Behind the Scenes
How long does it take to build a classical Chinese garden in Hengdian?
For the team behind Against The Current (《兰香如故》), the answer was eight months.
Eight months to build a garden. Sixty years of life to unfold within it.
Created for the drama and covering more than 25,000 square metres, this Jiangnan-style garden brings together waterside buildings, winding corridors, quiet courtyards and seasonal planting. Every part contributes to a setting where a family’s story can unfold across generations.
And when filming ended, the garden remained.
An arched stone bridge, waterside buildings and willow branches frame the world of Against The Current.
Creating a Garden for the Camera
Before construction began, the creative team travelled to Suzhou, Nanjing and other destinations to experience classical Chinese gardens firsthand.
Their task was to translate the world of the script into a physical setting—one that actors could move through and cameras could explore.
In the finished garden, covered walkways connect different spaces, decorative openings frame views of distant buildings, and tiled roofs rise above white walls and greenery. Water introduces another layer, reflecting bridges and architecture while opening up views across the garden.
These details give the drama a tangible sense of place. A character can leave a room, follow a corridor and arrive in a courtyard, allowing the story to move naturally through its surroundings.
A framed view along a covered walkway reveals the garden’s layered architectural details.
Four Seasons, Sixty Years
The garden had to do more than look convincing at a single moment. It needed to change with a story spanning nearly sixty years.
The landscaping and horticultural teams planted seasonal species in different areas and at different stages. At key points during filming, they transformed sections of the garden to suit the season required by the script.
Spring peach blossoms, summer lotus flowers, autumn maples and winter snow helped mark the passage of time.
As the characters grew older and their circumstances changed, the landscape became part of that journey. Familiar spaces returned in different seasons, carrying the memory of earlier encounters.
The Lives Within the Landscape
Adapted from He Yanshan’s novel Lan Xiang Yuan (《兰香缘》), Against The Current follows a young woman rebuilding her life after the destruction of her family.
Rescued by Xu Wanquan and his wife, Shen Jialan assumes the identity of their recently deceased daughter, Xu Lanxiang, and enters the Lin household as a low-ranking maid. Faced with difficult circumstances, she works towards a better life for herself and those around her.
Liu Xueyi portrays Lin Jinqi, the Lin family’s eldest grandson, as he grows into the responsibilities of leading the household. Tan Songyun plays two roles, with the central character’s journey extending from youth into old age.
Written by Tong Hua and Xiao Lou and directed by Huang Yingxiang and Chen Dan, the drama premiered on CCTV-8 and Tencent Video on September 11, 2026.
Across this long human story, the garden provides spaces for both public obligations and private emotions: a formal gathering in a hall, an unexpected meeting along a walkway, or a quiet conversation beneath a tree.
A Lasting Addition to Hengdian
When filming concluded, the garden was preserved at Hengdian World Studios.
It has since provided settings for other productions, including 《尚公主》, 《表妹万福》 and 《何不同舟渡》. Each production brings different characters and stories into the same landscape, giving familiar spaces new meanings.
Courtyards, tiled rooftops and garden paths form a connected filming landscape against Hengdian’s wooded hills.
For audiences, the garden offers a glimpse of the craftsmanship behind a period drama. For filmmakers, it provides a collection of interconnected spaces that can accommodate different households, moods and narratives.
Its appeal lies in that variety. Beyond the waterside views are grand reception halls, secluded residences, modest service courtyards and streets shaped around everyday life.
Eight months built the garden. Its story continues with every production that passes through.
In our next article, we take a closer look at the garden’s principal buildings and the stories their spaces can help tell.
To enquire about filming arrangements or current opportunities to visit, contact the Hengdian FTS team.