The other story of Jiangnan

To realize the goal, crew members traveled throughout almost the entire Jiangnan area, consulted historians and searched for the past of Jiangnan in ancient literature, using all the means available to understand its development.

"We were surprised to discover that amid today's push for integrated development in the Yangtze River Delta, the vibrant cultural pulse still exists, as do the historical imprints hidden in the past and those who remember and understand Jiangnan. Therefore, we wanted to try our best to capture every precious relic and memory and record them," says Xu.

Li Tiangang, a professor of philosophy at Fudan University in Shanghai, and an academic consultant for the production, says industriousness is at the core of Jiangnan's cultural spirit, which also includes rationality, tolerance, inclusiveness, diversity, and practicality.

"These qualities can be found throughout Chinese culture, but they are especially prominent in the societies of the Jiangnan region," Li says.

"The documentary makes clear that Jiangnan was not naturally a pleasant or habitable place. It was the hard work of its people that transformed it into a land of abundance and a global manufacturing hub."