Editor's note: David Lee is a consultant and author based in Beijing who focuses on energy, health, international politics and international development. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. 

A couple of months ago, the office pantry talk in Beijing, Shanghai, or any other big Chinese metropolis shared the unbelievable collapse of HBO’s "Game of Thrones" franchise whose final season ruined the loyalty of even the most loyal fans. Now, Chinese office workers simply cannot enter the office pantry without some knowledge of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) culture, attire, architecture, or interesting historical anecdotes, as "The Longest Day in Chang'an" is running hot on Youku, one of China’s leading video streaming sites.

Directed by Cao Dun, the historical thriller is set in the Tang Dynasty. The mighty empire was at the height of its power, but internal mismanagement and external threats were already compromising the apparent Golden Age.

On the eve of the Lantern Festival, young anti-terror officer Li Bi formed an unlikely partnership with former constable-turned death row prisoner Zhang Xiaojing to save the imperial capital from certain doom against all odds.

The fascinating storyline is packed into an eventful single day. The story is told in fast-paced, tempting episodes born out of the skilled adaptation of emerging author Ma Boyong’s original thriller. The whole production is all the more amazing thanks to the great attention paid to historical accuracy in clothing, architecture and even the details of social etiquette, all presented in vibrant colors and visual textures on par with the finest feature motion picture.

The show was launched by Youku on June 27, with episode 26 airing this week. Production wraps with a total of 48 episodes. 

The show scores 8.6 out of 10 on China's leading rating website Douban. Youku is using the show to attract subscribers, particularly young people, during the summer holiday.

Overseas, "The Longest Day in Chang'an" launched on Rakuten Viki, scoring 9.4 out of 10. The show is expected to become available on YouTube later. "The Longest Day in Chang'an" is set to be the first Chinese drama to be offered by a subscription-based streaming service in an overseas market.

It is not difficult for fans at home and abroad to notice the many similarities between Youku’s "The Longest Day in Chang'an" and successful American titles run by either traditional pay-TV like HBO or streaming platforms such as Netflix.

There is no secret that Youku and like-minded Chinese showrunners are learning from the Americans. But what’s amazing is how fast they're catching up in just a short couple of years.    

To pull off a big franchise show on a video platform is no easy task. The success lies in the right mixture of artistic creativity, technical rigor, market acumen, risk tolerance and, of course, adequate financial investment.

Previous Chinese titles have tried and managed some limited success. With Youku’s "The Longest Day in Chang'an" though, fans across the world may finally witness the debut of a Chinese drama as a credible force in the international content market.

At the end of the day, as a big fan of history and culture who is already intoxicated by the superb representation of the very best of the great Tang Dynasty, I’d cross my fingers for "The Longest Day in Chang'an" to close as gracefully as it opened — and not repeat the failure of HBO’s "Game of Thrones" franchise. 

Also, while I'd remain interested in any rumor of a second season of "The Longest Day in Chang'an," I hope high-quality Chinese content, instead of being a rarity, will be produced in increasing numbers. 

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com.)