Garden built for TV drama's authentic classical Chinese visuals

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Chinese ancient costume drama Against The Current premiered on China Media Group's CCTV-8 on Friday (September 11), drawing early attention for its rigorous commitment to traditional Chinese aesthetic presentation.

Featuring the elegant grace of Jiangnan gardens, the series drew visual reference from Scenes of Prosperity in the Southern Capital, a color painting on a silk scroll from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), now housed in the National Museum of China.

A poster for China's ancient costume drama Against The Current, which premiered on CCTV-8 on September 11, 2026. /Photo provided to CGTN

The production team spent around eight months constructing a large-scale period-accurate garden, with every courtyard, pavilion, carving and planted detail repeatedly refined to preserve the natural, lived-in authenticity of an ancient setting, with principal drama scenes shot entirely on this physical site.

The production team has also stated that they hope the drama will not only bring audiences a deeply immersive visual experience, but also deliver a warm, uplifting story about ordinary people who strive to live fully and bravely against all odds.

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