Ep 3. China

As Karl Pilkington continues his journey around the world, he finds himself in China in season 3, episode 3 of An Idiot Abroad. Karl is not thrilled to be in China, as he doesn't know much about the country and is not interested in its culture or history. Nonetheless, Karl is in China to explore its most famous landmarks and experience its customs.

In the episode, viewers watch as Karl visits major cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai. He is amazed by the sheer size of the cities and the number of people who live there. Karl is in awe of the Great Wall of China, which he describes as "just a massive wall that goes on forever." He climbs the steps of the wall and tries to take in the beauty of the surrounding landscape, but is constantly distracted by his own thoughts and remarks.

Karl also visits the Terracotta Army, a collection of life-sized clay soldiers that were buried with the first emperor of China. He is stunned by the precision and detail of the sculptures, but is more focused on the fact that they are "just statues" and that the emperor was so self-obsessed that he needed an army to guard him in the afterlife.

Throughout the episode, Karl encounters many of China's customs and traditions, including tea ceremonies, tai chi, and acupuncture. He is skeptical of many of these practices and often belittles them as being pointless or silly. However, he does begrudgingly try them out, often with hilarious results.

One of the funniest moments of the episode comes when Karl visits a Chinese doctor for some acupuncture. He is hesitant about the treatment, but agrees to it since it is a part of Chinese culture. However, when the doctor starts inserting needles into his back, Karl is overcome with pain and yells out, "I thought this was meant to be relaxing!" The doctor explains that the pain means the needles are working, but Karl remains unconvinced.

Aside from sightseeing and trying out new customs, Karl also spends some time exploring China's cuisine. He tries a variety of different foods, including scorpions, which he describes as being "like eating a crispy sweet." He also tries hotpot, a popular meal in China where diners cook their own meat in a boiling pot of soup. Karl is initially put off by the idea, but eventually warms up to it and even tries to cook his own meat.

Overall, An Idiot Abroad season 3 episode 3 offers an entertaining and humorous look at China through the eyes of Karl Pilkington. While Karl may not always appreciate the culture or customs of the country, viewers will find themselves laughing at his sarcastic and irreverent commentary. Whether you're a fan of travel shows or just looking for a good laugh, this episode is a must-watch.