This Thriving Land: A Period Drama Leading the National Binge-Watching Frenzy

Recently, the drama This Thriving Land has set off a nationwide binge-watching craze. Since its premiere on August 13th, the series has continued to attract attention with its solid content quality, boasting impressive ratings. Its peak viewership on CCTV reached 4.09%, setting the highest record for CCTV-8 in 2025. On iQiyi, its popularity surpassed 10,000 within 65 hours of release, peaking at 10,761, ranking second in the platform’s all-time charts. Both topic discussions and user reviews have soared, marking a strong dual breakout on both traditional TV and online platforms!

Post of This Thriving Land

The original novel of This Thriving Land, Tenderness and Determination (Qiǎnquǎn yǔ Juéjué), is the first installment in Zhao Defa’s "Peasant Trilogy" (Nóngmín Sānbùqǔ). It once won the 3rd People’s Literature Award (Rénmín Wénxué Jiǎng) and was shortlisted for the 5th Mao Dun Literature Award (Máo Dùn Wénxué Jiǎng)—China’s most prestigious literary prize. Set in the Qilu region (modern-day Shandong) from the 1920s to the 1940s, This Thriving Land centers on the fates of two generations from the Ning, Feng, and Fei families. It tells the story of love and growth between Ning Xiuxiu (played by Yang Mi) and Feng Dajiao (played by Ou Hao) amid turbulent times. Meanwhile, the drama depicts how villagers of Tianniu Temple Village worked tirelessly for their shared land, forging unbreakable neighborhood bonds over the years, and showcases the older generation of peasants’ reverence and attachment to the land. At the launch ceremony of This Thriving Land, Zhao Defa said affectionately, "The sea of Rizhao is part of my life. I hope audiences can feel the beauty of Rizhao where mountains and sea embrace through this drama." Rizhao, named for "the first light of sunrise shining here first," is one of the birthplaces of the "Longshan Culture" (Lóngshān Wénhuà) and one of the world’s five origins of sun culture. Research shows that the "Land of Ten Suns" (Shírì Guó) recorded in The Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shānhǎi Jīng) was located in the Rizhao area. During the Song Dynasty, Rizhao Town was established, giving the region its current name. In 1988, Rizhao was among the first cities named "China’s Modern Folk Painting Town" by the Ministry of Culture, ranking alongside Jinshan District of Shanghai and Huxian County of Shaanxi as China’s three major hometowns of peasant paintings. In June 1989, it was established as a prefecture-level city.

the sight of Rizhao