Beloved travel show kicks off new season

The sixth season of the popular outdoor travel reality show HAHAHAHAHA premiered on Tencent Video and iQiyi on April 4, with weekly updates thereafter.

The show blends humor with outdoor challenges and travel experiences, featuring the journeys of actor Deng Chao, actor Chen He, pop idol Lu Han, comedian Wang Mian and former soccer player and coach Fan Zhiyi, as well as occasional guests including actor Li Naiwen and singer-songwriter Ma Di.

The cast members are all close friends, so their banter and teasing throughout the journey produce many hilarious moments.

Last year, the show's fifth season gained over 1 billion full-episode views, ranking it among the most-watched variety shows on digital platforms, according to Enlightent, a data service that analyzes online videos and TV programs.

This year's new season retains the essence of previous seasons while integrating distinctive cultural and folk elements, bringing a fresh upgrade to the content.

The first episode of the season takes viewers on an adventure into the tropical rainforest of the Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture in Yunnan province, where the participants try roller skating and sleeping in hammocks, which lead to many comedic moments.

The group also learns local folk songs from intangible cultural heritage inheritors in the area.

The show's director, Wang Zhengyu, says the essence of the program from season one to season six has always been the brotherly relationship among the celebrity participants.

"I think brothers are those who have gone through things together: climbing mountains together, crossing seas together, trekking through snowy peaks, catching fish together, experiencing highs and lows together. That's what true brothers are," Wang says.

"I won't casually replace anyone among them. I'll keep telling the story of these brothers until they can no longer do it, and then I'll stop too, because I am also one of their brothers."