Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Ting, Legend of the Magnate follows Gu Pingyuan, portrayed by Chen, a talented scholar who is falsely accused and exiled to the frigid lands of Ningguta in northeastern China, only to rise to become one of the most successful businessmen of the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Actress Sun Qian, who plays Chang Yu'er, Gu's wife, said she often thinks about the role, even though it has been nearly two years since filming wrapped. She shared that one of her most memorable scenes is when Chang endures the pain of separation from her beloved Gu — an emotionally demanding moment that offered a valuable opportunity to hone her acting skills.
The drama was filmed over 150 days across Heilongjiang, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, as well as Shanghai and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. At its peak, the production involved a massive crew numbering in the thousands for its large-scale spectacle scenes.
