‘Nirvana in Fire’ is a big hit on the small screen

[Photo provided to China Daily]

The Chinese title is Langya Bang, or The List from Langya, which can be seen as a kind of Forbes list of the smartest, most powerful or most beautiful people in the fictionalized kingdom.

Nirvana in the English title refers to the tragic life of protagonist Mei, who dies in the last episode of the series after he has finished his tough missions. Taken from Indian Buddhism, nirvana means "freedom from an endless cycle of personal reincarnations".

While previous Chinese series which have gained popularity abroad have been mostly adaptations from Chinese classics, such as The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Journey to the West, Nirvana in Fire is different.

"It proves that a good tale can capture audiences beyond a nation and its culture," says Li.

Hou Hongliang, the producer of Nirvana in Fire, says in earlier interviews that the series highlights justice, patriotism and brotherhood.

Meanwhile, latest available figures show that China is seeing a rise in the exports of movies and TV series, with more than 10,000 hours programs sold to more than 100 countries and regions in Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania in 2014.