The hit TV series "Winter Begonia" has come to a successful conclusion, earning a good rating on Douban.
The drama tells the story of a famous Peking Opera singer, Shang Xirui, and a businessman, Cheng Fengtai, who defended China during the Japanese invasion in their own way.
Unlike other hit dramas, "Winter Begonia" brought the traditional culture of Beijing Opera to TV screens. The series depiction of the world intangible cultural heritage not only brought it attention for helping to keep the art form alive but also earned it a significant following among young viewers, about 70 percent of whom were aged between 19 and 34.
According to data released by Tencent, 50.39 percent of viewers are between the ages of 19 and 24, and 22.27 percent are aged 25-34, indicating a new vitality in the development of this ancient art form.
From costumes to scenery, intangible cultural heritage abounds
Set of opera stage in "Winter Begonia"./Weibo Screenshot
As an important manifestation of traditional Chinese culture, every movement and tone of Peking Opera is exquisite and meaningful.
To present the quintessence of high-caliber Chinese opera, the series' actors received professional training.
Series producer Yu Zheng recruited 90-year-old Beijing Opera artist Bi Guyun to direct the moves and singing of Yin Zheng, the actor who plays Shang Xirui.
From renowned "Farewell My Concubine" and "Drunken Concubine" to "The Palace of Eternal Youth," viewers have come to love the rich plot and complex characters depicted traditional Chinese opera. Their appreciation for the Cheng Fengtai character in the series is no different.
The set of the TV series was also well-designed.
Everywhere the camera focused has a authentic depiction of a scene from the past. Whether it was a scene in a teahouse or old Beijing buskers, each detail and movement conveys viewers to the past.
Both the old royal mansion bought by the Cheng family and the stage where Shang sings and plays are exquisite and magnificent, fully displaying the beauty of Chinese architecture.
The costumes also received unanimous praise from viewers, triggering heated discussions on the Chinese internet.
A still from hit drama "Winter Begonia" showing the protagonists Shang Xirui and Cheng Fengtai. /Weibo
To capture the authentic look and feel of the period, the crew personally visited opera costume makers in Hangzhou and Suzhou. The series uses more than 200 costumes, and more than half of them are handmade.
From the leads to the extras, the material, pattern and thread of each costume were carefully selected. Some costumes took months to complete.
With some of the costumes employing Beijing embroidery, which is a national intangible cultural heritage, even the dress of the actors is another nod to traditional Chinese culture.
A rebirth of a traditional art form
Douban's rating of "Winter Begonia". /Douban screeshot
Creating a modern drama with the right balance of historical depth and contemporary appeal is no mean feat. But if "Winter Begonia" is anything to judge by, it is not an impossible task.
The series received a score of 7.9 out of 10 on Douban. According to the popular Chinese TV and movie ranking site, 65,000 people watched the film in recent weeks. Meanwhile, another 28,000 said they were watching it, and 18,000 said they wanted to view it.
The 49-episode series was released on March 20 on the Chinese mainland.
(Top image designer: Chen Yuyang)