On September 27, the creation symposium for the TV series "Blooming in the Mountains" was held in Beijing, co-hosted by the Department of Television Drama of the National Radio and Television Administration, the China Television Artists Association, the Publicity Department of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Yunnan Provincial Radio and Television Bureau, and the School of Arts and Communication at Beijing Normal University. Zhu Yonglei, a member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the National Radio and Television Administration, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.
The meeting noted that "Blooming in the Mountains," as part of the Ministry of Publicity and the National Radio and Television Administration's "Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of New China" special broadcasting project, has important experimental value in terms of creative themes, directions, and methods. The symposium serves as a vital practice to deepen the learning and implementation of the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and Xi Jinping's cultural thoughts, to further enhance the creation of high-quality dramas, and to promote the high-quality development of broadcasting and network audiovisual content.
The meeting emphasized that the successful broadcast of "Blooming in the Mountains" provides essential insights for the creation of dramas focusing on role models: First, listen to the voice of the times and be adept at finding creative themes from the great practices of contemporary China. It is the duty and mission of creators to develop artistic ideas around the historical achievements and significant changes that have taken place in the era of education. Television artists should strive to document the era, sing for it, and continue to create outstanding works that encapsulate the spirit of the times and highlight its values, allowing positive energy to be silently conveyed to a broad audience. Second, conduct in-depth research and fieldwork to lay a solid foundation for creation. The success of "Blooming in the Mountains" lies primarily in the authentic portrayal of its prototype characters, integrating characters, stories, and settings seamlessly. The creative team spent three years conducting research and fieldwork in Huaping County, retracing the visitation route of teacher Zhang Guimei, continuously enriching their life and artistic experiences, which laid a robust foundation for the creation. The creators must delve deeply into life, go to the grassroots level, immerse themselves in vast realities and fiery practices to understand the essence of life, allowing their works to resonate with rich stories, abundant emotions, and ample details. Third, respect artistic principles and enhance artistic standards, prioritizing the craft of outstanding works. Television artists need to further promote the spirit of perseverance, sincerity, and innovation, fully respect and adhere to the principles of artistic creation, and enhance the spiritual energy, cultural connotation, and artistic value of their works through hard work in writing, directing, performance, design, and scene layout, striving to create masterpieces of the new era.
Officials from the Central Publicity Department’s Literature and Art Bureau, the Teacher Work Department of the Ministry of Education, the National Women’s Federation’s Publicity Department, the Television Drama Department of the National Radio and Television Administration, the Planning Institute, the central broadcaster’s film and documentary center, and representatives from the Yunnan Provincial Publicity Department, Yunnan Provincial Broadcasting and Television Bureau, Yunnan Broadcasting Media Group, Huaping County in Yunnan, along with experts, scholars, and representatives from the creative team and production organizations attended the conference.
Han Jinhong, Deputy Director of the Teacher Work Department of the Ministry of Education stated that the series elegantly conveys profound truths through small stories and vividly reflects the spirit of educators, showcasing the powerful results of education and serving as a successful case in the creation of educational-themed dramas, provoking deep reflections on educational issues across various sectors of society and achieving commendable viewership ratings and reputation.
Ma Zhigang, Executive Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party pointed out that Yunnan, as a culturally rich province, serves as an endless source of material for film and television creation. The Provincial Committee of Yunnan attaches great importance to the creation and broadcasting of this series, believing that discussing its creative experience is significantly important for telling Chinese and Yunnan stories through imagery. In the future, the Yunnan Provincial Publicity Department will continue to promote the complete chain of film and television creation in Yunnan and will sincerely invite artists to come to Yunnan to provide insights and suggestions for the development of Yunnan's artistic endeavors.
Sheng Gaoju, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Yunnan Provincial Radio and Television Bureau stated that this series is one of the most representative dramas from Yunnan in recent years. The reasons behind its wide acclaim include four points: a significant topic that reflects the current era, a creative attitude rooted in the people and life, an artistic sentiment that sincerely serves the people, and the unified strength among various parties working towards common goals.
Fei Liping, Director of the Education and Culture Department of the National Women’s Federation stated that, as a guiding unit, the National Women’s Federation places great importance on this production, believing that the series focuses on reality and praises the times, weaving lofty themes into a tangible narrative, ultimately presenting a masterpiece that showcases the strength of role models, accurately reflects the local reality, and creates vivid female characters with depth.
Yuan Min, Director of the Broadcasting and Television Planning Institute of the National Radio and Television Administration gave a multi-dimensional overview of the viewership of the series, stating that the show achieved a substantial audience share on television, with outstanding results in accumulated viewership, total viewing duration, and competitive performance, also garnering high attention and discussion levels, ranking first among contemporaneous dramas in multiple metrics. Furthermore, its viewership data in various provinces is notable, particularly in the areas where the prototype is based, confirming that high quality is the lifeblood of artistic creation.
Ma Jun, Deputy Director (Acting) and Senior Editor of the TV Drama Project Department at the Central Radio and Television Station discussed the reception of the series, noting that since its airing, it has seen a rise in popularity and acclaim, receiving widespread recognition from mainstream media and achieving high online engagement. The series showcases the noble qualities of Principal Zhang Guimei's selfless dedication, deep reflections on the fates of rural women, and a fierce struggle, conveying positive energy regarding education's transformative power and its role in breaking the cycle of poverty. Moreover, the dramatization of Principal Zhang’s story not only authentically reflects the status of rural education but also stimulates audience thoughts on educational equity and the core socialist values.
Wang Juan, Vice President of Tencent Video expressed that since its premiere, the series has seen a surge in online popularity, topping several charts, with a high score of 9.6 on Tencent’s platform and leading multiple ratings among domestic dramas in 2024. Tencent Video was moved by the story's concept from the project's development phase, determined to portray familiar people and stories in innovative ways. Support was provided extensively, from casting choices to scene setup and promotional efforts, adhering to the creative philosophy that "the quality of the work outweighs commercial value," hoping to enhance audience engagement in educational public welfare efforts through this series.
Yang Yuming, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Yunnan Broadcasting Media Group, and Producer of "Blooming in the Mountains" stated that the creation of the TV drama should adhere to a high degree of unity between authenticity and artistic quality, resonating with the audience's emotions through excellent works. During the creation of this drama, the production team aimed to tell the inspiring stories of role models, successfully shaping the approachable and admirable figure of Zhang Guimei, showcasing human luminosity alongside the spirit of the times. The drama responds to contemporary issues with innovative artistic methods, breathing the same air with the people, sharing destiny, and stands as a noteworthy piece with profound social significance.
Li Xing, Senior Vice President of Xingguang Film and Producer of "Blooming in the Mountains" emphasized that filming "Blooming in the Mountains" was an important milestone in the team's career. They consistently put audience needs first, focusing on script detail refinement, emotional depth, and thoughtful exploration, aiming to touch the hearts of the viewers through authentic and moving stories. Additionally, the casting approach through the "Mountain Flower Training Camp" and the dedicated performance by lead actress Song Jia laid a solid foundation for the series' success.
Yuan Zidan, representative of the creative team and screenwriter of "Blooming in the Mountains" shared her deep emotional tie to Principal Zhang Guimei's story, striving to infuse the core spirit of Zhang Guimei’s dedicated pursuit of education into every creative detail. Building on the foundation of authenticity, through meticulous character development and intertwined emotions, the drama not only accurately portrays the arduous journey of establishing the school but also adds a deeper human touch to the characters, paying tribute to Principal Zhang while honoring all those on the frontline of education. She expressed hope that through this series, more people would pay attention to the realities of education in mountainous areas, igniting societal concern and reflection on intergenerational poverty, gender discrimination, and educational equity.
Song Jia, actress portraying "Zhang Guimei" highlighted that rural education, as a vital component of national education, directly impacts the country's future and the hope of the nation. To accurately portray this role, she had in-depth discussions with Principal Zhang Guimei and immersed herself in the life of rural teachers. From revering Principal Zhang to embodying her character, she remained inspired by Zhang’s resilience, strength, and selflessness, striving to present a relatable, lovable, and respected prototype image. She hopes that her performance will enable more people to feel the great spirit and noble qualities of Principal Zhang Guimei.
Yang Wenhua, primary director of the Huaping County Political Consultative Conference and a special guest at the symposium, who serves as the prototype for the character "Zhou Shanqun" shared his experiences working alongside Principal Zhang Guimei, emphasizing her significant contributions to founding Huaping Girls' High School. He pointed out that Principal Zhang is not only a model for educators but also a hero in the hearts of people in the mountains and across China. Through the scriptwriting and performances, "Blooming in the Mountains" achieves a high level of unity between real-life authenticity and artistic representation, receiving widespread acclaim from the audience.
