In addition to re-enacting ancient stories related to these techniques, the female protagonist also takes great care in exploring the unique stories behind each inheritor, making the program more emotionally engaging.
"I would like to use a line from Yu, who says: 'What audiences truly care about is people, and the connection between cultural relics and people to convey the core theme of the TV series.' I believe it will be a fresh experience for viewers to see how the stories of the craftsmen are intertwined with the creation of a cultural program," says Gao.
Among these stories is that of a dancer who reconstructs classical dances from relics like the Dunhuang murals, and who reconciles with a friend whom she had previously misunderstood.
Another story follows a renowned pastry chef who is dedicated to restoring the recipes of refreshments that were served on Suzhou ship voyages from centuries ago. She reunites with her estranged son after leaving him in the care of his grandparents for many years.
Another highlight of the online series is that each tale concludes with a short clip featuring an expert who introduces additional knowledge about the craft. As an example, Du Jianyi, a seasoned inheritor of the filigree inlay technique with around 50 years of experience, describes how the renowned Golden Wing Crown of Ming Emperor Wanli (1563-1620) was created using 518 golden wires as thin as 0.2 millimeters.
"I hope to showcase not only a simple display of intangible cultural heritage skills, but also the historical allusions, production techniques, cultural connotations, emotional colors and the culture itself behind each intangible cultural heritage," says Gao.