Producer Yi Sirong(fourth from left) and the cast and crew members attend a China Central Television show to share behind-the-scenes stories.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Fortunately, science and education have transformed the landscape. In the first episode, a scholar discovers the special value of the land, which could serve as an ideal location for growing some of the best wine grapes in the world. Speaking to the villagers who mistake him for a potential mine exploiter, the agricultural expert confidently suggests that if the locals switch to cultivating vines, the profit from selling a single bottle of wine could match that of a truckload of coal.

Although the plot is fiction, it was inspired by real-life stories gathered during Yi and her fellow major creators' monthslong investigation trip to Ningxia in the summer of 2022.

"We began our journey in Yinchuan, Ningxia, and paid visits to dozens of vineyards, small and large. We talked with the operators, conducting interviews with seasoned winemakers and experts. Their stories are truly inspirational," Yi recalls.