The 48-episode series Winter Begoniais about the yearslong friendship between a Peking Opera artist, played by Yin Zheng, and a businessman, played by Huang Xiaoming, during World War II.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Zhao's opera was the first stage show shot by the crew, who took around five months to film all the 48 episodes in several locations, covering over 20,000 square meters in Hengdian World Studios in central Zhejiang province. It's China's largest film and television production and shooting base.

During eight months of preparation, they invited Peking Opera stars, including prestigious artist Bi Guyun and rising star Yin Jun, to coach the cast members in the history, culture and performance skills of the two-century-old art form.

Shooting required around 200 Peking Opera costumes, each of which took about three months to make. The most luxurious is for the title role of The Drunken Concubine. The colorful dress is adorned with over 40 ribbons, and its sleeves are interwoven with seven-color silk threads.