The Age of Awakening

Synopsis

From the New Culture Movement of 1915 to the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921, pioneers Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao fight for truth and a new China. Stars Yu Hewei and Zhang Tong. Douban 9.3 — one of the highest-rated Chinese dramas ever made.

Overview

The Age of Awakening (Chinese: 觉醒年代) is a 2021 Chinese historical drama directed by Zhang Yongxin, starring Yu Hewei and Zhang Tong. This 43-episode series chronicles the intellectual ferment from the founding of New Youth magazine in 1915 through the May Fourth Movement to the establishment of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921.

Aired on CCTV beginning February 1, 2021, it holds a Douban rating of 9.3 — among the highest ever for a Chinese television drama. Yu Hewei's portrayal of Chen Duxiu broke through decades of textbook caricature to reveal a passionate, complex revolutionary thinker.

Plot Summary

In 1915, Chen Duxiu (Yu Hewei) launches Youth Magazine (later renamed New Youth) in Shanghai, raising the banners of democracy and science. Invited by Peking University chancellor Cai Yuanpei (Ma Shaohua) to serve as dean of the humanities, Chen meets Li Dazhao (Zhang Tong), beginning a partnership that will lay the foundations of Chinese communism.

Meanwhile, Hu Shi (Zhu Gangriyao) champions the vernacular language movement, eventually diverging from Chen's revolutionary path. On the PKU campus and in the offices of New Youth, a generation of young men is awakening — Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Zhongxia, and Chen's own sons Chen Yannian and Chen Qiaonian.

The May Fourth Movement erupts in 1919. In 1921, the Chinese Communist Party is founded in Shanghai. An old era ends. A new era awakens.

Cast

Behind the Scenes

Director Zhang Yongxin and screenwriter Long Pingping spent years developing the script, balancing historical accuracy with dramatic storytelling. Every set was rigorously researched — from Peking University's Red Building to Chen Duxiu's study, from student street protests to factory floors. Yu Hewei lost 10 kg to portray Chen Duxiu, capturing both his fierce intellectual independence and his deep patriotism.

Cultural Significance

The Age of Awakening became a cultural phenomenon, particularly among young viewers. Many said it was the first time they truly understood this chapter of history and the people who sacrificed everything for their country.

One scene — Chen Yannian and Chen Qiaonian smiling back at the camera as they leave for France — became the most shared and tear-inducing image on Chinese social media in 2021. Both brothers would later die for the revolution.

References

1. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/觉醒年代
2. Douban: https://movie.douban.com/subject/30228394/
3. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/觉醒年代