60 years of Chinese TV drama

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02:21

2018 marks the 60th anniversary of Chinese TV drama. A ceremony was held on Tuesday in Shanghai, to recall the glamorous history, especially the past 40 years since the reform and opening up policy was carried out.

The celebration is a homage paid to the remarkable figures in the TV series industry.

It is an important event of the ongoing 24th Shanghai TV Festival. Senior artists who pioneered in the field and achieved greatly attended the ceremony.

A large number of classical works have been produced during the past four decades. The 1986 edition of "Journey to the West", 1987 edition of "Dream of the Red Chamber".

Actors of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". /VCG Photo

1994 version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and the 1998 version of "Outlaws of the Marsh", adapted from the Four Great Classical Novels, are just some of the most popular series.

Cast and crew members of the four dramas show up on the same stage for the first time ever. And Liu Xiao Ling Tong, who portrays the legendary Monkey King recalls his memories of the 17-year-long filming.

Crew members of "Journey to the West" celebrating the 60th anniversary of Chinese TV drama. /CGTN Photo

"Journey to the West is the proof of the team's dedication to artistic perfection," he said. "It was 30 years ago and we'd got only one camera. We walked around China's picturesque areas and took 17 years to make 41 episodes. 17 years equals Monk Xuanzang's pilgrimage for the Buddhist scriptures."

"I always say that we are living in a great time. Because Journey to the West is China's first mythical TV drama, and me and my fellow actors become famous and popular among generations of TV viewers through the work."

China has grown to be the biggest TV drama producing and broadcasting country in the world. Ordinary people and their lives are always the central themes of the screenplay.