Guy's adventure starts in Chongqing, the fastest growing city in the world, where he works in a factory to build his own electric motorbike. He's surprised by the lack of automation - everything's assembled by a skilled workforce - and realises that it's symbolic of the wider Chinese economy, where 30 years of unprecedented growth have been sustained by a giant workforce. At the city's docks, he meets the 'Bang Bang Army', a group of ageing porters who rely on immense brute strength to haul huge loads. Guy's keen to lend a hand but can't shift the 200kg load without falling over, much to the amusement of the experienced Bang Bangs. His next stop is the world's biggest public convenience.

Guy explores Beijing, buying a rudimentary Flying Pigeon bicycle, finding out how China's super-rich live, and racing the 'Nigel Mansell of rickshaws' around the tight and twisty backstreets.

Guy concludes his Chinese adventure by attempting to break the record for the fastest crossing of the vast Taklaman Desert - the 'desert of death' - on a bicycle.