'Survivors' get taste of Bulgarian village in reality show

The 51 members of the team who filmed the first Chinese reality show "Survivor" in Bulgaria, experienced the charm of the Balkan country, and contributed to the revitalization of the local economy, locals said.

The two-week reality show kicked off on Aug. 29 at the village of Momchilovtsi, located in a valley in the Central Rhodope Mountains 1,200 meters above sea level, some 240 km southeast of the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

Maria Nikova, mayor of Momchilovtsi, told Xinhua that the show, which will be broadcast in China in late September, was a part of a project for the promotion of yogurt, implemented by the village and a Chinese dairy producer based in Shanghai.

Hu Jian, senior manager of the Chinese dairy company said that the reason for choosing the village as the spot for the show was that there is a unique dish in the Rhodope village -- yogurt.

Yogurt is an indispensable part of the life of the local people. "You can see yogurt everywhere -- yogurt soup, yogurt dessert, even the sauce for the barbecue," said Hu.

SURVIVING THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

The main purpose of the reality show according to Hu is to introduce the healthy lifestyle of the Bulgarian village to the Chinese audience through the experience of seven Chinese survivors.

Nikova said that during the first week, seven Chinese stars had to survive in the home of a local family without an interpreter and with only a Chinese-Bulgarian dictionary, while in the second week all Chinese people were gathered together in a single house.

The seven Chinese experienced their first test before entering the houses of their hosts because they had to identify the right people when they were greeted at dusk at the crowded square of the village, Nikova said.

As early as next day, Nikova involved her Chinese guest, the 22-year-old Monica from Shanghai, in all household activities such as feeding the hens and the calf, and picking vegetables from the small garden in the small yard.

Nikova said that the Chinese were impressed by a tomato that weighed 1.1 kg.

"I did not know how they communicated with each other, but at one moment over 20 people came in our garden in our yard, to film carrots, tomatoes, the calf and the hens," Nikova said.

Monica had to harvest hay from the meadows near the village, Nikova said. But to be able to feel how the local people gathered hay in the heat years ago, the participant in the Chinese reality show was dressed in traditional Rhodope costume.

Monica also learned to cook traditional local dishes like patatnik, banitsa and stuffed peppers. In her last evening at the house, she cooked delicious Chinese food, Nikova said.

IMPRESSIVE ENVIRONMENT

The Chinese wanted to capture sunsets "because they, hectic in their metropolis, miss those small joys," Nikova said.

"Indeed, when you look at the sunset or sunrise even for a few minutes, you relax from all of life's tensions," Nikova said.

Zhang Zhendong, one of the "survivors" in this show told Xinhua that he is a part-time racing driver from Shanghai, relaxing between competition seasons. "The environment in the village makes me totally relaxed, and I keep exercising everyday," said Zhang.

Zhang said the hospitality of the villagers and their healthy living style were the most impressive things to him. He also experienced his first time riding a horse and going hunting in Bulgaria.

FRUITFUL COOPERATION

The Shanghai company first came to Momchilovtsi in 2008, Nikova said. The following year, the company launched a dairy product labeled "Momchilovtsi," and in 2012 the village and the Chinese manufacturer officially shook hands and began cooperation.

Nikova said that since then, the Chinese company has been sending to the village tourist groups numbering around 500 people a year.

"Thus, they support the economy of Momchilovtsi because when a group arrives, they enter shops, restaurant, attends our folk programs and see museums," she said.

The local museum has exhibited a special wall showing the friendship between China and Momchilovtsi, including a picture of a Chinese group with the inscription: "Mimchilovtsi I love U. Warm wishes and heartfelt thanks from China."