City takes starring role in online mystery series

For most Chinese tourists, the mere mention of Luoyang in Central China's Henan province immediately brings to mind thoughts of peonies or the famous Longmen Grottoes. However, the historic city, which dates back more than 5,000 years, has recently gained widespread attention for another reason－its starring role in a popular online series.

Starring actors Huang Xuan, Wang Yibo and actress Song Qian in the lead roles, Luoyang－a 39-episode historical mystery series currently running on the streaming site iQiyi－has racked up millions of clicks domestically, and is also drawing a wider viewership overseas, such as in Thailand, South Korea and Singapore.

Adapted from writer Ma Boyong's novel of the same title, the fictional story, set in ancient China, follows the mystery-solving exploits of an unlikely trio of "detectives"－a grassroots avenger struggling with his traumatic past; a rich, yet geeky, heir from a prestigious craftsman's family; and an ambitious female guard leader who's also a distant relative of the top ruler.

It starts with the murder of a whistleblower and his young daughter, which unleashes a chain of mysterious incidents. The trio－portrayed by Huang, Wang and Song－are forced to join forces to hunt down criminals and stop a horrible conspiracy that will threaten the security of the entire country.

The tale's overall aesthetic, from the ancient city's bustling streets to the outfits and accessories of the characters, is mostly inspired from that which prevailed at the cultural height of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Luoyang is considered by some critics to follow a similar formula to that of the 2019 smash hit, The Longest Day in Chang'an, also adapted from a popular Tang Dynasty-inspired novel penned by Ma.

As a prolific author, Ma is known for his talent in interweaving a profound knowledge of history with suspense stories filled with plot twists, such as The Game of Antiques and 15 Days From Nanjing to Beijing. Currently with around 20 movies and TV series－some still in preparation or production－adapted from his novels, Ma has become one of the most sought-after novelists in the entertainment industry.

Responding to curious fans about how he has maintained a stable output of quality work, Ma reveals that his solution to solving a shortage of inspiration is "to stop writing and get outside to play and have fun".

"I will go jogging, play video games, or merely wander the streets. Personally, I believe that inspiration is like a kitten. If you try to catch it, it flees. If you ignore it and do something else, it may return and rub against your leg," says Ma.

Speaking about his inspiration to create Luoyang, Ma says he has been interested in the historic city－which served as the capital for more than 10 ruling dynasties－for a long time.

"For all those who are yearning to dive into Chinese history, it's impossible to avoid researching this historic city. There was not a sudden moment that lured me to start writing, but a yearslong accumulation of love and passion for the city of Luoyang finally pushed me to put pen to paper," Ma says.

Despite describing himself as an enthusiastic eater of delicious foods, Ma says he's not a good cook. "I once jokingly told the scriptwriters that I might be unqualified to describe the cooking techniques precisely (due to lack of practice), so I hoped they could make an effort to show the details of the delicacies," recalls Ma.

Living up to his expectations, the series features mouthwatering culinary delights, from street snacks such as mutton soup, to aristocratic family feasts, including a long, exquisitely designed table with its own water-filled "canal "for moving floating dishes from one end to the other.

Cooperating with Ma for many years, Xu Kang, founder of the production company Liu Bai Entertainment, recalls that the project was originally shaped in 2017. They believed a historic city like Luoyang would cater to a Chinese audience who have "a strong national pride "and love to watch stories set in a prosperous historical era.

"There are always many legends and anecdotes scattered throughout the historical chapters of an ancient city. Ma has a talent to discover the 'gaps' (referring to ambiguous or unwritten parts) in the history, so his tale－probably better to be defined as a 'possible history tale'-has lured us to explore Luoyang's past more deeply," says Xu, also one of the series' chief producers.

Luoyang, the crew found during research into the city, has abundant water resources, with sections from the Huaihe, Yellow and Yangtze rivers flowing across the city, inspiring them to highlight this feature in the series.

Rivers can be seen in multiple settings, from the city's sprawling markets to a half-underground slum. In an effort to increase the visual appeal, the crew also designed a huge Buddha statue, comprising 2,400 crystal stones and able to rotate 360 degrees. They installed it as a pivotal artifact in a royal intelligence agency's headquarters.

Dai Ying, the other chief producer and senior vice-president of iQiyi, says the series is the first installment of iQiyi's "Chinese Historic Cities Universe", a franchise scheduled to create a series of stories in similar settings.

With such a franchise, Dai adds that they hope more viewers will enjoy the charm of China's traditional culture, raising their interest enough to learn more about the country's glorious history.

"So far, the series has been well-received both domestically and overseas. We believe the chivalry reflected by the lead characters is also one of the main attractions of the show, conveying a core value cherished by Chinese people and, therefore, resonating with the audience," says Dai.