5b54f-0f94-4147-8b80-be6470a3dac5-list.html?ContentItem-576cc03f-fa46-4159-828e-989ab209db81
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