The aim was to find dishes that represent local people's wisdom and life, Wang says.

"If you take fried ice cream in Harbin as an example, it comes from elsewhere, but Harbiners came up with a new way to cook it. It's fried with flour paste."

In the first two episodes the foodie group explored delicacies in Shanghai, from crab feast to rib and rice cake to the noodles with toppings, a map of Shanghai food being presented to the audience, as well as cooking methods and the dishes' background stories.

In Guizhou the sour and spicy flavor of local food is highlighted. Liu, born and raised in Guizhou, became the group guide as its members tried the most authentic Guizhou snacks.

In each city after the trip the film crew returned to all the restaurants visited and filmed each dish being made.

The interaction between the visitors and locals is one highlight of the show. Wang says the aim is not only to present local delicacies but also to dispel stereotypes about the cities visited.

"All the people in the six cities we select have their characteristics such as the nice ladies in Shanghai being really down to earth and the people in Harbin being very welcoming.