Catch up TV
Series 1: 2. Hong Kong University to Lantau Island
Michael Portillo continues his exploration of Hong Kong aboard the impressive MTR metro system, which handles six million trips a day.\n\nIn Wan Chai, he discovers why Hong Kongers are protesting all over the city and asks them about their hopes and fears. At Hong Kong University, Michael learns about the father of modern China, Sun Yat Sen, who was a student there at the time of his Bradshaw’s Guide. In the walled villages of the New Territories, Michael meets a descendant of one of Hong Kong’s oldest dynasties.
Source: BBC 4
Most recent episodes of Great Asian Railway Journeys
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 8. Da Nang To Hoi An
Michael Portillo continues his thousand-mile journey through Vietnam aboard the Unification Railway from Ho Chi Minh City to the capital, Hanoi.\n\nLeaving what locals still cal ...
16-08-2024
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 7. Ho Chi Minh City To Phan Thiet
Armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo boards the Unification Railway for a thousand-mile journey from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to the northern capita ...
15-08-2024
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 2. Hong Kong University To Lantau Island
Michael Portillo continues his exploration of Hong Kong aboard the impressive MTR metro system, which handles six million trips a day.\n\nIn Wan Chai, he discovers why Hong Kong ...
26-07-2024
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 1. Kowloon To Wan Chai
Michael Portillo is in south east Asia, armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Handbook. It leads him on a spectacular 2,500-mile railway adventure across six countries. Michael e ...
24-07-2024
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 10. Singapore
Michael Portillo’s south east Asian railway tour reaches its final stop - Singapore. The island city-state at the southern tip of Malaysia is one of Asia’s biggest s ...
23-03-2024
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 9. Kuala Lumpur To Johor Bahru
Following his 1913 Bradshaw’s guidebook, Michael Portillo continues his exploration of the Malaysian peninsula. Beginning in its dynamic and diverse capital, Kuala Lumpur, ...
09-03-2024
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 8. Penang To Cameron Highlands
Michael Portillo’s south east Asian travels reach Malaysia - once a British colony. Michael’s journey begins on the island of Penang, Britain’s first stronghol ...
09-12-2023
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 7. Yogyakarta To Surabaya
Michael Portillo’s railway journey following his 1913 guidebook continues in Indonesia. Beginning in Java’s royal city, Yogyakarta, Michael visits the Sultan’s ...
25-11-2023
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 6. Jakarta To Borobudur
Michael Portillo’s 2500-mile railway tour of south east Asia reaches its southern most point in Indonesia. Michael's journey begins on the island of Java at the heart of t ...
18-11-2023
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 5. Hue To Halong Bay
Michael Portillo continues his thousand-mile journey aboard the Reunification Railway from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to the capital, Hanoi, and on to the vast northern port ...
11-11-2023
BBC 4
Most popular episodes of Great Asian Railway Journeys
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 10. Singapore
Michael Portillo’s south east Asian railway tour reaches its final stop - Singapore. The island city-state at the southern tip of Malaysia is one of Asia’s biggest s ...
23-03-2024
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 5. Bangkok
Michael Portillo is in the Thai capital, Bangkok, midway through his rail tour of Thailand. He learns how the late 19th-century King Rama V built a grand palace and introduced r ...
06-04-2023
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 10. Hanoi To Ha Long Bay
Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael continues his thousand-mile journey through what was then French Indochina and is today the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. \n ...
24-04-2023
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 17. Kuala Lumpur To Melaka
Michael Portillo continues his 2,500-mile rail tour of south east Asia. On this leg, he explores the phenomenal growth of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, from muddy swam ...
08-05-2023
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 7. Yogyakarta To Surabaya
Michael Portillo’s railway journey following his 1913 guidebook continues in Indonesia. Beginning in Java’s royal city, Yogyakarta, Michael visits the Sultan’s ...
25-11-2023
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 9. Hue To Ninh Binh
Michael Portillo continues his thousand-mile journey aboard the Unification Railway from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to the capital, Hanoi, and on to the vast northern port of ...
13-04-2023
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 20. Chinatown To Gardens By The Bay
Michael Portillo is in the island city state of Singapore on the last leg of his 2,500-mile exploration of south east Asia. In Tai Seng, Michael goes underground to marvel at th ...
11-05-2023
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 1. Kowloon To Wan Chai
Michael Portillo is in south east Asia, armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Handbook. It leads him on a spectacular 2,500-mile railway adventure across six countries. Michael e ...
24-07-2024
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1: 4. Ayutthaya To River Kwai
Michael Portillo continues his rail journey through Thailand from Lampang, stopping to help at an elephant hospital, where they care for animals wounded by landmines.\n\nIn the ...
05-04-2023
BBC 4
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 1. Hong Kong
Michael Portillo is in south east Asia, armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Handbook. Published at the height of European imperialism, it leads Michael on a spectacular 2,500-m ...
07-10-2023
BBC 4