Zhao Liying and Huang Xiaoming reunite in a new drama that dives into the sweeping changes of 1980s China. Titled The City Maker, the series casts the two actors as lead characters navigating a country on the cusp of modernity. Their onscreen reunion comes more than a decade after their last major project together.
Filming wrapped in early May, marking the end of a production that took over six months. Crews shot in rural and urban areas to capture the era’s contrast. Zhao plays a former factory worker turned city planner. Huang takes on the role of an architect who dreams of designing China’s new future. The show explores personal ambition, sacrifice, and the costs of transformation.
Zhao Liying and Huang Xiaoming reunite in this series not only as co-stars but as symbols of a changing entertainment landscape. Both actors bring large fan bases and decades of experience to the project. Producers expect the show to draw strong viewership numbers when it airs later this year.
The series follows Li Qiuping, a young woman who loses her job when state reforms shut down her textile factory. She refuses to leave her hometown and instead becomes involved in its redevelopment. Meanwhile, Zheng Decheng, a returning architect from Beijing, arrives with blueprints and bold ideas. Tension builds as ideals clash with tradition.
Director Sun Hao, best known for Joy of Life, wanted to highlight the moral ambiguity of the reform era. He insisted on filming in real locations rather than studio sets. The creative team studied historical documents and interviewed people who lived through the 1980s. Their goal was to tell a human story grounded in fact.
Costume designers used archival photos to match styles from the decade. Zhao cut her hair short and trained with urban planners to prepare for the role. Huang worked with architects to understand how Chinese cities evolved after 1979. Both actors said the preparation helped them understand their characters’ motivations.
So far, early trailers have sparked widespread discussion online. Many praised the casting of Zhao and Huang, calling it a powerful reunion. Others noted the absence of flashy effects or exaggerated drama, appreciating the grounded tone. The series plans to stream on Tencent Video and air on CCTV later this year.
Zhao Liying and Huang Xiaoming reunite in a drama that resists easy nostalgia. The show avoids romanticising the past, instead focusing on the uncertainties and hard choices people faced. Each character must decide whether to embrace change or resist it. The narrative reflects broader questions still present in Chinese society today.
The producers have not announced an exact release date, but buzz continues to grow. Marketing campaigns will begin later this summer across digital platforms. Fans expect the show to launch with a major premiere event in Beijing.
Zhao Liying and Huang Xiaoming reunite not just as actors but as storytellers of a crucial chapter in modern Chinese history. The City Maker promises a grounded and thoughtful exploration of identity, progress, and the personal cost of national change. Audiences will soon judge whether it lives up to the weight of its story
