French TV audiences have become enchanted by a village in southeastern China's Guizhou Province, thanks to a documentary broadcast by the "France 2" channel. Part of a series entitled "Rendezvous in an Unknown Land", it topped the ratings with 5.5 million viewers. That's one-in-ten of the population!

A still of French documentary "Rendezvous in an unknown land" on the Miao community living in Guizhou province, southwestern China. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

A still of French documentary "Rendezvous in an unknown land" on the Miao community living in Guizhou province, southwestern China. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The documentary followed French actor Clovis Cornillac in his journey to meet the Miao people, one of 55 minority groups in China.

During his two-week stay, Cornilla lived with Miao families, farming with them and chatting with them. He participated in their ancestral rice harvest and even tasted cooked river insects.

The program topped France's TV ratings when broadcast on the 12th of April, with 5.5 million viewers. That means about one-in-ten French people were watching it that day.

Moreover, within two hours of the broadcast, the channel received more than 10,000 messages from audience members saying how much they were moved by the beautiful scenery, the warmth of the Miao people, and their personal stories.

The TV channel notes the success of "Rendezvous in an Unknown Land" reflects growing public interest in France about Chinese culture and heritage.