When Yang Zi and Li Xian reunited on screen in Flourished Peony (锦绣芳华), they reignited a flame first kindled in 2019’s Go Go Squid! (亲爱的,热爱的). This deliberate revival of chemistry—spanning modern romance to Tang Dynasty intrigue—transcended mere nostalgia, evolving into a masterclass in IP longevity. Nostalgia Crafted Frame by Frame The 2025 drama meticulously resurrected signature moments from its predecessor. The "shoulder-burrowing embrace," iconic in Go Go Squid!, reappeared in Flourished Peony as a tactile bridge across six years. During promotional livestreams, Yang Zi’s playful jab at "industrial sugar" tropes and Li Xian’s cherry-feeding gesture became viral lore. Fans crowned them "Pure Fate CP," celebrating improvised hand dances and red-string embraces that mirrored their characters’ enduring bond. On July 9, 2025—exactly six years after Go Go Squid! premiered—both series’ official accounts staged a coordinated "One Life, One World" social media exchange. A montage intertwining the couples’ journeys framed it as karmic destiny, flooding platforms with hashtags like "#19SummerWindBlowsTo25." Viewers binge-watched Flourished Peony as tribute, declaring it "the ultimate gift" for loyal followers. Characters Reborn, Themes Elevated Yang Zi’s transformation from sweet-genius computer whiz Tang Nian (佟年) to resourceful entrepreneur He Weifang (何惟芳) showcased narrative ambition. Li Xian’s shift from esports…

Nanjing elevates its fashion ambitions with the appointment of Zhang Zhaoda (张肇达), a foundational figure in Chinese design, as Honorary Chairman for its 2025 International Fashion Week. His participation signals a strategic push to position Nanjing at the forefront of global fashion dialogue. Beyond a ceremonial role, Zhang will headline the opening gala with his iconic brand MARK CHEUNG, leveraging his four-decade legacy bridging Eastern aesthetics and international runways. This collaboration aims to transform Nanjing from a historical gem into a dynamic nexus for luxury commerce, cultural innovation, and trendsetting creativity. Design Philosophy Redefined Zhang Zhaoda’s journey began when Chinese design was virtually absent from global stages. His early 1980s collections introduced a nuanced equilibrium between market viability and artistic expression. The MARK CHEUNG label, renowned for its bias-cut silhouettes and subdued palettes, demonstrated that tradition could converse fluently with modernity. His approach earned him China’s inaugural Golden Top Award and UNESCO recognition. Zhang’s work consistently avoids cliched cultural symbols. Instead, he extracts abstract principles from Chinese art—like the fluidity of ink wash paintings or the structural logic of Ming furniture—translating them into contemporary garments. This intellectual rigor established him as a translator of heritage rather than a revivalist. His…

On July 5th, 2025, a vibrant group of 35 students from Singapore National University and Nanyang Technological University arrived at Jin Cheng (锦城) College in Chengdu. Their half-day visit promised cultural discovery and connection. Greeted warmly by the college leadership, including Founder Professor Zou Guangyan and President Professor Wang Yali, the Singaporean delegation joined Jin Cheng students for an exploration of campus life and shared traditions. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation for the experiences ahead: discovering campus landmarks, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and diving into hands-on cultural activities designed to foster genuine connection between the young people of both nations. Moments of Shared Discovery The initial encounter dissolved any hesitation. Ice-breaking games sparked laughter and conversation, instantly bridging the gap between the Singaporean visitors and their Jin Cheng hosts. Guided by local students, the group explored the campus heart, including the Entrepreneurship Hall and the History & Alumni Museum. This journey through Jin Cheng's spaces provided context for the institution's spirit. A formal welcome followed in Room Z203 of the Siwei Building. Professor Zou Guangyan (邹广严) expressed heartfelt enthusiasm for the exchange, emphasizing its value for educational collaboration and enduring friendship between Singapore and China. He extended an open invitation…

From July 14 to 20, Shantou’s skyline will ignite with the inaugural "Chaos·Surging" Cultural Tourism Fashion Week. Centered along the Inner Harbor waterfront, events will transform landmarks like the Chaoshan History & Culture Expo Center and Xiaogongyuan Pier into dynamic stages for culture, design, and community. This festival merges intangible heritage with contemporary flair, positioning Shantou as a nexus of creative innovation along China’s southeastern coast. Fusion Runway: Heritage Reimagined National intangible heritage—paper-cutting and woodcarving—takes center stage as local artisans collaborate with avant-garde designers. These crafts evolve into wearable art, where delicate cut-paper motifs contrast with structured silhouettes. captures a gown featuring laser-cut woodcarving patterns layered over modern textiles, symbolizing dialogue across eras. Each piece narrates Chaoshan’s legacy while defying tradition’s boundaries. The runway becomes a cultural laboratory. Designers like Lin Wei embed porcelain-blue gradients inspired by Chaozhou kilns into minimalist tailoring, while tech-infused fabrics mimic the translucence of rice-paper lanterns. This synergy transcends aesthetics, offering a blueprint for preserving craftsmanship through relevance. Audiences witness how heritage fuels innovation, not nostalgia. Night Market Alchemy: Sips and Sounds At Chaoren Wharf, the "Tea Genesis" pop-up redefines tea culture. Chengchuan Zhicha and Hengdao Yipin launch fusion drinks like oolong-espresso tonics and lychee-infused…

Beneath the cool summer skies of Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, a living tapestry of tradition unfolds each evening. Dozens of models from Tang Man Culture Company grace parks and plazas, their Manchu qipaos—with sculpted collars, coiled buttons, and artful slits—blending ancestral grace with modern silhouettes. Led by Jia Shujuan (贾淑娟), a provincial intangible heritage inheritor, this daily procession embodies a cultural renaissance where every stitch narrates millennia of Manchu wisdom. Craftsmanship Reimagined Jia’s studio produces over a thousand unique qipaos annually, each a canvas of innovation. Regional motifs merge with ink-wash paintings and botanical dyes, transforming silk into storytelling mediums. The garments honor Qing Dynasty techniques likepan jin(coiling gold) embroidery, while contemporary cuts accentuate natural forms. Seasonal inspirations yield breakthroughs like the Ice-Snow Qipao. Jagged hems mimic glacial formations, while hidden snowflake cutouts along slits create "moving snowfall" illusions under light. This dialogue between environment and craft reflects Jia’s philosophy: "Technology is the bone, culture the soul, nature the muse." Nature’s Silent Language Heilongjiang’s wilderness breathes within every design. Wild tussah silk, harvested locally, provides the foundation. Artisans hand-paint patterns using roots, berries, and leaves—forest hues whispering through fabric. Peonies bloom across bodices, cranes soar on sleeves, each element distilling Northeast China’s…

Forget dusty relics and silent museums. Jian'ou (建瓯), cradled in North Fujian's lush mountains, isn't just a place on a map; it's the vibrant, living origin of "Fujian" itself. This ancient city, once the mighty prefectural seat of Jianzhou, pulses with over three millennia of uninterrupted history. Its streets whisper tales from the founding of Fujian's first commandery, its first prefecture, and its first superior prefecture. Known undisputedly as the "First Prefecture of the Eight Min Regions," Jian'ou offers more than monuments – it offers an immersion into the enduring spirit of a civilization. Here, history isn't confined to textbooks; it resonates in the rhythm of daily life, the texture of weathered stone, and the aroma drifting from centuries-old kitchens. Footsteps Echoing Through Millennia Walking Jian'ou’s core is stepping onto the stage where Fujian’s story began. The weight of history is tangible, worn smooth into the very flagstones. Imagine Buddhist monks meticulously carving scriptures onto steles during the Tang dynasty, or Song administrators drafting decrees that shaped a region. This ground witnessed the birth of institutions that governed vast territories long before Fuzhou or Xiamen rose to prominence. The city’s layout, still discernible, reflects its former administrative grandeur. It’s a…

For four consecutive years, Guangdong Light Industry Polytechnic University students have journeyed to Lianma Village in Conghua. Their mission: resurrecting Liuxi paper, a near-lost craft where bamboo transforms into delicate sheets. Villagers greet them warmly, noting how these young innovators consistently bring fresh energy to the ancient settlement. Since 2022, the "Treasure Hunt Lianma" student team has woven academic rigor with cultural reverence, creating a sustainable bridge between campus and community. Their evolving strategy—from technical restoration to creative reimagination—demonstrates how youthful vision can transform heritage into living, breathing contemporary practice. Roots in Collaboration A formal partnership between the university's Materials School and Lianma Village established continuity. This framework enabled 17 professors and 28 technicians to provide ongoing support, moving beyond sporadic visits to embedded cooperation. Students adopted a "holiday immersion + routine assistance" model, ensuring consistent presence rather than fleeting involvement. During recent discussions, Professor Xie Guowei emphasized this sustained engagement as fundamental to their progress, allowing deep understanding of both the craft's intricacies and the village's needs. Their collaboration birthed unique educational initiatives. "Red Culture+" experiential tours now guide visitors through local revolutionary history using digital platforms, while integrating Liuxi paper motifs into thematic learning about integrity. Lotus and…

On June 28, 2025, Shanghai’s Fangta Garden transformed into a portal through time. Over 110 hanfu enthusiasts gathered for Sohu Video’s "Li Yi Hua Xia" Hanfu Model Competition, their silk robes swirling amid 800-year-old pagodas and moon gates. This was no costume party—it was a deliberate revival of China’s sartorial legacy, where dynastic elegance met contemporary creative expression. Threads Through Time: The Stage is Set Fangta Garden’s Ming-era architecture provided the ultimate backdrop. Towering cypresses framed stone bridges, while the hexagonal Fangta Pagoda watched over contestants adjusting Song-dynasty beizi (褙子) jackets and Tang-style ruqun (襦裙) skirts. The garden’s moss-covered steles and lattice windows didn’t just complement the garments; they whispered stories of the artisans who once inspired them. As models prepared near the Nine-Dragon Wall, stylist Sheng Kaiyuan explained her Song tea-maid ensemble: "The linen changshan and pleated skirt mirror 12th-century practicality. This wine flask?" She lifted a celadon vessel. "A nod to Kaifeng’s tavern culture." Nearby, contestant Wei Shige tested the drape of her Tang daxiushan. "The gauze sleeves must float like poetry," she said, spinning until gold-embroidered phoenixes seemed to take flight. Weavers of Dreams: Crafting Identity Backstage, historical accuracy fused with personal narrative. Wei’s Tang outfit used…

Summer 2025 witnesses a cultural phenomenon reshaping China’s tourism landscape. From mist-shrouded villages in Anhui to canal-lined streets of Shaoxing (绍兴), international visitors are trading T-shirts for Tang dynasty robes. This sartorial shift transcends fashion—it’s a tactile dialogue with history. As Indian student Adnan explores Keqiao Ancient Town, his crimson-sleeved arms gesture toward stone bridges, embodying a silent conversation between eras. Beyond Instagram moments, this trend fuels local economies and rewrites cultural exchange. Threads of Curiosity Adnan’s journey began with a simple observation: flowing sleeves against smartphone screens. "At home, we see hanfu in documentaries," he shares while adjusting his linen sash. "Touching embroidered phoenixes makes legends tangible." His family’s Shaoxing base became a springboard to Keqiao’s silk vendors, where textures bridged his Indian heritage with Ming dynasty motifs. Near Huangshan’s Xixinan Village, Brazilian siblings Maria and Pedro discovered shared symbolism. "Our Carnaval feathers mirror these crane patterns," Pedro notes, tracing gold-threaded birds. Their guide contextualized each stitch: "Cloud collars symbolize heaven’s embrace," she explained, linking cosmology to craftsmanship. For German retiree Helga, the ritual itself resonated. Seated before a Qing-style dressing mirror, artisans transformed her silver braid into coiled palace hairstyles. "This combing ceremony," she reflects, "feels like ancestral…

In eastern China’s Anhui Province, ancient aesthetics are rewriting modern economic narratives. Tax data reveals a 7.4% surge in textile and apparel sales from January to May 2025, driven by the explosive popularity of mamianqun (horse-face skirts) and Hanfu attire. This resurgence isn’t mere nostalgia; it’s a cultural reawakening merging heritage craftsmanship with digital innovation, positioning Anhui at the forefront of China’s "guochao" (national trend) movement. Stitching Success The mamianqun, characterized by its pleated panels and symbolic motifs, has transcended historical reenactments to dominate mainstream fashion. Social media influencers and festivals like the Hefei Hanfu Carnival amplified its visibility, transforming local workshops into supply chain hubs. Artisans now blend traditional dyeing techniques with AI-assisted pattern design, cutting production costs by 30% while preserving authenticity. Anhui’s textile factories report 40% higher export orders for silk-blend fabrics, catering to Southeast Asian and European markets. Provincial tax incentives for heritage crafts further enabled small businesses to scale rapidly. As one Hefei designer noted, "Young consumers seek identity, not costumes—they’re investing in wearable history." Heritage Reimagined Beyond textiles, Anhui’s intangible cultural heritage fuels diverse industries. Ceramics infused with Longkiln techniques saw 8.5% revenue growth, while bamboo-woven handbags and lacquerware suitcases boosted box retail sales…

Summer's heat ignites Beijing's dining scene, but this year, traditional discounts take a backseat to cultural immersion. Restaurants report a 5% surge in both customers and revenue compared to last summer, driven by innovative blends of heritage, storytelling, and local flavors. From noodle workshops in bustling hutongs to panda-themed feasts and lakeside craft markets, eateries are transforming meals into multidimensional journeys. This shift responds to travelers craving authentic connections beyond taste, proving that Beijing’s culinary identity thrives when chefs become culture keepers. Noodle Literacy Takes Root At Fangzhuang 69 Noodle House, queues stretch longer as tourists master the art of eating Zhajiangmian (炸酱面). Servers demonstrate the "three-step ritual": coating noodles with oil, ladling rich soybean paste, and artfully arranging 12 vibrant seasonal toppings like shredded cucumber, radish, and young garlic. Patrons aren’t just eating; they’re decoding centuries of northern Chinese culinary tradition. Demand for cultural context is palpable. Over 40% of visitors now ask about noodle history and vegetable symbolism, prompting staff training in storytelling techniques. Waiters explain fermentation secrets of the savory brown sauce and the significance of seasonal toppings, even offering key phrases in multiple languages. This cultural appetite has tangible impacts. Monthly garlic consumption alone exceeds 15…

From the moment Qin Shi Huang declared himself the first emperor in 221 BCE to the abdication of Puyi in 1912, China had more than two millennia of imperial history. Yet strangely enough, it wasn't until much later that Chinese audiences began seeing emperors on their screens. Before the 1980s, non-realist genres were few and far between on Chinese television—let alone any depictions of emperors. When Emperors Finally Entered the Frame According to media scholars, the earliest TV portrayals of emperors date back to 1982. That year, Shanxi TV produced Anecdotes of the Tianbao Era (天宝轶事), Shanghai TV aired Prince Qin Li Shimin (秦王李世民), and Hebei TV released Consort Yi (懿贵妃). All of these shows predate Nurhaci (努尔哈赤), a better-known 1986 drama by China Central Television (CCTV), which is often mistakenly believed to be the first of its kind on the mainland. On-screen emperors in Chinese TV dramas generally fall into two categories: the "official history" type and the "unofficial tales" type. Nurhaci is an example of the former. Directed by Chen Jialin—later crowned "the first director of Chinese historical drama"—the show laid out a grand, epic style that would set the tone for later historical blockbusters like Tang Minghuang,…

Following the success of The Double (墨雨云间), Yu Zheng's heavily promoted The Feud (临江仙) has ignited the summer fantasy romance market. Riding on the momentum of Wonderland of Love, Huanyu TV seems to have found a new formula—recasting long dramas in the mold of short-form content. The strategy: emotional punch over plot depth, and a binge-friendly pace over traditional slow burn. An "immortal romance" centered on a so-called "marital war," The Feud drew both praise and backlash, yet undeniable buzz. Its iQiyi popularity index climbed past 9500, though whether it can break 10,000 remains to be seen. Written by Zhao Na and Ren Yanan, directed by Zhi Lei and Guo Hao, and starring Bai Lu, Zeng Shunxi, He Ruixian, and Chen Xinhai, the drama tells the twisted tale of Hua Ruyue (Bai Lu) and Bai Jiusi (Zeng Shunxi)—immortal sovereigns doomed to love, hate, and marry/divorce three times across realms. Promotion was intense. Within a day of airing, the show's index surpassed 9300, peaking at 9514 by day three. Yet buzz began to slow. Nonetheless, 1873 trending topics—152 on Weibo's Hot Search, 637 on the Hot Rising list, and 305 on the Entertainment list—kept attention strong. Yunhedata confirmed a 12% market…

Finally! The moment we've all been waiting for—the grand finale of The Feud aired! All the suspense and anticipation exploded in Episode 32. When Hua Ruyue travels back through parallel timelines, showing her mortal self everything Bai Jiusi has done... even though the past can't be undone, isn't making amends its own kind of perfect ending? That moment when they declared, "Never to be parted again, in heaven or on earth," melted away all those lingering "what ifs" for the audience! This xianxia series, built on "cross-temporal storytelling," shattered the usual BE (Bad Ending) vs. HE (Happy Ending) mold. The Feud pioneered its own PE (Perfect Ending) path. It's like finding a key to unlock emotional knots—not obsessing over philosophical questions of karma, or wrestling with clear-cut notions of right and wrong. It finds wholeness within regret, showing viewers that the courage to reconcile with yourself is the real power that transcends time and space. The finale's explosive buzz? That energy built up for weeks. Before launch, it smashed past 4 million advance viewers on just one platform. Once it aired, it broke records: "Highest premiere day heat ever on iQiyi (2025)," "Fastest to hit 100 million bullet comments," and…

As the dazzling lights of Chang'an illuminate screens worldwide in 2025's blockbuster In the Name of Blossom (锦绣芳华), Li Xian (李现) cements his reign as Chinese historical drama's most magnetic leading man. With his piercing gaze and effortless versatility, Li transforms from a peony-adorned Tang aristocrat to a supernatural detective and vengeful swordsman—each performance radiating intelligence and emotional intensity. Let's explore every era he has conquered. In the Name of Blossom 锦绣芳华 Aired: June 30, 2025–Present Period Background: High Tang Dynasty (circa 713-756 AD), capturing Chang'an's opulent zenith where diplomatic grandeur and luxury masked volcanic political unrest. Genres: Political conspiracy, feminist enterprise, war romance. Adapted From: Sequel to Yi Qianzhong's acclaimed novel Guo Se Fang Hua. The narrative ignites when County Princess Li Youzhen, consumed by envy and political malice, burns He Weifang's (Yang Zi) peony garden—a thriving symbol of female economic independence in Tang-era Chang'an. This act of sabotage forces Weifang, a gifted horticulturist, into an unlikely alliance with Jiang Changyang (Li Xian), the enigmatic "Flower Envoy." Publicly, Jiang embodies aristocratic decadence; privately, he orchestrates a dangerous plot to dismantle Prince Ning's treasonous rebellion against Emperor Xuanzong. Their partnership evolves from transactional necessity to profound loyalty against the backdrop…

Dragon Inn sits in the middle of a desolate desert, looking like just another pit stop for weary travelers. Its thatched roof and mud-brick walls blend into the dry, rocky landscape that stretches for miles. A few strings of chili peppers and bundles of husks hanging on the walls are the only splashes of color. Inside, the layout is bare but orderly: a few wooden tables, and a staircase that leads up to some narrow rooms on the second floor. The place is set somewhere on the northern frontier of China, remote and anonymous—meant to be a quiet, forgettable location. A Standoff Under One Roof But when it first appeared on screen in King Hu's (胡金铨) Dragon Inn (1967), a group of mysterious men were already walking toward its door. You just knew trouble was about to walk in. Like the saloons in Westerns or the empty suburban houses in horror films, the humble setting becomes the perfect arena for a showdown. The flimsy walls and paper windows won't keep anything out. If A Touch of Zen—the three-hour epic Hu made four years later—is considered his most imaginative work, then Dragon Inn is where his visual language becomes the most…

In today's fiercely competitive film and television landscape, only a rare few actors manage to level up across all fronts—critical acclaim, commercial value, and industry influence. Among the standout talents of the post-90s generation, Bai Lu has emerged as a model of multi-dimensional growth, propelled by the positive feedback loop between her on-screen performances and market response. As the summer 2025 season kicked off, Bai Lu's costume fantasy drama The Feud landed with impact. Not only did it shoot straight to the top of DeTavin's weekly rankings for historical dramas, but it also cemented her status as the only female lead on iQIYI's platform to headline two shows that surpassed the coveted 10,000 popularity index. What makes The Feud's success even more impressive is that it didn't rely on a big-name IP. Instead, it captured viewers with a tightly written original script and an unconventional, anti-cliché narrative. As the plot deepened, audience engagement soared—within just nine days of release, pop-up comment interactions exceeded 100 million, and the DeTavin buzz index peaked at 2.5, pushing the show past the 10,000 heat threshold. At the heart of this breakout was Bai Lu's portrayal of Li Qingyue (also known as Hua Ruyue). Her…

A playful wink, a gust of salt-kissed wind, and a single fresh blossom tucked into flowing dark hair – this seemingly simple moment, captured on the sun-drenched Fujian coast, has propelled Yu Shuxin (虞书欣) into the social media stratosphere. Far from the typical glamorous studio shoot, these candid behind-the-scenes glimpses from the set of her upcoming drama, Road To Success (灿如繁星), showcase a different kind of star power: effortless, authentic, and deeply connected to its breathtaking seaside setting. Yu Shuxin, shedding elaborate costumes for a breezy white dress, transforms the shoreline into her runway, proving that true radiance often blooms from unadorned simplicity and genuine joy. Her spontaneous interaction with the camera, particularly the now-iconic wink, resonates not just as celebrity charm, but as a pure expression of delight in the moment, instantly captivating audiences and setting the internet ablaze with anticipation for the drama itself. Seaside Style Ditching ostentatious luxury, Yu Shuxin’s coastal look for Road To Success is a masterclass in understated elegance. Her attire, a fluid white dress seemingly washed in the hues of the ocean itself, speaks of comfort and ease. The real magic, however, rests literally on her head: a single, delicate wildflower plucked from…

The runway pulsed with energy at Wuhan's Red T Fashion District on July 5th. Nearly one hundred young designers from universities across mainland China and Taiwan transformed fabric into dialogue, showcasing 38 finalist collections for the Fourth Golden Clothes Award. This event, part of the 19th Hubei-Wuhan Taiwan Week, became more than a competition—it evolved into a vibrant conversation about shared heritage and contemporary vision. Models moved beneath lights not just displaying garments, but carrying stories woven from ancient motifs and futuristic textiles, revealing how a new generation interprets identity through cloth and craft. Silk Roads Redrawn Layers of hand-dyed indigo flowed like mountain mist down the runway. One designer merged digital-printed Song Dynasty landscapes with biodegradable synthetics, creating gowns where past and future coexisted seamlessly. Another finalist reimagined Miao embroidery techniques using recycled thread, patterning jackets with geometric phoenixes traditionally stitched over months, now achieved with innovative speed without sacrificing artistry. The tactile richness of handwork met engineered fabrics unexpectedly. A collection from Taiwan featured modular clothing using magnetic Han-style closures, allowing wearers to reconfigure silhouettes instantly. This practical innovation honored traditional fastening methods while embracing adaptability for modern life. Judges noted how entrants sourced inspiration from regional textile…

In a workshop in Jiangxi, Wu Wanjing (吴婉菁) places a piece of ramie fabric embroidered with blue-and-white porcelain patterns onto a LABUBU doll. This moment captures more than a craftsperson at work; it embodies a deliberate conversation between millennium-old heritage and global pop culture. Xiabu embroidery, rooted in the unique texture of handwoven ramie cloth (often called "China Grass"), thrives not through rigid preservation, but through dynamic reinvention. Once adorning baby bonnets and household items carrying familial blessings, its distinct "transparent stitching" technique, mimicking the flow of ink wash paintings, now finds unexpected canvases. Museums safeguard its history, while designers and students actively reinterpret its language for contemporary eyes and wardrobes, proving this resilient textile art is far from frozen in time. Fabric with Character Ramie cloth possesses an inherent, irregular texture formed by its handwoven warp and weft threads. Each piece is genuinely unique, bearing subtle variations from the artisan's touch. This distinctive surface posed a significant creative challenge: traditional dense embroidery methods would completely obscure the cloth's natural beauty and tactile quality. Preservation demanded innovation. The solution emerged in the form of the "transparent void stitch," a technique specifically developed for Xiabu embroidery. This method allows silk threads…