For over twenty years, Pékin Express has been evolving constantly. But this season marks a return to the essentials: GPS are banned, translation tools are absent, new game mechanics, and an unprecedented course. A more raw formula, where instinct, adaptation, and meetings are at the heart of the experience.
The Stone Forest, an almost supernatural setting
For this new stage, the pairs discover a unique site in the world: the stone forest of Yunnan. At 270 million years old and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this natural wonder stretches over nearly 400 km².
Between dizzying rock formations, stone arrows, and natural mazes, the landscape offers a striking spectacle. In this almost unreal setting, candidates will move as if in another world, between fascination and disorientation.
A trial as unusual as it is destabilizing
But the beauty of the place will not make the race easier. To progress, candidates will have to face an unexpected challenge: mastering the art of Chinese shadows.
An exercise as original as it is disorienting, promising a share of misunderstandings, absurd moments, and tensions. Between laughter and annoyance, this trial will test the patience and communication of the pairs.
The dreaded return of divided teams
A pivotal moment of this stage: the return of the rule of divided teams, one of the most feared of the show.
At this stage of the competition, each candidate will have to continue the race alone, whether hitchhiking or during the immunity challenge. A particularly stressful situation, where the absence of the partner can quickly become a handicap.
Deprived of their teammate, candidates will have to show autonomy, composure, and a great capacity for adaptation to preserve their place in the competition. You’ve understood, this eighth stage promises to be a real turning point.
In Pékin Express, team cohesion is often the key… but this time, everyone will have to prove they can make it on their own. And in these conditions, everything can change.
Tune in to the show from 9:10 PM this Friday, April 24, 2026 on M6. The replay will be available for free on the M6+ platform right after the broadcast. With M6+ MAX, enjoy an ad-free viewing and the next week’s episode in advance (up to and including the quarter-finals)!
/2026/04/24/69ebaa6677621292823065.jpg "French Rugby Federation indicted for involuntary manslaughter, twenty months after the disappearance at sea of Medhi Narjissi in South Africa.")
