What is that ancient thing called that transports VIPs via people, poles and a seat in between?

In ancient China they called it a 'sedan chair'.

It was called (and probably still is) a palanquin or a litter. Usually litter refers to the stretcher that is used to carry injured people and is open. The palanquin is covered and sometimes had side-curtains that could be folded back in warm weather but closed up if it was cold out, or raining.

The palanquin had a seat inside to carry one person, and they were used extensively in England so the gentry didn't have to get their feet wet when they went from one place to another. It was a very genuine problem at that time, because sewage ran down the middle of the streets and people emptied chamber pots from their windows. At least, it was a problem for the gentry. Presumably the litter bearers, or the palanquin bearers, were common folk and wouldn't be affected by all that sewage as the gentle folk were ..... They had some strange notions back then!

The palanquins were used in France as well, also by the nobility.

A sedan chair

Sedan chair. Sometimes also called (for some inexplicable reason) a litter.

It's called a 'doli' or 'palaki' in India, and it is usually covered- they use it to transport a bride to her wedding It is also known as a palaquin in English. The general term for wheel-less vehicles is "litter".

a pole thingy

sedan-chair