On July 18th, the film “Lychee in Chang’an” was released in mainland China, and received a score of 7.7 on Douban that day. By the early morning of the 19th, the box office for the film had already exceeded 100 million Chinese yuan. Particularly noteworthy was the attention on actress Yang Mi’s “eye acting” and emotional scenes, with renowned producer Yu Zheng praising her by saying, “With a twinkle in Yang Mi’s eyes, a few of us couldn’t help but cry.”
Public information indicates that “Lychee in Chang’an” is one of the works in Ma Boyong’s “Microscope” series, completed in just 11 days. The book expands on the poem lines from Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu’s “Three Quatrains from Huaying Palace” into a complete story, which reopens historical folds in the form of a novella. The film of the same name is written and directed by Da Peng, depicting the story of a minor official named Li Shande who unexpectedly becomes the “Lychee Envoy” during the Tianbao period of the Tang Dynasty. His task is to transport fresh lychees from Lingnan to Chang’an within a limited time frame. The movie showcases Li Shande’s hardships and joys in completing an impossible mission, revealing hidden crises beneath the prosperous era.
In the film, Yang Mi portrays the character of Zheng Yuting, Li Shande’s wife. Since its release in mainland China on July 18th, the film surpassed the 100 million mark in box office earnings in less than 24 hours, demonstrating strong momentum. With a 7.7 rating on Douban, it has received both critical acclaim and commercial success. Yang Mi’s performance has become a focal point, as she appears without makeup in a somber look, conveying complex emotions through her eyes. Audiences have praised her “eye-acting explosion,” while critics have remarked that she “hits the tear-jerking spots directly.”
Yu Zheng, the well-known producer, mentioned that he had read Ma Boyong’s original work but felt that the film adaptation was even more reasonable. He praised the soulful figure of Da Peng, who is a rare talent in directing, writing, and acting. When talking about Yang Mi, Yu Zheng was full of praise. On Weibo, he wrote, “Yang Mi is truly stunning, she has grown so much, without a shadow of any previous character. Her portrayal is exceptional. When Li Shande returns to Chang’an, with cotton flowers floating in the air, a twinkle in Yang Mi’s eyes, we all shed a tear.”
Yu Zheng also commented that Yang Mi’s performance in “Jiangyuan Lane: The Case” was “exceptional” and certified her as having a “career breakthrough year.”
Having been dubbed the “Ratings Queen” for Chinese dramas, Yang Mi had previously aimed to transition from a popular online celebrity to a respected actress. In 2024, she starred in three works: “Harbin 1944,” “The Fox Fairy Little Matchmaker,” and “There’s Nothing a Hotpot Can’t Solve.” However, both the box office earnings and reviews fell below expectations, leading to a period of low reputation and career setbacks.
This year, Yang Mi appeared in “Jiangyuan Lane” alongside leading actress Zhang Ziyi, playing the role of Wang Xumei. She was praised by viewers for being the only supporting character with a well-rounded portrayal in the film. Along with her performance in “Lychee in Chang’an,” Yang Mi has successfully made a comeback.