Yellow River's power of change

"Most of the days in Lanzhou, we could see the sky was clear blue and the air quality was good. The local authorities have built a total of 16 parks along the banks of the Yellow River, providing a lush green environment for locals," says Wang.

Also a mother of two children, a visit to Lanxiang Technician College in the Jinan episode particularly resonated with her. The school, founded in 1984, is famous for its popular TV advertisement:"What school gives you the best technical skills? Come to Lanxiang in Shandong".

With China's increasing demand for technical talent, many students from the vocational school have landed well-paid jobs, exemplified by the fact that most veteran crane drivers can earn around 13,000 yuan ($2,038) per month, and some successful chefs earn up to 750,000 yuan annually.

Lyu Peng, chief executive director of the show, adds that sometimes a technical job not only ensures decent pay, but also fosters a sense of honor.

"Many graduates from the school are involved in some of China's pivotal projects, such as the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (the largest of its kind in the country, which involves drawing water from southern rivers to supply the dry north), and the construction of some sections of China's railway network," says Lyu.