If one day my dreams are drenched in the storm,
Will you return to lend a hand?
If one day I can no longer continue forward,
Will you spend a warm afternoon by my side?
If I were to ask you a question,
Will you be startled from your dream of a mother’s embrace?
If you were living in an unfamiliar home with strangers,
Will you use kindness as your guide?
If this is the future of a nation,
Will you let him rest without fears?

The X-Change Show 变形计 on HNTV has to be the first of its kind in modern Chinese television (correct me if I’m wrong). It is not a competition based reality show, there is no real script, though I’m sure there are plenty of mentoring that goes on behind the scenes. The show is actually on its 7th season this year, but I only begin watching it last year. From weibo it seems like at least one of the city kid from last season still periodically visits the village he lived in. What makes this show even more special (as if it can be anymore special) is that CCTV, which like to pretend HNTV doesn’t exist, began airing reruns of this show last year on CCTV-2.

Premises and the second part of this exchange is below the cut.

Show Premises: One (usually slightly spoiled) city-born-and-bred kid exchange places with a child from the impoverished village next-door for one week. This one week exchange experience is separated into two episodes – the first usually features the contrast in personality and lifestyle between the two children, and the second usually features the city child’s road to maturity and understanding of the privileges they grew up with. At the end of the season the production team revisits the children and update the viewers on their current situations.

JSTV 江苏卫视 also had a similar show (花样年华) last year, featuring 5 diverse college girls from the city living in a village for an extended period. This show is available on one of JSTV’s youtube channel (playlist).