For the fifteenth season of Beijing Express , Stéphane Rotenberg and eight pairs of candidates are dragging their backpacks through Central Asia, for a completely new journey. Here are the 7 most beautiful places they could see!
Broadcast since Thursday February 10 on M6, season 15 of Beijing Express takes an unprecedented route since the beginnings of the game: the eight pairs of candidates have indeed flown off to Central Asia , and cross four countries never seen in the issue: Kyrgyzstan , Uzbekistan, Jordan or the United Arab Emirates. The red thread of this adventure of several thousand kilometers will be the golden eagle.
The raptor is the common point of these four countries, the hunting of the golden eagle being an ancient tradition that dates back to the conquest of Central Asia. It has indeed been practiced for hundreds of years on the steppes of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Jordan has its coat of arms represented by the royal eagle. Finally, the United Arab Emirates are renowned for falconry. Throughout their crossing, the candidates will compete in the race in impressive places and discover extraordinary landscapes. Here are which ones!
Son Kul Lake is the largest freshwater reserve in Kyrgyzstan, around which natives live in nearly 300 yurts. Located more than 3,000 meters above sea level in the Tian Shan massif, northwest of Naryn, this high mountain lake is one of the must-see places in the country.
The Fergana Valley
In the heart of Central Asia, this valley of some 22,000 square kilometers is a legendary and unmissable passage on the Silk Roads . This fertile territory, which covers eastern Uzbekistan, southern Kyrgyzstan and northern Tajikistan, is surrounded by the mountains of Tien Shan to the north and Gissar-Alai to the south.
The city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan
This year, Beijing Express candidates will have the chance to pass through one of the oldest cities in the world: known for its mosques and mausoleums, Samarkand is home to many sites of interest, starting with the Registan, a square surrounded of medersas, a true masterpiece of Muslim architecture. There is also the imposing Gour Emir, the tomb of Timur (also called Tamerlane), founder of the Timurid dynasty.
The Dead Sea
Renowned for its extremely high salinity, the Dead Sea , this vast lake located between Israel , the West Bank and Jordan, has a surface located more than 400 meters below sea level, making it the highest point bottom of the earth.
The Jordanian site of Petra
During their journey, the Beijing Express candidates will have to go to the south-western Jordanian desert, to the famous archaeological site of Petra , listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient Nabataean capital, which lies between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, is half-built and half-carved out of rock, in the heart of a circle of mountains of dazzling beauty. There, the influences of ancient oriental traditions and Hellenistic architecture mingle.
Wadi Rum desert, Jordan
This is a dream setting for competing in a Beijing Express event: the Wadi Rum desert offers a desert landscape made up of canyons, natural arches, cliffs and caves, which has earned it a UNESCO World Heritage listing. .
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The end of the candidates' journey through Central Asia will take place in Dubai , United Arab Emirates. It will be a “revenge” final: this is indeed where the last season was to end, but the course had to be modified during filming due to the health crisis. After many days in remote natural places, the last pairs in the race will discover the effervescence and excess of this city of skyscrapers, as well as its ultramodern architecture and traditional culture.