Tales of history turn into stories with a modern twist

With the help of Tao Tang, a suave and versatile antiquarian, Yu manages to invite a group of prestigious intangible cultural heritage inheritors, and creatively makes the program a hybrid of museum tours, modern heritage revival and mini-costume dramas which bring to life the historical figures behind these handicrafts or artistic practices.

By adopting a fresh perspective to display a total of 16 intangible cultural heritages inscribed on different-leveled lists, from UNESCO to national and provincial levels, the drama opened to a score of 7.6 out of 10 on the review aggregator Douban upon its release late last month.

Director Gao Han tells China Daily that he was excited to read the script for the first time and decided to use an "immersive" approach to make traditional cultures "come alive".

Interestingly, he has developed a method that easily captivates modern youngsters, which he describes as being inspired by how today's young people understand and learn traditional cultures in their own way.

The effort to make old items resonate with young people is evident from the first episode, which features Yu, a woman in her 20s, assigned to shoot footage of a veteran inheritor of the filigree inlay technique, a skill that dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC).

Reaching its pinnacle during the Ming Dynasty and favored by royal families, this handicraft involves weaving and twisting thin strips of gold or silver into beautiful patterns and decorating precious stones in metal frames for use in accessories or adornments.

However, Yu feels disappointed when she discovers that the inheritor, who has 37 years of experience, excessively interferes in the filming process, and only allows her cameramen to shoot regular procedures that have been featured in many similar shows.

Unwilling to record stereotypical footage that could result in her being fired, the quick-minded young director comes up with a fresh idea. She plays a palace lady, showcasing the makeup procedure using a hairpin made with the filigree inlay technique and a replica set of the combs used by Empress Dowager Cixi, the most powerful woman during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The video, which resembles that of a beauty blogger time-traveling back to China's last imperial dynasty, helps the program gain popularity among young viewers.