TV series on life of inspiring teacher touches a chord

Zhang Guimei is a legend in China's education sector. Since the past 16 years, she has helped over 2,000 girls from poverty-stricken rural areas to pursue higher education and transform their lives by founding a free girls-only senior high school in Yunnan province.

On Friday, She and Her Girls, a 23-episode TV series based on Zhang's real-life stories, concluded its initial broadcast on China Central Television's CCTV-1 and will continue to be available on the streaming site Tencent Video.

Featuring actress Song Jia's compelling interpretation of Zhang, the drama has garnered 9.0 points out of 10 on the popular review platform Douban, marking the highest rating of all Chinese dramas on the platform this year.

The TV series was launched in June 2020, spanning three years for scriptwriting, filming, and postproduction, aiming to recreate Zhang's unwavering determination and dedication on screen.