Lychees of Chang'an

Synopsis

Adapted from Ma Boyong's novel of the same name, during the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, a low-ranking official named Li Shande is tasked with transporting fresh lychees from Lingnan to Chang'an, embarking on a satirical and absurd adventure within the powerful and corrupt Tang officialdom.

Overview

The Lychee of Chang'an is a 2025 Chinese mainland historical costume drama comedy film, written and directed by Da Peng, starring Da Peng, Bai Ke, Zhuang Dafei, and Liu Junqian. The film is adapted from Ma Boyong's novel of the same name. It was released in mainland China on July 18, 2025, with a final box office of 691 million RMB and a Douban rating of 7.5.

Inspired by the line "A rider stirs red dust, the concubine smiles; None knows 'tis lychee fruit that comes for miles," the film uses ancient times to satirize the present, telling an absurd story of a small cog in the Tang Dynasty's bureaucratic machine.

Plot Summary

During the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, the middle-aged Li Shande (played by Da Peng) is a low-ranking ninth-grade official, obscure within the Chang'an bureaucracy. By a stroke of chance, he is assigned an impossible-seeming task—to transport fresh lychees from the distant Lingnan region to Chang'an. This mission not only tests his wit and perseverance but also drags him into a vortex of power and corruption.

In the process of completing the task, Li Shande grumbles and curses his way through a lot of work, pinches pennies and spends a considerable sum, yet in the end, he remains a nameless minor official. With a light and humorous tone, the film reveals the culture of bureaucratic buck-passing and workplace involution, using the past to comment on the present, prompting deep reflection.

Production Background

The film was directed by Cao Dun, with Gao Xiang as co-director. Compared to the previously aired TV series adaptation, the film version has a very high fidelity to the original novel, with a tighter narrative pace, perfectly integrating the light comedic style consistent with Da Peng's works. Numerous celebrity cameos and exquisite costume, prop, and set design elevate the film's audiovisual experience to a high standard.

As both director and lead actor, Da Peng skillfully combines the comedic style of his own works with the historical satire in Ma Boyong's novel, creating a work that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Box Office and Reception

The Lychee of Chang'an received favorable word-of-mouth during its pre-release screenings, opening with a Douban score of 7.7 from over 50,000 ratings. Its box office reached 274 million RMB within five days of release, with a final total of 691 million RMB.

Many audience reviews noted that the film is not merely a simple historical workplace comedy but a sharp blade piercing the glamorous facade of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Using the small lychee fruit, it reflects the complex relationships between power, corruption, and human nature. The film has been hailed as one of the best-looking films of 2025, following Ne Zha.

Cultural Significance

Through the character Li Shande, whose name carries profound meaning, the film portrays the struggles and perseverance of an ordinary individual within the system against the backdrop of the Tang Dynasty. The lychee here serves as a symbolic representation of power and status, and the process of transporting it becomes a microcosm of the entire bureaucratic ecosystem.

References

1. Douban Movie: The Lychee of Chang'an (7.5 points)
2. Wikipedia: The Lychee of Chang'an (film)
3. Baidu Baike: The Lychee of Chang'an
4. Sina Finance: Douban Opens with 7.7
5. 360 Entertainment: Box Office Breaks 100 Million