Still image of the series The Legendary Tavern.[Photo provided to China Daily]

"We all lived on a local farm. Every morning we took a one-hour ride to the edge of the forest, and then we had to trek for around 30 minutes to arrive at the place used for filming," recalls Liu.

The forest was so dense that it was difficult for sunlight to penetrate the thick foliage after 4 pm, so the crew had to work hard to ensure they captured the best shots of their natural surroundings.

Liu also reveals that the costume designers sought inspiration from Leonardo DiCaprio's Oscar-winning movie The Revenant for the clothes they used in the scenes set in the frozen wilderness.

"It's an epic story. You will see the noble Chinese spirit and values that have been passed down through the generations. As well as fans of Gao's works, we hope that The Legendary Tavern-with all its innovation in terms of design and narrative-will also appeal to young audiences," concludes Liu.