Film and television productions have increasingly become a powerful bridge to connect historical culture with modern tourism – and China's ongoing hit drama Family Legacy is a case in point.

China's first TV series dedicated to the ink heritage of Anhui Province, which spotlights the local ink-making tradition, began to air on May 17. Nearly 80% of the series was filmed in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, with 90% of the exterior shots captured on location. Sixteen scenic spots – including Xidi, Chengkan, Nanping, Huangcun and Qiyun Mountain – have been seamlessly woven into the drama's storyline, according to a People's Daily report.

Ahead of its official release, an immersive live performance inspired by the drama debuted at the Xidi Scenic Area on the evening of May 14. "It was absolutely stunning – it makes me even more excited for the TV drama series to air," said one tourist surnamed Xu. The close-up, real-setting performances offered visitors a chance to experience intangible cultural heritage up close.

Director of the Anhui China Huizhou Culture Museum Yao Yubo praised the series for its faithful portrayal of the Ming Dynasty-era Huizhou ink masters' philosophy of balancing profit with righteousness, as well as its detailed depiction of every step of the ink-making craft. He noted that the costumes, makeup and set design were all consistent with the historical period.

Huizhou ink has long exerted wide cultural influence across the East Asian cultural sphere. With Family Legacy now capturing national attention, experts believe the drama will inspire even more people to appreciate the beauty of China's traditional culture.

Huizhou culture represents the material and spiritual civilization of six ancient counties that now include modern-day Huangshan,Jixi in Anhui and Wuyuan in Jiangxi.