Twenty-Four Hours in Chang'an

Synopsis

"The Longest Day in Chang'an" is a 2019 costume suspense drama with a Douban rating of 8.1, directed by Cao Dun and starring Lei Jiayin and Yi Yangqianxi. Adapted from Ma Boyong's novel of the same name, it tells the story of how, on the eve of the Lantern Festival in the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an City falls into peril, and death row prisoner Zhang Xiaojing teams up with the young Li Bi to save the city within twelve hours. The series exquisitely recreates the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty, with costumes, makeup, and sets reaching cinematic standards.

Overview

The Longest Day in Chang'an is a historical suspense drama that premiered on Youku on June 27, 2019. Directed by Cao Dun, it is adapted from Ma Boyong's bestselling novel of the same name. Lei Jiayin stars as Zhang Xiaojing, and Jackson Yee stars as Li Bi, with powerful performances from supporting actors like Reyizha, Zhou Yiwei, and Han Tongsheng. The entire series consists of 48 episodes and holds a Douban rating of 8.1 (based on approximately 520,000 reviews), having initially reached a high of 8.7-8.8 upon its premiere. The drama is renowned for its meticulous production quality in recreating the urban landscape of Chang'an during the prosperous Tang Dynasty, hailed by audiences as a new benchmark for Chinese historical drama production.

The story is set on the eve of the Lantern Festival (Shangyuan Festival) in the third year of the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty. Turkic Wolf Guards have infiltrated Chang'an, plotting a large-scale attack during the Lantern Festival celebrations. Zhang Xiaojing, a death row prisoner in Chang'an, is tasked at a critical moment to collaborate with Li Bi, the Chief of the Jing'an Department, to identify the Wolf Guards and thwart the conspiracy within twelve shichen (24 hours). Although the entire narrative spans only a single day, through intricate storytelling and tense pacing, the events of this day unfold in a grand and captivating manner.

Plot

In the third year of Tianbao, the Tang Empire is at its zenith. As the Lantern Festival approaches, the 108 wards of Chang'an are adorned with lanterns and decorations, and the populace is jubilant. However, the Jing'an Department intercepts intelligence that Turkic Wolf Guards have already infiltrated Chang'an, intending to launch an attack during the Lantern Festival celebrations. Li Bi (played by Jackson Yee), the Chief of the Jing'an Department, is entrusted with the critical mission of solving the case within twelve shichen.

Knowing time is of the essence, Li Bi realizes he needs someone intimately familiar with Chang'an to assist. He selects Zhang Xiaojing (played by Lei Jiayin), a former "Buliang Commander" awaiting execution in the death row. Zhang Xiaojing is Chang'an's finest detective, knowing every street, alley, and market of the city, but he has been sentenced to death for violating the law. Li Bi offers him a pardon in exchange for his help in identifying the Wolf Guards within twelve shichen.

Zhang Xiaojing and Li Bi—one a seasoned warrior, the other a young official—gradually uncover that the conspiracy is far more complex than initially imagined as they pursue the Wolf Guards. Various factions within Chang'an—court dignitaries, underground gangs, foreign merchants—all become entangled. Zhang Xiaojing's investigation takes him through the city's streets and alleys, with each step fraught with peril.

Cast

Lei Jiayin's portrayal of Zhang Xiaojing is the soul of the series. He vividly brings to life this rough, unconstrained, loyal, righteous, and resourceful former Buliang Commander of Chang'an. Zhang Xiaojing is not a traditional hero; he has committed crimes and killed, but he harbors deep affection for the city of Chang'an and its people. Lei Jiayin, with his unique sense of humor and gravitas, endows Zhang Xiaojing with a distinct charm.

Jackson Yee's portrayal of Li Bi is another major highlight of the series. As an 18-year-old idol group member at the time, Jackson Yee delivered a surprisingly impressive performance. He perfectly captures Li Bi's precocious maturity, his concern for the world, and his slightly inexperienced demeanor.

Production Quality

The production quality of The Longest Day in Chang'an reaches an unprecedented height among domestic historical dramas. The production team built partial street scenes of Chang'an on a 1:1 scale. From the layout of the wards and markets to shop signs, from residents' clothing to street food, every detail strives to recreate the appearance of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. It is reported that the investment in costumes, makeup, and props for the entire series exceeded 100 million yuan.

The costumes in the drama were all designed and produced with reference to Tang Dynasty artifacts and historical documents. Officials of different ranks wear robes of corresponding colors, foreigners wear clothing with Central Asian styles, and soldiers wear standard Tang Dynasty armor. This extreme pursuit of historical detail makes viewers feel as if they have traveled back to Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty's golden age.

Cultural Impact

After its broadcast, The Longest Day in Chang'an sparked a wave of interest in Tang Dynasty culture. Sales of Ma Boyong's original novel surged, and audiences developed a strong interest in the urban layout, social life, and religious beliefs of Tang Dynasty Chang'an. The drama was also acquired by Netflix for overseas broadcast, making it another Chinese web drama to go international following Day and Night.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/26849758/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/长安十二时辰
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/长安十二时辰