A petty official in the Tang Dynasty is given the impossible task of delivering fresh lychee from Lingnan to Imperial Consort Yang's birthday banquet in Chang'an, a distance of over 2500 kilometers. He has three months to make the impossible possible. The penalty for failure is death for him and slavery for his family. (Source: Amazon) ~~ Adapted from the novel "The Litchi Road" (长安的荔枝) by Ma Bo Yong (马伯庸). Edit Translation
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- Native Title: 长安的荔枝
- Also Known As: Chang An Di Li Zhi , Chang An Lychee , Lychee in Chang'an , 長安的荔枝 , Chang An Di Li Zhi Ju Ban , 长安的荔枝剧版 , 長安的荔枝劇版
- Director: Cao Dun
- Genres: Historical, Drama
Where to Watch The Litchi Road
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Cast & Credits
- Lei Jia YinLi Shan De / Liang YuanMain Role
- Yue Yun PengZheng Ping An / Qi LangMain Role
- NashiAmita [Hu Merchant's Chamber of Commerce president]Support Role
- Vivienne TienYun Qing / Master Kong LangSupport Role
- Gong LeiZhao Xin / Xin Min [You Guang's chief scribe]Support Role
- Feng Jia YiHe You Guang [Inspector of Gaozhou, Lingnan]Support Role
Reviews

An old time tale, not very fairy like
the best cdrama i v seen in a looooong time.. if u r used to the silly romance and absurd plots, this is not for you, u will b disappointed. This show is more on the realistic genre, the type of tales with more morals and lessons than random adrenalin bursts.. nonetheless, it s still packed with events, if i dare say, way too many events. If u watch this show, dont rush it. Take your time to understand the background stories if each character, try to see the plot through each ones lense, u ll b entertained.Was this review helpful to you?

A kingdom for a concubine's smile.
Adapted from Ma Boyong's novel of the same name, The Litchi Road is a biting satire of a besotted old man's folly; an emperor who squanders a kingdom for a concubine's smile. Set during the twilight years of Xuanzong's reign, it is about Yang Guifei's well known love for lychees. To mark her birthday, he orders fresh lychees ferried 2,500 miles from Lingnan to Chang’an—a fool’s errand, as the delicate fruit spoils within days, dooming the 5,000 li journey.Enter Li Shande, a humble Shanglin Bureau official, gifted in mathematics, poetry, and botany but too scrupulous and apolitical to climb the ruthless Tang bureaucracy. He’s the perfect patsy, duped into the role of “Litchi Envoy” for this impossible mission. Written with dark humor and irony, Li’s stoic resolve—“I wish to live”—resonates with powerless commoners who rally to his cause, aiding his experiments in preservation and test runs. They are aided by merchants who see a profit opportunity in an ancient cold chain logistics network that transports this prized fruit inland to Chang'an and beyond. Yet bureaucratic hurdles and corrupt officials thwart them at every turn. The narrative sharply critiques imperial excess and elite callousness while quietly celebrating the “ants”—individually inconsequential people whose collective efforts achieve the unthinkable.
Zheng Ping’an’s parallel espionage arc, clearly not Ma Boyong’s creation, feels extraneous, though Yue Yunpeng’s comedic flair—obsequious groveling masking seething resentment—adds humor and depth to Li Shande and Xiu’er’s characters. His grudging aid, driven by his affection for Xiu’er, is touching, but a sharper writer might have made his plot arc more relevant and ended his and Gouér's journey in a more fitting way. Lei Jiayin shines as Li Shande, a relatable and at times frustrating anti-hero; a well-intentioned person who makes promises he can't keep and whose forbearance is ultimately exhausted by the iniquity around him.
Fans of Longest Day in Chang’an will spot familiar faces in new roles, with similar aesthetics and themes as this story unfolds over a dozen years later. The emperor, still smitten with Yang Guifei, balances power between the Left and Right Chancellors. The prose sparkles with wit, weaving classical phrases, puns, and Li Bai’s poetry for layered meaning. Lingnan’s sun-drenched palette and tropical costumes showcase the vastness and diversity of Great Tang. While Longest Day is a higher budget and more polished production, Litchi Road is a more fun watch. The sharp social commentary and heavy profound moments are balanced by levity and memorable hilarious scenes—like the uproarious, very 1990s cockfight (no animals harmed) that had me in stitches.
The ensemble, villains included, earns applause. He Youguang, the petty tyrant, and his scheming secretary Zhao Xinmin deliver comic gold, their fowl play both hilarious and menacing. The evolution of the ancient cold chain, aided by foreign merchants’ spice-transport methods, fascinates, while diverse characters add exotic richness. Amita’s strory ends abruptly, likely due to actor Nashi’s controversy, which taints the drama’s reception. However she landed the role or got where she is today, Nashi's acting is solid; far better than many popular leading actresses. Her look is so stunning and exotic it is hard to imagine anyone else pulling off Amita with that kind of boldness and flair.
The finale takes an odd turn, flirting with supernatural elements before winking at its own fictionality—an acceptable, if imperfect, close. The recurring “bad things happen to good people” theme feels realistic but heavy, with two gratuitous deaths and undeserved outcomes (good and bad) for many. Still, many bad guys fall, the good guys score a small but significant victory, and and fresh litchis are enjoyed by the story's true beauty in a poignant reunion. Despite a strong start, it misses a 9.0 but earns an enthusiastic 8.5/10.0.
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