"Xishi is unparalleled among the beauties, the peony is the most fragrant of the flowers." Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Bai Juyi wrote these lines in praise of the most cherished flower grown in the gardens of emperors and aristocrats.
Although it is one of his lesser-known verses, it inspired the name of the protagonist in Flourished Peony, a popular costume drama that has amassed a staggering 4 billion views since its debut on Hunan Television and on streaming platforms Mango TV and Migu in early January.
The character's name, He Weifang, is derived from two words in Bai's poem, and she is also nicknamed Mudan (peony).
By the Spring Festival holiday, the 32-episode drama had topped the country's daily viewership charts for 20 days, according to industry tracker Beacon.
The series has also been screened on 10 popular foreign platforms like Netflix and Viki, reaching 73 countries and regions, including the United States, France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal.
Actress Yang Zi plays the lead role as the daughter of a business owner, who inherits her late mother's skill at cultivating peonies. Actor Li Xian plays Jiang Changyang, a seemingly corrupt official whose title is "hua niao shi" ("imperial envoy of rare flowers and birds"), and who has been assigned by the emperor to collect treasures from across the country.
The drama has boosted the sale of peonies, as well as tourism in Heze, Shandong province, the country's largest producer of the flower. As the show's official partner, the city supplied more than 2,500 potted peonies and herbaceous peonies for filming.
