Show focuses on real fun and friends

The reality show Friends Together, which features groups of celebrity friends exploring various locations in China, is set to premiere on video-sharing platform Youku on Thursday.

This season will see different groups of celebrities embarking on adventures to Chongqing, Guizhou province, and the Inner Mongolian and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions. The show aims to display the social dynamics among friends and provide young people with inspiration for how they spend their leisure time.

The first episode kicks off with six renowned crosstalk performers from the Beijing-based crosstalk club Deyunshe — Luan Yunping, Zhu Yunfeng, Cao Heyang, Zhang Helun, Meng Hetang and Qin Xiaoxian — enjoying a fun day at an amusement park in Chongqing. The banter and humor exchanged among these familiar faces are heartwarming and hilarious.

Li Rui, the show's director, emphasized the importance of selecting participants who are genuine friends in real life. "We hope that through the relaxed social interactions among real friends, the show can establish a deeper emotional connection with the audience, easing the stress and anxiety in their lives," Li explained.

Furthermore, this season emphasizes the combination of a variety of entertainment with cultural tourism to provide practical travel insights by delving into the local customs and traditions of each destination.

The focus of this season is to showcase interesting ways for viewers to spend weekends with their close friends.

"We hope to create some weekend travel samples that viewers can draw inspiration from, conveying an 'ideal weekend' and 'ideal friendships'," Li added.