Renowned Chinese star Zhang Ziyi takes on a new role, as travelogue host.

ZHANG Ziyi is a superstar – beautiful, glamorous, and probably one of the best known international celebrities from China. She has worked with famous filmmakers like Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), Zhang Yimou (Hero, House Of Flying Daggers), Wong Kar-Wai (2046), and even crossed fists with Jackie Chan (Rush Hour 2). She could have her pick of any project or movie she wants.

So what is Zhang, considered one of the most beautiful and sexiest women in the world, doing camping out in the deserts of Oman, and mucking about the rural areas of China’s Inner Mongolia province?

Experience of a lifetime: Zhang Ziyi venturing into the stunningly beautiful but harsh environment of the Wahibi Desert for the travelogue Zhang Ziyi’s Oman for National Geographic.

Why, making a travel documentary for another of the world’s most acclaimed filmmakers, of course – The National Geographic Channel.

Filmed in high definition, the Zhang Ziyi Travel Series features the 31-year-old Beijing native travelling to Oman and Inner Mongolia to experience the unique culture and heritage of the two locations. Her role in the show is more than just a host – she is the focal point of each of the two 30-minute shows, sharing her adventures with us and allowing us to listen in on her conversations with the local people she encounters.

“The goal for this project was to travel to different cities and different countries within one year, and experience life there,” said Zhang in a phone interview. “This is the sort of experience you don’t get in normal life; and the greatest thing I got out of this was the connection I felt with nature and all the wonderful people I met and the wild animals I saw.”

The first of the two 30-minute shows – Zhang Ziyi’s Oman – explores themes of heritage and conservation in the Middle Eastern country. Beginning in the nation’s capital Muscat and helped by local guides, she visits the city’s old Souq (marketplace) to learn about its social as well as economic functions; and goes for a tour of the impressively modern Grand Mosque.

Zhang then explores the natural history of the sultanate, going out to sea where she encounters a herd of hundreds of dolphins, and subsequently visits a turtle conservation sanctuary on the coastline. And last, but not least, what is a travel show in the Middle East without a day in the desert? Zhang even ventures into the stunningly beautiful but harsh environment of the Wahibi Desert for an encounter with the nomadic Bedouin, where she learns more about life in the desert. She even gets to showcase her talent for dance and performs a few steps to the music that the native musicians play especially for her.

The second of the series – Zhang Ziyi’s Inner Mongolia – features an entirely different concept. More fashion shoot than travelogue, Zhang models the new ensemble design by emerging couturier Jason Wu (best known for the famous for the Inaugural Ball gown worn by the US First Lady Michelle Obama) against the stunning backdrops of Inner Mongolia’s rolling plains.

The show features Zhang and the crew seeking locations for their photo shoot, while exploring the grasslands and learning about local customs and traditions.

Visiting Oman’s old Souq marketplace.

While this is not the first time Zhang is working with National Geographic (she was previously the focus of a documentary called Zhang Ziyi: Creative Asian Beauty), this was a different experience altogether. Not only did she have to forgo the usual luxuries that are afforded movie stars of her stature, she also had to get used to having to ask people a lot of questions, something she was unused to initially.

“Usually, I’m the one who gets asked all the questions!” she said with a laugh. “I had to interview so many different people from various careers and education backgrounds, and talk to them about nature and the wild animals. On top of all that, I had to do it in English!

“But honestly, this project would have been a challenge even if it required me to speak Chinese. The topics we explored and discussed are totally different from what we talk about in our daily lives,” she added.

She also remembers the vast differences between the two locations, most notably when they had to camp outdoors for a night in both Inner Mongolia and Oman.

“The tent we lived in at Inner Mongolia was actually very comfortable – it even had a TV and Internet access! It didn’t feel like we were camping outdoors at all,” she recalled. “But it was very different in the Middle East, where we spent one night in the desert. The tent was really just a piece of cloth separating us from the outside. At night, we were told to take off our shoes and turn them upside down or scorpions would hide in them!”

This project marks a remarkable departure for Zhang, widely regarded as one of the most sought-after actresses from China. Born in Beijing on 1979, she studied dance at a very early age before switching to acting at the age of 15. At 19, she landed the leading role in the award-winning The Road Home by Zhang Yimou (whom she would later work with again on Hero and House Of Flying Daggers).

Zhang with the locals in Inner Mongolia.

Then came Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, the Ang Lee film that catapulted her to international acclaim. This led to roles in major films in both Hollywood and Asia such as Rush Hour 2, Memoirs Of A Geisha, Hero, 2046, and many more.

Doing a travel documentary may seem like a step backwards for her and a far cry from all her glamorous film projects; but it was a challenge she was quite happy to take on.

“I would not have been able to get involved in this project without the support of the Hotel & Resorts group who co-produced the programme. I love animals and children very much. So once I heard about this National Geographic project, I was very happy to accept the challenge,” she said.

Comparing the making of the show with making movies, she reckons the biggest difference between the two was that she could not retake her shots in the documentary because it would not look natural.

“Unlike a film which it is shot scene by scene, a documentary is shot continuously. There are no retakes!” she said. “I was also allowed to be more spontaneous and natural here – I did not have a script to follow, so I could say anything and ask any questions I liked.”

Of all the unique experiences she went through during filming, it was witnessing the vast herd of dolphins of Oman that left the biggest and most lasting impression on her. “Seeing hundreds of dolphins swimming together was amazing! I’ve seen dolphins in parks before, but to see so many of them, some jumping above the surface of the ocean ... that was definitely one of the most unforgettable moments in my life. It made me realise just how insignificant we humans are when compared to Mother Nature,” she recalled.

The experience really opened her mind and made her more aware of the environment and the need to protect it. “Many celebrities and artists are already using their social power to educate the public on issues such as environmental conservation and protection,” she said. “After doing this series and learning so much about nature and the environment, I’m also ready to do my part, and try my best to spend more time exploring and being more aware of the environment.”

The Zhang Ziyi Travel Series premieres on Nov 14 on National Geographic (Astro Channel 553).

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