This review may contain spoilers
A Giant in Acting and Cinematography for the genre
Acting wise, I think most actors here are picked for their acting skills rather than looks alone. Rarely seen a cast so complete with great actors. Yang Mi surprises me but I am happy she has a breakthrough. She looks more beautiful here than in all those Xianxia dramas she was in. Ou Hao is new to me. I almost can’t believe that such fine actor exists. Raw. Tan. Simpleton facial features but with a beautiful smile and dimples. Bulky yet not gym- like muscular. So real. As for cinematography, you have to watch it to love it. So authentic.Storyline. The drama didn’t hesitate to tell the story as how they imagine life to be like in the day. Not everyone ends up with a good ending. Even though it was unfair eg Susu’s case, that’s how we think would be the story for her. The only part I didn’t like was NiWei coming back as a Japanese traitor. Too typical and predictable. He should just be written off as a bandit and end up being rounded up since he kind of supported what his dad was doing. He was old enough to understand unlike this little brother who ended up growing into a good person. The older actors especially the mum in law is of another level. Her every movement, voice , accent, actions are so well done. She deserves an award. The father is a well known actor. So no surprises. But the father in law was a pleasant surprise . He started as a selfish greedy person but as the drama unfolds he is pretty endearing. His death was so emotional. I even look up the actor profile to check his past works. Small eyes with gigantic expressions. The farming story he told before dying is a classic.
It’s so scary to see how they lived so poorly. Yet it’s heartwarming at the same time to see them happy when the land is doing well. Things we take for granted like safe home, clean food and water, machines to help our chores were non existent. How the entire family agree or disagree over little things like buying a cow is priceless. Like their lifeline. Makes me want to visit and stay in one of these farms. They should use the set for eco tourism.
Overall super well done. Deserve many awards including one for Yang Mi. Such great acting overall.
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DRAMA OF THE YEAR - SO REAL
I believe this should be the top Drama of 2025........it was so real ...... tells and shows us about the country / farmers and how they lived being on the land back than, take my hat off to the producers and actors for showing us how they survived through famine / floods /wars and how the whole village supported each other ........ will re-watch again and again.To the main actors Xiuxiu & Dajiao brilliant performance from these two, they portrayed the characters so real I loved that Dajiao put on some weight for this drama he looks so good and also the other actors fantastic portrayal of the times give it 20/20.
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3This review may contain spoilers
Beyond the filters: a mesmerizing story of love, life and land.
Land is the most valuable possession a farmer can own. It increases the potential for food security, financial stability, and social influence. Some will kill for it. Some will die for it. Some will even sacrifice their own kin for it.Unfortunately, Ning Xiuxiu learns these harsh truths in the cruelest way imaginable in This Thriving Land. You see, she is the daughter of the wealthiest man in Ox Temple Village. Her father, Ning Xuexiang, owns 700 mu of land. She was born into privilege, never having to lose sleep over hunger, cold, or manual labor. But that all changes on the day of her wedding when she gets kidnapped by bandits. They have one demand for her father: 5,000 silver dollars in exchange for her life and well-being. Because Xiuxiu had been doted on her entire life, she wholeheartedly believes her father will come save her... until he doesn't. He loves her, but his greed makes him reluctant to sell his lands for the ransom money, not even to redeem her. When Xiuxiu finally escapes from the wrath of the bandits, she returns to the village with her reputation in ruins and the life she once knew gone. Hurt and betrayed, she makes the ultimate choice to marry a poor farmer, Feng Dajiao, to spite her father, vowing to cut him out of her life forever. Set during the Republican Era of China, this drama chronicles the lives of Ning Xiuxiu and her loved ones as they try to escape poverty and navigate times of great unrest.
I confess — I am usually hyper-fixated on the visuals whenever I watch a drama, often pausing every few minutes to screenshot beautifully composed scenes. But with This Thriving Land, I found myself ignoring those urges more often than I expected. Is it because the aesthetics are mediocre at best? Or is it because I was so immersed in the story that I no longer cared about saving picture-perfect screenshots? Maybe, it is a little of both. The production is not flashy, but that is intentional. The cinematography doesn't glorify poverty. In fact, it unapologetically puts a spotlight on what many other dramas are afraid to embrace: rundown homes, broken and mismatched furniture, trash on the street, etc. It also captures every detail of sun-kissed tans, deep wrinkles, and tattered clothes. I vividly recall a scene from episode one, when a child took a dump in the middle of the street, and to my surprise, the camera zoomed in on the piece of poop. The accurate portrayal of the devastation caused by poverty is ugly and heartbreaking, and that is precisely what makes this drama so impactful. When we strip away the filters and pretenses, we allow the story's true depth to shine through. It is a reminder that only by looking past fleeting beauty can we be rewarded with a priceless gem such as this story.
The true strength of This Thriving Land resides in its cast of characters and how deeply flawed each and every person is. We see this complexity starting with our two protagonists, Ning Xiuxiu and Feng Dajiao. Though easy to root for, Xiuxiu's pride repeatedly holds her back from receiving the help she truly needs. It was a trait that infuriated me when I was watching the drama, even though it was fully justified, given her circumstances. Similarly, while Dajiao is my absolute favorite character and seems nearly perfect, he also has his own issues: he is so kind that sometimes he lets others disrespect him. The drama makes even the unlikable figures, such as Xiuxiu's father, Ning Xuexiang, become sympathetic over time. He is often selfish, but his choices make perfect sense for a man whose identity is so closely tied to the land he owns. We see those same nuances reflected in many of the other supporting cast. Ning Kejin is an amazing brother, incredibly loyal, but he isn't always a great husband. Dajiao's father, Feng Er, is a prickly grump who has thorns for words, yet his actions are consistently steeped in love. The writers' dedication to creating such imperfect individuals and the actors' ability to breathe such life into them make them feel like people I might even know in real life.
The relationships are exceptionally compelling to me because they are relatable. I can't recall specific moments in the drama where the characters explicitly say the words "I love you" to each other, and yet, I have no doubt that they do because of their loyalty, sacrifices, and actions. This feels familiar to me, and others like me, who grew up in traditional Asian households where hearing "Have you eaten?" was the closest we got to receiving verbal affection from our old-school parents. Sometimes, love is what's tucked quietly between the lines that aren't said and hidden behind the gestures, big or small. We see this when Xiuxiu's mother weeps for her misfortunes, Dajiao's father bravely shields his family from bandits, Dajiao's mother butchers their only chicken to cook a meal for an ill Xiuxiu, the Ning siblings stand up for each other without hesitation when confronting their father, and Dajiao puts up a curtain as a divider between their bed to respect Xiuxiu's boundaries after her traumatic experience. Many of these characters are incredibly poor, but where they lack in material possessions and wealth, they make up in profound devotion. Although the drama unflinchingly depicts the cruelty humans are capable of committing due to desperation and greed, these unspoken acts of love and support give us hope that there are still good things worth fighting for even in the darkest of times.
In the end, I was fully mesmerized by This Thriving Land. It had a way of stabbing me where it hurt the most and twisting the knife to further the pain. But the angst made the victories feel so much sweeter to me. It might not have always been an easy watch, but there wasn't a single boring episode. It deserves all the praise it is receiving in China. In a way, it is a love letter to those who came before us, to thank them for the life we have. Some of the characters' attachment to land was often distorted and led them to poor choices, but their fixations were rooted in generational trauma. They saw firsthand the destruction brought on by poverty and life without land ownership. I might not have always agreed with how they guarded what belonged to them, but I understand the reasonings behind their obsessions now. The struggle to secure a better future for their descendants is what makes Feng Er's simple wisdom so hard-hitting: "If you take care of the land, the land will take care of you."
I highly recommend This Thriving Land to those who can appreciate an authentic and historical slice-of-life drama with its clever portrayal of family, resilience, and sacrifice.
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The enduring farming village
This is in many ways a richly-produced picture into life in a small farming village int he 1920s-1930s - filled with an varied assortment of characters not unlike a Dickensian novel. Brought to life by a wonderful cast, this drama was almost one of my favorites of the year until the halfway mark. The story then takes some unusual steps after that, introducing politics in a very preachy way with a lot of over-the-top dramatic moments as well in the individual storylines.Still, this is worth checking out if you want to explore this time period in a slightly different way (i.e. not your typical Republican era drama) and to see Yang Mi portray a very different kind of character. She and Ou Hao share great onscreen chemistry, and their story really does carry the entire drama, even with its faults.
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"Drama of the Year"
This drama is one of those rare dramas where every cast member gives their all in their performances. From the very first episode you can see that this drama was created with love and care. It has everything, emotion, love, heartbreak, familial relation, drama, classism, a bit of suspense, thrill..... it has got everything in a nice proportion where it won't be overwhelming for you.It has got good performances by all the actors, cinematography is amazing with those beautiful shots and the screenplay with the OST is just brilliant. Till episode 20 this is the drama of the year for me
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A powerful drama highlighting social issues
Real talk when I first heard about this show I wasn’t exactly hyped. I’m a big Yang Mi fan so just seeing her vibe with Ou Hao was enough to get me to tune in. I wasn’t expecting some deep character arcs or stuff that hardcore drama nerds geek out over. I just wanted a chill realistic vibe set in that time period ya know? My expectations were lowkey but man I was shook once I started watching. Some scenes dragged a bit so I skipped ‘em but it didn’t mess with the story since the dialogue wasn’t make-or-break.Yo I was all in for how they showed the two sisters Xiu Xiu and Su Su. Hit me right in the feels ‘cause I got some tension with one of my own sisters. Also like I dropped in a comment somewhere the show dives into social and legal stuff which was super moving and hit home hard.
Little by little I got hooked ‘cause the depth felt so real. Haven’t read the novel so no clue how it stacks up but cinematography script and character designs? Straight-up felt like real life
Totally recommend it if you’re down for a heavy emotional drama with family vibes and a touch of romance. This show was my summer buddy in August :)
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I take my hat off. Ten out of ten feels far too little. Brilliant.
Watching *This Thriving Land* feels like stepping out of a warm shower and plunging into the deep, cold waters of a lake.So often we are immersed in the polished, ornamental worlds of most C- or K-dramas. Here, however, we are struck by the raw and unadorned presence of characters—beautiful in the plain fullness of life in an agricultural land of the 1920s and 1930s.
The story begins in 1986 with Madam Xiu Xiu, recalling a past that started in the fifteenth year of the Chinese Republic (1926). On what should have been the happiest day of her life—her marriage to her childhood sweetheart, Fei WenDian—Xiu Xiu, daughter of a wealthy farmer and landowner, is kidnapped by bandits. Her father, Ning Xue Xiang, unwilling to ransom her at the cost of his fields, offers his younger daughter in marriage to Fei WenDian, hoping to buy time.
Deceived by his sister-in-law, another wealthy landowner, and misled by his bride’s father who withholds the truth, Fei WenDian ends up marrying Su Su, for whom he has no affection.
On the verge of disgrace, Xiu Xiu is rescued by DaJiao, a childhood friend who, unknown to her, has long harbored a quiet love. Shattered by her father’s betrayal and abandoned by relatives and her former fiancé’s family, Xiu Xiu consents to a hastily arranged marriage with DaJiao. She cuts all ties with her family and vows never to forgive her father’s lack of love.
So begins her saga of life in the countryside. Coming from wealth, she now faces poverty, hardship, and the harshness of tenant farming. Yet in this unforgiving world of hunger and toil, she also discovers the strength of friendship, the gentleness of a companion, and the profound love for the land itself.
Some viewers may find the story slow at times. But the richness of detail, the careful construction of the characters, and the depth of their intertwined lives deserved to be told fully. To shorten it would have been to diminish its power.
Across more than fifty years of reminiscences, Xiu Xiu carries us through China’s cultural and political transformation—from the Republican era to a Communist society.
Through economic crises, the Japanese invasion, cultural clashes, generational conflicts, personal sacrifices, hunger, grief, and natural disasters, the drama reveals countless changes. Minds shift, forgiveness takes root, lives are born and lost, and the cycle continues.
Among the countless Chinese dramas produced every year, *This Thriving Land* stands out. For me, it is a strong contender for the 2025 awards, meeting every requirement with ease.
A cohesive script, strong direction, brilliant performances, magnificent cinematography, and flawless makeup. The entire cast was excellent, but my special admiration goes to the senior actors—Ni Da Hong as Ning Xue Xiang, Xiu Xiu’s father, and Lin Yong Jian as Feng Er, DaJiao’s father—both of whom were extraordinary.
This is a drama filled with emotion, with a powerful beginning, a compelling middle, and a transformative ending. It moved me deeply at every step.
I discovered it almost by chance, while reading about another show, and learned that *This Thriving Land* was the most-watched drama in China. I found it fascinating that some stories can be so beloved at home and yet remain almost unpublicized abroad. Perhaps some works are so intimately woven into the fabric of a people that they are kept close, like a treasure of the heart.
Still, the world deserves to see this other side of China.
I must admit, my own perspective changed. I carry a new kind of affection after watching it.
It is not a casual drama, nor is it for everyone. But it is necessary for life. It gives new meaning to everything.
I take my hat off. Ten out of ten feels far too little. Brilliant.
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To make matters worse, during the Japanese invasion, the farmers faced a double whammy: the threat of an influx of famine refugees and the confiscation of their crops by the Japanese army.
The primary target audience of this drama is the domestic Chinese market, as it reflects a turbulent period in China's history. During that time, landlords owned most of the land, and tenants gradually began to rebel. If I am not mistaken, in today's era, the super-rich still hold the majority of the wealth, while Chinese office and factory workers are often required to work six days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., under the 996 work system.
The performances of all the actors and actresses were outstanding, and the storyline captivated the audience.
I binge-watched this drama.
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Watch it!!!!!
This show is a 10 out of 10 across the board. If You are unsure about watching, WATCH IT! No show has made me feel this way since Empresses in the Palace/Lengend of Zhen Huan. Let me be clear, this show is not a palace show, but the realness and authenticity to pull you in and transport you, is what I mean. Tears fell from my eyes multiple times throughout the show. At the moment, all I can say is watch it. I feel like going back to watch it again.Was this review helpful to you?
1More Than Entertainment, It’s Life Itself
This Thriving Land is a rare gem that carries its audience back to the roots of agrarian life. From the very first episode, it felt incredibly authentic, painting not only a story of individuals but of an entire community bound together by the soil that sustains them. This is not a show built for quick thrills; it is a reflective and mature piece of storytelling.What I loved most is that every character felt significant. It wasn’t a drama where two leads dominate while everyone else fades into the background. Instead, each villager was given depth, their own voice, their own triumphs and tragedies. Together, their stories created a rich, interwoven narrative of resilience, struggle, and collective hope. Watching their lives unfold, their joys, sorrows, hardships, and bonds, was like living alongside them, deeply anchored to the land that was both their burden and their salvation.
The performances were uniformly excellent, capturing the heart of the village with their honesty and emotional nuance. The entire ensemble of villagers felt alive, each actor breathing truth into their role, making the village feel less like a backdrop and more like a living character of its own.
The drama captures the four seasons of the countryside with poetic beauty—the planting of seeds, the golden harvest, the snow-covered fields—each image grounding the story in a vivid, sensory reality. The production team deserves credit for balancing visual artistry with narrative honesty, allowing viewers to be transported into the rhythm of rural life.
More than just a drama, This Thriving Land is an ode to endurance, community, and the human spirit’s connection to the earth. It reminds us of where we come from and why our roots matter. It is slow yet steady, tender yet powerful, and above all, profoundly human.
This is a story that matures with its audience. It is not a glossy romance or an escapist fantasy; it is a deeply emotional journey that asks you to listen, feel, and remember. In the end, watching it felt like living an entire lifetime, sharing laughter, sorrow, love, and loss, until the very last breath.
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This is a drama worthy of being part of our list of healthy and culturally enriching entertainment.
The Chinese drama "Sheng Wan Wu" (or This Thriving Land) was released for release in August 2025. Initially, based on the isolated comments from international viewers, the drama's production may appear to be a career test for actress Yang Mi. However, in my opinion, this actress has long since achieved solid artistic legitimacy through a series of well-executed works.Yang Mi's performance stood out in this drama because her work in this storyline is matched by the strong writing, the engaging plot, and the surprising twists and turns of the drama.
The drama very coherently portrays the story of a woman in a period of social upheaval, and the actress's ability to portray complex and inspiring characters made this aspect of the drama quite evident.
The quality of the lead actress's acting and the drama's storyline improved as the narrative progressed. The new episodes were delivered with a sharp, engaging script, full of surprising twists and turns.
These details made the drama impossible to put down before the episodes ended.
In my opinion, this drama also stood out for its transparent portrayal of women during a challenging historical period in China.
The approach to social themes and struggle makes the drama stand out among the various Chinese entertainment options currently available.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, Chinese entertainment producers seem to be overdoing it by delivering dramas laden with formulaic romance clichés that make the series uninteresting due to the predictability of the plot.
In summary, I recommend watching the drama "Sheng Wan Wu" because it is an interesting production, with a brilliant performance by actress Yang Mi and full of unpredictable twists that make it a remarkable drama worthy of being part of our list of healthy and culturally enriching entertainment.
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It's not for the weak hearted
One thing about this drama, it keeps the emotions so genuine. The characters stay consistent, nothing feels overproduced or fake. Aside from DaJiao, everyone could honestly be people we run into in daily life, maybe even little reflections of people we already know. He’s the only one who feels like a “dreamy male lead,” the kind you can tell was written by a woman. And honestly, that contrast is what keeps you hooked, reality everywhere, and then him.He’s not the typical conventionally handsome type, at least not by Asian beauty standards. But the more you see his actions, his way of treating people, his quiet strength, you just can’t help but fall for him. His kindness and maturity almost feel overwhelming at times, like he’s too good to be true.
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