The Lychee Road: a “Tang dynasty movie” well embraced by modern China

This summer’s “Lychee fever” has surged from offline to online. The TV series The Lychee Road premiered in early June, and shortly after its conclusion, the film version hit theaters. Despite the TV series taking the lead, the movie has garnered stronger acclaim, emerging as the best-performing Chinese film in the 2025 summer box office so far. Adapted from Ma Boyong’s novel of the same name, The Lychee Road draws inspiration from the late Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu’s verse, “At a horse raising red dust the imperial concubine smiled; No one knew it was for the litchi fruit it had brought.” The story imagines the arduous journey of transporting fresh litchis. It follows Li Shande, a minor Tang Dynasty official, who uses his mathematical ingenuity and unyielding determination to overcome extreme challenges in delivering fresh litchis from Lingnan to Chang’an. However, upon witnessing the wasteful toll on the people, he transforms from a numb bureaucrat into a defiant figure questioning authority. The depiction of the journey from Chang’an to Lingnan immerses the audience, evoking the perilous, life-or-death struggles across vast mountains and rivers. The planning and execution of the litchi transport routes are showcased through a dynamic montage of the “grid ledger,” featuring five dizzying routes that blend adrenaline-pumping tension with excitement, placing viewers in the heart of a race against time. Amid the gripping narrative, the film cleverly weaves in humorous moments, offering bursts of laughter to ease the mounting tension. The “impossible mission” of transporting fresh litchis across thousands of miles is only one of the film’s highlights. Li Shande’s experiences resonate deeply with urban workers. An honest, diligent man suddenly blessed with what seems like a life-changing opportunity, he soon discovers he’s merely a scapegoat in a rigged system. “Working overtime on a proposal only for someone else to take the credit—just like Li Shande,” many viewers see their own struggles reflected in this Tang Dynasty clerk. In the film, Li Shande completes his mission, survives, and even dares to confront his superiors, condemning a corrupt and decaying system. Yet in reality, how many Li Shandes can emerge unscathed from such David-and-Goliath battles? Director Da Peng hopes the film inspires audiences to recognize the strength of ordinary people: “I hope everyone facing challenges can give their all and find the courage to overturn the unfair.”