The Litchi Road — An Ancient Costume Comedy Directed by Da Peng, Adapted from Ma Boyong's Novel
Synopsis
"Litchi of Chang'an" is adapted from Ma Boyong's novel of the same name, directed by and starring Da Peng. It tells the story of a minor official during the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty who is forced to complete a deadly mission to transport fresh lychees from Lingnan to Chang'an. Douban rating: 7.5, box office: 691 million RMB.
Overview
The Litchi Road is a 2025 Chinese historical comedy-drama film directed and written by Da Peng (Dong Chengpeng), adapted from Ma Boyong's novel of the same name. The film tells the story of Li Shande, a middle-aged minor official during the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, who is tricked by his colleagues into taking on the seemingly impossible task of transporting fresh lychees from Lingnan to Chang'an. The film has a Douban rating of 7.5, a cumulative box office of 691 million yuan, and was selected for Douban's 2025 list of highest-rated Chinese-language films.
Plot
Set during the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, as Consort He's birthday approaches, the imperial court orders fresh lychees to be transported from Lingnan to Chang'an. Minor official Li Shande (played by Da Peng) is deceived by his colleagues into accepting this death mission—lychees spoil easily, and the journey from Lingnan to Chang'an is long, making it nearly impossible. To survive, Li Shande embarks on an adventurous journey to Lingnan to solve the problems of preserving and transporting lychees. The first half of the film depicts his efforts to find preservation methods in Lingnan, filled with comedic elements, lighthearted humor, and a touch of everyday life.
Creative Team and Cast
| Role | Person | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Director/Screenwriter | Da Peng (Dong Chengpeng) | Director, Screenwriter, Lead Actor |
| Screenwriter | Shen Yuyue, Dai Siao | Co-screenwriters |
| Li Shande | Da Peng | Lead Actor |
| Su Liang | Bai Ke | Lead Actor |
| A Tong | Zhuang Dafei | Lead Actor |
| Lin Yinu | Liu Junqian | Lead Actor |
| Yang Guozhong | Andy Lau | Special Appearance |
| Zheng Yuting | Yang Mi | Supporting Role |
| Others | Chang Yuan | Co-starring |
Box Office and Reception
| Indicator | Data |
|---|---|
| Douban Rating | 7.5 |
| Cumulative Box Office | 691 million yuan |
| Opening Day Box Office | 35.606 million yuan |
| Opening Week Box Office | 182 million yuan |
| Revenue Share Box Office | 615 million yuan |
The film performed impressively during the 2025 summer season and was selected for Douban's 2025 list of highest-rated Chinese-language films. Most critics believe the film retains the tense pacing of the original novel while adding humorous and witty segments, with director Da Peng showing significant improvement.
Cultural Significance and Adaptation Features
The film portrays the absurdities and helplessness of Tang Dynasty officialdom from the perspective of a small character, while also showcasing the wisdom and creativity of ancient Chinese people. Ma Boyong's original novel uses history as a backdrop, skillfully blending real historical figures with fictional storylines to highlight the unique charm of Chinese history and culture. The film adaptation stays true to the original while adding more comedic elements, allowing audiences to laugh while feeling the struggles and resilience of historical minor figures.
References
- Douban Movie: The Litchi Road (Da Peng version) https://m.douban.com/movie/subject/36185502/
- Wikipedia: The Litchi Road (film) https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/长安的荔枝_(电影)
- Baidu Baike: The Litchi Road https://baike.baidu.com/item/长安的荔枝/62443860
- Tencent News: The Litchi Road 690 million yuan—Did Da Peng lose? https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20250917A05F2100
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