Chinese television viewers and Internet surfers will soon be treated to a domestic reality show similar to the US smash-hit Survivor.
The programme will be carried by 110 mainland stations next month in addition to 132 Internet news portals. A small valley in the Himalayas on the border of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces - dubbed Shangri-la - will be the background of the survival contest between three teams of six Chinese contestants selected from a shortlist of 60 applicants.
With a limited supply of food, the contestants will have to struggle for survival in the wilderness for a month.
Beijing Weihan Culture and Media, the Chinese producer, admitted there were 'similarities' between the Chinese and US versions but stressed the mainland programme was entirely home-made and the idea was conceived during a visit to the location two years ago.
Unlike the American programme, the Chinese winners will not receive cash rewards. Instead, the winning contestants will be 'assisted' by the organisers to fulfil 'wishes', ranging from 'starting a business' to 'living a different lifestyle'.
