The Litchi Road – its cast, director, screenwriter, plot synopsis and streaming information

Chinese Title: 长安的荔枝

English Title: The Litchi Road

Release Date: June 7th, 2025 (China)

Original Network: CCTV-8 & Tencent Video

Genre: Historical, Drama

Episodes: 35

Language: Mandarin

Region: Mainland China

Synopsis

Set during the Tang Dynasty, C-drama The Litchi Road follows Li Shande, a humble clerk in Chang’an who is appointed as the “Lychee Envoy,” by his devious colleagues, and thus tasked with the near-impossible mission of transporting fresh lychees from Lingnan to Chang’an in time for the birthday celebration of Imperial Consort Yang.

Lychees spoil quickly — changing color in one day, losing fragrance in two, and flavor in three — making the journey across thousands of li a desperate race against time that could cost Li Shande his freedom and even his life.

Director & Production Details

Director: Cao Dun (known for The Longest Day in Chang’an)
Co-Director: Gao Xiang
Original Novel: Adapted from the novel by Ma Boyong, who also served as story consultant
Production Companies: CCTV, China TV Production Center, Penguin Pictures, Liubai Entertainment
Filming Locations: Xiangshan Film Studio and lychee orchards in Guangdong

Main Cast & Characters

Lei Jia Yin as Li Shande
Yue Yun Peng as Zheng Ping’an
Na Er Na Xi as A Mi Ta
Vivienne Tien as Yun Qing
Feng Jia Yi as He You Guang
Lu Liang as Su Liang
Li Luo Yi as Li Xu Er
Kun Yu as Gou Er
Lu Fang Sheng as Yu Cheng En

Where to Watch

Tencent Video – Official streaming in China
WeTV / International Platforms – Availability may vary by region, streaming on WeTV in U.S. and Europe.

Notes & Trivia

The drama is noted for its historical authenticity, reconstructing Tang-era settings and exploring ancient preservation techniques.
It also blends adventure with political intrigue, elevating a seemingly simple courier mission into a richly textured period narrative.
The drama ran for 35 episodes, ending its run on June 20th, 2025.

Michelle Topham

Administrator

British-American journalist currently residing in Vienna, Austria and obsessed beyond measure with C-dramas, a subject I have been writing about for more than two decades. How many C-dramas have I watched? Many many hundreds. How many are still in my backlog? Hundreds more.

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