Following the success of its first installment, Where Peach Blossoms Bloom, a micro-drama franchise set in the Xizang autonomous region, is being translated into six languages ahead of its planned release in multiple countries and regions in December.
The micro-drama follows a botanist who returns to Taohua village in Nyingchi, Xizang, with an ambitious plan to cultivate lingzhi, also known as the Reishi mushroom. His plans run into trouble when his childhood friend accidentally cooks the precious lingzhi seed stock in chicken soup. As the two move from conflict to cooperation, they gradually come to understand each other while seeking alternative seed sources.
The series also follows a food blogger trying to reconcile with her long-estranged father and an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage working to preserve traditional practices. These storylines converge at the village's peach blossom festival, highlighting the potential for ecological conservation and economic development to go hand in hand.
The franchise's first installment was streamed on 10 online platforms and 15 provincial satellite television channels. It was also broadcast in seven languages in more than 10 countries and regions. Since the second installment's release earlier this year, the franchise has accumulated more than 600 million online clicks and been watched over 500 million times on television, according to figures provided.
Kan Ping, a professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University, said the micro-drama moves beyond stereotypical narratives to portray its characters in a vivid, engaging way. Their experiences and emotions, ranging from friendship to family affection, help audiences connect with their stories, Kan said.
Lyu Fan, an associate researcher at Peking University, said the franchise demonstrates the value of live-action production in ways that artificial intelligence-generated imagery cannot fully replace. The drama features striking natural scenery, including snow-covered mountains and peach blossom forests, bringing the region's landscapes to the screen.
Lyu also said the series could show how audiovisual productions can help promote local tourism in Nyingchi. By combining human stories with the area's distinctive natural environment and cultural traditions, the franchise offers viewers a glimpse of life in Xizang while potentially drawing greater attention to the region as a travel destination, he added.
