Discover the Nomadic Life of Ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang
A mini-series about the nomadic life of ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang’s Altay region. It features stunning cinematography and breathtaking landscapes. Batay and Wenxiu’s heartwarming romance portrays life, love, and heartbreak.Note: The series has 8 episodes, and although the first 4 are slow, it becomes more interesting from episode 4 onwards. The male lead, Yu Shi, who plays Batay won my heart, he’s such a hottie✨
Was this review helpful to you?
Short but Impactful
To the Wonder follows Li Wenxiu as she returns to her hometown in the small city of Altay, on the border between China and Kazakhstan. There, she rediscovers life and figures out the dreams she truly wants to pursue.What makes To the Wonder truly stand out is its breathtaking cinematography and rich cultural portrayal. The way they capture the beauty of northern Xinjiang's countryside is absolutely amazing. Mountains, rivers, forests, and summer ranch all look so pleasant to the eyes. The series also beautifully incorporates Kazakh culture and traditions, especially the nomadic lifestyle. Set in 2001, it really captures that authentic traditional vibe.
Beyond the visuals, the story is quite solid. We follow each character's decisions about their lives from chasing love, fighting for their dreams, navigating the tension between human emotions and tradition, and ultimately choosing their own best path. It's sometimes heartbreaking but also heartwarming. All the actors deliver strong, and heartfelt performances.
Overall, To the Wonder is a beautiful 8-episode miniseries. It's short but impactful. The feelings it leaves behind linger in your heart long after it ends.
Was this review helpful to you?
Life at the foot of the Altai Mountains
It was a beautiful series. I watched it with pleasure and curiosity. It affected me. Because I am Turkish. I live in Türkiye. This series takes place in the foothills of the Altai Mountains, I think in the autonomous Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It's adapted from, or inspired by, the lifestyle of the Uyghur Turks. It depicts snippets from the life of a girl whose mother runs a shop in this rural area. This girl, Wen Xiu, wants to be a writer. She keeps a diary of her days there. She falls in love with Batay, a Kazakh Turk living in the region. That's the story told. The narrative is simple and straightforward. The rural landscape of the region is depicted with poster-like beauty; the cinematography was extraordinary. The lifestyle of the region is also portrayed; I found it similar to our own customs and traditions. We still have some of these customs. I think the families living there are Muslim and they celebrate Eid al-Adha. They go up to the highlands. They have horse races. They have fair-like celebrations. It's considered an old Turkish custom, but the tradition of a brother marrying his sister-in-law when his older brother dies is reflected here. Such customs no longer exist. There are no coercions, but they did until about 80 years ago. I don't know if anyone still practices it, but there's no obligation. The laws don't allow it. It's not a widely accepted practice.Besides depicting environmental factors and the lifestyle there, the scene shows a lonely woman needing a man and perceiving this need as love, resisting her daughter's objections and pointing out her flaws, but siding with her daughter when she's in a difficult situation. Also, the scene of a man forced to shoot his horse because it dragged and injured his beloved daughter was impactful. These were dramatic scenes. However, because they weren't explored in depth or sensationalized, they were handled simply and plainly. I think that was a good thing. Otherwise, the series wouldn't have ended in 8 episodes; it would have been much longer. I understood the aim to show the life and customs there from an outsider's perspective. And that was well done.
A thief, a scoundrel, was portrayed, perhaps even a traitor, because bad things happen there sometimes. It was a good example of how they exploit the good intentions of innocent people by deceiving them, and also their emotions. The actor was portrayed as repulsive because of this. I really saw the repulsiveness, but I didn't understand how a woman could be so desperate to love this man. That's the kind of role Jing Qing Mi played. She did the role well. She was very repulsive. The acting was also simple and understated. No one was overly dramatic; everyone acted comfortably. They didn't struggle with their acting. Ma Yi Li stood out in this simplicity. I liked her unpretentious but heartfelt performance. I think she was the best.
I recommend it to those who like this type of drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
amazing drama with a calm vibe
The first twenty minutes might feel a bit boring, but just be patientBa Tai's Kazakh dub wasn’t very smooth, felt a bit awkward
Overall though, it was absolutely amazing, genuinely great.
Their chemistry was insane —Ba Tai had a pure testosterone energy.
The locations and the overall vibe of the series were very simple, rural, and really comforting.
I didn’t like that final incident though; it made their relationship and chemistry feel a bit awkward and off. Still, overall, it was excellent.
One thing that was never explained though —
who actually dug those silkworm mushroom pits in the end?
Was this review helpful to you?
A masterpiece
It is absolutely a masterpiece. Extraordinary cast, photography, story. True poetry.... It was so long time that a drama didn't give me this vibe. Since from the first scene to the last, the watcher can live the life of the characters, Immersing in their world and want to know about their tradictions even more. To see.Was this review helpful to you?
Short and Sweet
Summary:Nominated for the 7th Cannes Series Festival in 2024, To the Wonder follows Li Wen Xiu, an aspiring writer who moves back to her mom's provision store after experiencing obstacles in the city. There, she meets Batay and experiences the beauty of the breathtaking landscapes of Xinjiang as she bonds with Kazakh nomads.
Pros:
The cinematography is one of the most compelling parts of the drama; it features lots of long shots to showcase the vast sceneries in Xinjiang in all kinds of seasons as well as the lifestyle, traditions, and culture of the ethnic people. Words alone cannot capture the drama’s essence, and it’s one of the works where every frame is worthy of being a wallpaper. In terms of story, it's definitely not the strongest in comparison with “typical” dramas, its unhurried pacing is fitting for its length and leaves a lasting emotional impact. Furthermore, all types of character dynamics and relationships were explored (my favourite was definitely the friendship between Wen Xiu, Tuo Ken, and Ku Lan), which invokes a powerful sense of warmth, community, and belonging.
Cons:
There is a minor plot hole: although Li Wen Xiu only moved away at 19 for a few months, when she came back it seemed as if she was unfamiliar with the place despite the fact that she supposedly grew up there. Fortunately, this doesn’t significantly impact your viewing experience.
Overall Thoughts:
I started watching To the Wonder after seeing edits made by @_moonlitframes on Tiktok, and it quickly drew me in. The drama feels deeply authentic and reflecting, making me appreciate both the setting and its people more. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a short, thoughtfully crafted drama!
Was this review helpful to you?
What Do You Think About Civilization and Modernisation?
Civilization has impacted the world, transforming even the time-honored traditions that once brought comfort to people. While we can commend those who are open-minded enough to adapt to change, we must also acknowledge the struggles of those who find it challenging to abandon the familiar ways of their past. For those who have clung to these traditions since childhood, is it fair to blame them for their reluctance to let go?It's been almost a year since I downloaded this drama. Came close to deleting it many times but I am glad I did not. I enjoyed every scene, every episode.
Was this review helpful to you?
Great slice of life let down by the end
Recently I've been into slice of life dramas that is usually about family and life in general, and this one is a great choice if you are even slightly interested in knowing more about a ethnic groups, how they live, and what are their values and habits.8 episodes of chinese Kazakh life... Really enjoyable except for the last episode maybe, I speak Turkish and I was trying to figure out what are they saying and ignore the subtitles but failed miserably.
That's how much I was invested in it ~~
Sadly I didn't finish it with the same feelings I started it.
I've nothing against the way the story was written, and all the actors were great, but I don't understand the need to show drama that is completely unrelated to the main theme of the show.
Which is why my rating dropped ~~
Characters and actors representing them were all spectacular, nothing worth being mentioned except that you will enjoy their performances very much.
Was this review helpful to you?
Best mini cdrama
The drama is very refreshing to watch, the ml's acting is really great, the chemistry, the slow burn, perfect.The ending is an open ending which is a bit sad, but definitly worth watching.
There are some scenes that carries a lot of emotions, his love confession, when he has to save her from her frightened horse. The overall landscape of Xinjiang is beautiful, a breathe of fresh air from all the cdrama filming in big cities like Beijing or Chongqing.
I also have to note that seeing minority ethnic groups in cdramas like Kazakh and Mongolian was really nice.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I'm curious about what was happening with the Muslim minority in non-Muslim countries.
I watched it as an Arab Muslim who wanted to know what was happening with the Muslim minority in non-Muslim countriesKazakhs and Mongols I have always known that their customs and traditions are similar to those of the Turkish tribes, their clothes are also similar to them, Kazakhs are known to be Muslims and even when the religion was not mentioned in the drama, it was clear that they are Muslims. I do not know about the traditions of the Kazakhs, so I have no authority to judge whether the director was able to portray them in a good or bad way, but I am a Muslim and I think that I have the right to criticize those things that contradict my religion.
first of all : Alcohol is Haram(forbidden) for Muslims
It is not (you CANNOT drink alcohol) but (you MUST NEVER drink alcohol)
It is not something that can be taken lightly in Islam, I admit that in our time there are many who drink alcohol despite their Islam (but they are considered deviants from the religion and their action does not make drinking alcohol permissible)
Everyone in the drama drank alcohol and danced together at the wedding
Which makes me remember the second thing: Intermingling.
It is wonderful to spread a cheerful culture about Kazakh traditions but mixing that image with alcohol while both men and women dance together? That is not something Muslims would do.
Finally and most critically was: Why did no one object to Tuoken's relationship with that non-muslim Mongol guy?
In the Mongol tent there was a statue of Buddha and paintings of the Buddhist religion, if Su Li Tan family was really Muslim how did they allow their dead son's children (the children were born Muslims) to be raised with a husband from another religion? It is okay for a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman (because the children will follow their father's religion) but for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man? This is HARAM.
actually I don't understand many parts.
Is it because the writer was interested in conveying the suffering of the Kazakhs without paying attention to the details related to Islam? Or is this really what happens to the Kazakhs? I hope to get my answer from a real Kazakh !!
Was this review helpful to you?
A window to the China the world does not much know about
I have just completed one episode and I could not resist expressing how lovely the show is. It is cinematic in its treatment, the cinematography, natural acting, stunning visuals...I am so looking forward to watching the remaining episodes.This is a China and people the world does not know much about beyond the news about unrest that trickles out to the world.
I had to pause at several places to start reading about Xinjiang, about Altay, about the Uyghur language and in just one episode the show is opening a window to China that outsiders like me barely know about.
I am hoping that as episodes pass by I can give higher scores to the story and overall to the show.
Was this review helpful to you?
Eu vejo você
❝Na cultura cazaque, a amizade ou o amor entre humanos florescem ao serem vistos. Então, "Eu gosto de você" em Cazaquistão, "Men seni zhaksy koremin", significa "Eu vejo você claramente.❞Uma obra prima! Em seus poucos episódios conseguiu transmitir leveza e profundidade. A fotografia parecendo que saiu direto do Studio Ghibli. Atuações excelentes, apenas com o olhar foi possível ver os sentimentos que queriam demostrar. Tudo muito bem dirigido e produzido. O desenvolvimento da história e a finalização sem defeitos. Terminei com gostinho de quero mais.
Was this review helpful to you?
