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    “Set Off Now 2”: Joyful Adventures in Nature's Hidden Realms

    On October 26, the second season of the star-studded outdoor reality show "Let's Get Started" officially premiered, with new episodes airing every Saturday and Sunday at noon.

    Poster for "Let's Get Started 2"

    Embarking on adventures in nature, "Let's Get Started 2" features a lineup of guests that includes familiar faces like Shen Teng, Jia Bing, Jin Chen, and Bai Jingting, alongside new friends Song Yaxuan, Hu Xianxu, and Wang Anyu.

    In the first episode, the "departure family" travels to Xinjiang's Zhaosu, known as the hometown of celestial horses, with the theme of horses running throughout the episode.

    The first big laugh of the episode comes from a wilderness bonding test before their departure—a game of "lyrics charades." The guests, coming from different generations, each had their interpretations of the lyrics, with the biggest mishap being when Song Yaxuan, as the second player, completely misunderstood the lyrics being acted out by Bai Jingting while guessing "Dare to Ask Where the Road Is." This led everyone to incorrectly interpret “you carry a burden” as “you carry a cannon.”

    After that, the group officially enters the wilderness, with breathtaking scenes of snow-capped mountains, jade lakes, grasslands, wetlands, and forests unfolding in front of the camera. One of the most thrilling moments occurs in the Tianma River, where horsemen drive a herd of horses into the shallow waters, sending up waves that crash against the surface.

    In the following rounds of games, the "departure family" competes for the adoption rights of six horses and battles for the championship in a final horse race.

    Shen Teng, the comedic anchor and soul of the departure team, takes an unconventional approach in every game, delivering numerous laughs. The other guests also gradually adapt, ensuring that no punchline goes unnoticed; their spontaneous reactions and abstract interactions are more entertaining than the competitive outcome itself.

    Recently, a media screening was held for the second season of "Let's Get Started," where executive producers Xia Jiaoyang and Yan Zhihua shared insights about the show.

    Continuing the essence of the first season, the absolute key words for season two are still—relaxation and humor. Many travel-themed shows often spend a lot of time introducing local scenery, cuisine, and cultural heritage, making them feel more like promotional videos or documentaries for the region. However, "Let's Get Started" clearly takes a different approach. In the first episode, the natural landscapes and the emphasis on horses in Zhaosu are cleverly woven into various themed games, and experts appear only occasionally to provide brief introductions without lengthy speeches about cultural tourism content.

    Xia Jiaoyang mentioned that nearly 400 people are involved both on and off-screen in the production of "Let's Get Started." "We hope 'Let's Get Started' is a joyful travel show that can alleviate viewers' anxieties and pressures in today's society and bring happiness," he said.

    Regarding the cast members, Yan Zhihua noted that although there have been some personnel changes this season, "I believe this 'departure family' is clearer and more relaxed. They have good cohesion and a great sense of humor." Yan also shared that all the young members tend to feel a mysterious energy upon joining and eventually become more vibrant; happiness is indeed contagious.

    "Before producing the show, we had in-depth discussions with each guest, and we wanted them to truly enjoy the journey. Shen Teng had little experience with nature travel before joining; he was thrilled to hear he could ride a motorcycle. Jia Bing genuinely loves cooking; despite his rugged appearance, he is as serious about cooking as a mother. Young Song is not very talkative, often contributing just a half-sentence at the end, but that last line is always especially funny, and he is both sincere and shy. I think Wang Anyu is a dark horse—he is incredibly brave, generous, and passionate," Yan Zhihua remarked.

    As for the destinations for this trip, Xia Jiaoyang explained, "The intention behind our first season was to showcase the energy of nature. We especially want to show young people how beautiful China is. After exploring and filming scenic spots across the country for a year, we found China has the most beautiful grasslands, snow-capped mountains, deserts, islands, and pine forests. Therefore, our primary criterion for selecting locations is their natural and healing quality; we avoid commercial tourist sites, so viewers will see only the hidden beauty of nature on our show."

    The first episode of "Let's Get Started" features the grasslands, fir forests, and snow-capped mountains of Xinjiang, and Xia Jiaoyang announced that the next stop will showcase vast deserts. "We've incorporated the concept of the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—while also presenting different thematic colors that blend with nature, creating a harmonious integration of heaven, earth, and humanity," he stated.

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