Synopsis
A tea-house owner in Song Dynasty China journeys to the capital to confront her faithless fiance, and ends up building an empire with her two best friends. Stars Liu Yifei in her TV comeback. Douban 7.9.
Overview
A Dream of Splendor (Chinese: 梦华录) is a 2022 Chinese period drama directed by Yang Yang, starring Liu Yifei and Chen Xiao. This 40-episode series, adapted from Guan Hanqing's Yuan dynasty play, aired exclusively on Tencent Video beginning June 2, 2022.
The series opened at 8.3 on Douban, peaked at 8.8, and settled at 7.9 — making it the most talked-about Chinese costume drama of early 2022. It marked Liu Yifei's return to television after a 16-year absence.
Plot Summary
Zhao Pan'er (Liu Yifei) runs a tea house in the coastal town of Qiantang. When she learns that her fiance, the newly minted scholar Ouyang Xu (Xu Haiqiao), plans to marry a high official's daughter instead, she refuses to accept her fate and travels to the capital to confront him.
On the road she meets Gu Qianfan (Chen Xiao), an upright officer from the powerful Imperial Security Service. In the capital, Zhao Pan'er and her two best friends — the culinary genius Sun Sanniang (Liu Yan) and the pipa virtuoso Song Yinzhang (Lin Yun) — join forces to build a business empire, starting from a humble tea stall.
The three women navigate love, friendship, and ambition in the dazzling capital city of the Northern Song Dynasty. Through tea mastery and sheer determination, Zhao Pan'er earns the respect of the entire capital and finds genuine love with Gu Qianfan.
Cast
| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Liu Yifei | Zhao Pan'er | Tea house owner, intelligent and resilient |
| Chen Xiao | Gu Qianfan | Imperial Security officer, upright and devoted |
| Liu Yan | Sun Sanniang | Pan'er's friend, master cook |
| Lin Yun | Song Yinzhang | Talented pipa player |
| Xu Haiqiao | Ouyang Xu | The faithless scholar |
Cultural Significance
A Dream of Splendor recreates the splendor of the Northern Song capital Bianjing. The tea ceremonies, pipa performances, and cuisine depicted in the show were rigorously researched, offering viewers an immersive window into traditional Chinese culture.
Liu Yifei's return to television generated enormous attention. Her portrayal of the independent, resilient, yet tender Zhao Pan'er proved that she remains one of China's most compelling actresses.
References
- Douban: https://movie.douban.com/subject/35231822/
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/梦华录
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/梦华录/56059649
Stills & Gallery
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