A popular celebrity travel show's fifth season dives deeper, exploring countries and cultures off the beaten path for most Chinese viewers, Xing Wen reports.

The fifth season of the travel reality show Divas Hit the Road, which chronicles a 23-day trip by seven Chinese celebrities across Saudi Arabia, Croatia and Iceland, wrapped up recently, leaving a lasting impact on audiences.

The new season, boasting a stellar 8.9 out of 10 rating on the review site Douban, has become the most acclaimed season of the long-running reality show. It has racked up more than 4 billion views on the video-sharing platform Mango TV, according to the box-office tracker Maoyan.

The season was produced to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative last year in an effort to enhance cultural exchange between China and the three countries involved in the BRI. The thematic focus stood out as a highlight, providing viewers with an insightful perspective into the landscapes and traditions of the countries visited.

For instance, before embarking on their journey to Saudi Arabia, participants were given an opportunity to undergo a pre-trip course at the embassy of Saudi Arabia in China. During this session, cultural counselor Ahmed Al-Zahrani introduced them to the language and customs of Saudi Arabia. He also introduced some of the Sino-Saudi cooperation projects that are under the BRI framework, such as the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which is also known as the Mecca-Medina Railway.

Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, participants had the chance to ride the railway for themselves, and learn from the train crew about the impact high-speed rail travel has had on the lives of residents following its inauguration. One woman invited the group to visit her home, where the participants were able to enjoy homemade delicacies and exchange gifts.