Chinese Empress

They filmed only partially Scarlet Heart in 2010 in the real Forbidden City and 1987 Bertolucci's movie, but nothing more.
In Hengdian they reproduced Imperial Palaced dynasty by dynasty so it's ok. Some dramas is filmed in open locations like forests, lakes and so on, but about historical sites it's a "never"

China does not bother too much about international audience, they want to promote it but they don't want to sell themselve at any costs. I don't like the west despite me being westener, but since i love Cdramas only since 2014 ( watched almost 5K cdramas at present), it's about the different perception and tastes. Western marketing is for leisure, stupid lighthearted things, and China does not bow to anyone.
Who likes Cdramas watch it in any case, celebrating when they lifte 40-ep limit because Cdrama fans love depth characters and well written plots. And more, western is very sinophobic so it's not a surprise.
I actually prefer this way, the less western the better and China is big to gain for itself

China films historical drama in Hengdian Studios, not in real historical sites in order to preserve them

international community is not good, they are not interested in this kind of drama because they think it does not apply to them

it's not a drama for everyone, but i really hope that a lot of westeners can watch it because it's a very important important even for present-day times

i'm crying a lot because i trusted Yin Zheng so much, he is one of my favorite serious actors even and he deliveded in this drama too ( he is the cinema director)

In my opinion it's still taking Chinese side very clearly but at the same time the drama is showing that not Japanese were evil but naively believed those mischievous words from Imperial Japan. For me, the drama is great in describing what happened in reality exploring each side of common people but without denying Japanese cruelty. I don't know if I am able to express what i think in a proper way. I can only suggest to watch it and the movie aired in 2025 too because they explore two different sides in two different ways.

As much as i like Japan, I agree with you. I said "brainwashed" because the idea of "Asian friendship" was only a bait, the real aim was clearly different and I can understand your point about hatred. Maybe you can give it a try later, very later.
What i meant is that the drama shows that a minor part of Japanese people really trusted the bait set up by the Japanese Imperial military government, so they meant no harm.
But of course, history has its way so we know that the majority was guided by other reasons far from being pure.
I agree with you about the needed apology too, even though i don't think it will ever happen. I stand 100000000% with China about this topic, but i admit that i like that the drama gives some space to more than facts and dives into introspection, given the topic I was surprised to see this side in a Cdrama.

Veteran actors like Yin Zheng ( the director in the drama), i think they are proud to show the world what really happened when people ignored it. Proud to show what militarist Japan still deny. Proud to show Chinese resilience.
In ordert to understand modern China, you need to understand the period in which the nation were at its lowest, starting from Century of Humiliation till 1949.
China is the only one in the world celebrating the victory over nazism and fascism,
The drama is very hard to watch, I agree, but there is something it shows: the staff get themselves informed through historical analysis and documents, and not only the drama shows it, but the drama shows that the majority of Japanese people were brainwashed and cruel, but some others among them were genuinely convinced of "Asian friendship".
I think you should give the drama a possibility

Do you mean the lighter for cigarettes?

probably but not sure about it. It should be set in the period in which Lanna was under Burmese rule ( sure about it because lots of Thais commented about the trailer)

try it, it's far way better

Legend of the Magnate and Vendetta of An, plus Inhuman Atrocities.

they are called JieJie drama in China

The one with Huang Jingyu e Xin Zhilei, I loved it a lot

Yes, I agree with you. Chinese suffered more than anyone because there were not only Japanese aggression but fall of the Empire, internal crisis with warlords, civil war and Western aggression ( the karma that some of the victims were even from the West). As much as i love Japan, China is on the side of justice in this matter and i really hope those kind of dramas can open more and more eyes to see how beautiful China is and how wonderful Chinese people are

i plan to watch it on Youku and then probably a rewatch with the fan translation. This topic is something i'm particularly interested in not only because i love China but because it's something i am trying to address in my work as an English teacher ( helping in critical thinking particularly)

don't worry. At this point probably they won't realease any schedule

The schedule for the drama is nowhere to be found but i'm glad for the subs

Agree 100% with you. It's a very important topic and i'm glad Youku decided to put English subs because my Chinese is not so good even though i understand the necessary