Actor Chen Baoguo (left) and director Liu Jiang share behind-the-scenes stories of their new TV series The Legendary Tavern during a Beijing promotional event on Aug 21. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"The stories in The Legendary Tavern are inspired from the older generations who had struggled for independence and freedom during the colonial era. I hope it will bring history to life for youngsters and help them learn more about their ancestry," he adds.

Set against the historical backdrop of the Japanese invasion and the Manchukuo puppet state, the TV drama spans the years between 1928 and 1949 and centers on the character of Chen Huaihai, an explorer and Shandong native who earned his fortune by gold prospecting in the forests of northeastern China.

Yearning for a more stable life, Chen Huaihai and several of his close friends used their savings to open a tavern in Dalian, where he makes friends with patriots, reunites with his long lost daughter, and meets the woman who he eventually falls in love with.

The storyline is complicated and unfolds a bit like "an umbrella", according to Liu Jiang, the director of the series.