Hit drama revives spirit of '80s China

As a result, they were among the first to prosper in the 1980s. It was these individuals who contributed their personal savings to literally raise a city from the tidal flats, Sun added.

On why the drama adopts a comedic style, Sun said the team hoped modern audiences would feel the vibrant, uplifting spirit of that era and that the drama would give viewers today emotional resonance.

Huang Xiaoming, who plays the town's Party chief, Zheng Decheng, said that authentically portraying a town's Party chief who is navigating monumental social change requires more than external resemblance: "What's essential is spiritual resonance."

"After reading the script, one line summed it up for me: 'Zheng is the kind of person for whom serving the people is an instinct.' For him, it's never an empty slogan," he shared.

Huang added that he once believed playing a hero required a polished, glamorous image, but through this series, he has learned that the most moving strength often lies in the choices and perseverance of ordinary people.