Actor Gu Zhixin is joined by Lou as he displays his freshly-caught fish. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Ten true tales

The program's 10 episodes, broadcast on Sundays, intend to present 10 examples of people who contributed to poverty alleviation in different ways. Other examples include Yang Shuting, a young woman with physical disabilities who opened up factories to create job opportunities, and Guo Jianping, a former Party secretary of Taibei village in Shanxi province's Jincheng who died in the line of duty, and his 23-year-old daughter Guo Zihan, who then took up the mantle.

"We decided upon the young poverty alleviation workers because they overcame huge challenges in the fields and mountains with their youth and enthusiasm. When we heard their stories, we were greatly moved and eager to present their stories to the audience," Yang says.

According to co-producer Liu Lei, at the preparation stage, the production team of more than 30 directors spent three months interviewing over a thousand people, making phone and video calls and researching material.

The team then gradually whittled them down to several dozen examples and went on field trips to conduct interviews on every villager involved with the central characters.

"Every time the directors came back with their interviews, we first asked them whether they were moved by these poverty alleviation workers, what aspects about them that moved them and what are their distinguishing characteristics," Liu says.

"The poverty alleviation work comprises projects over a course of several years, and compressing all these into a one-hour episode is very difficult. So we adopted this method of constantly piling up villagers' evaluations and uncovering the characters' deeds, and at the end reaching the climax with the stage play."

The highlight on young people also stems from the audience demographics. The main audience of Hunan TV is young people, says the show's executive producer Song Dian.

"Through the platform and with our program, we want to address the issue and inform them what is happening in our country," says Song. "That there is this group of people who have been working in remote areas of China and are changing the face of our countryside."

By showing the personal experiences and emotions of popular actors as they embark on such field trips and act out the stage plays, Song says he hopes more young people will be aware of the once poverty-stricken countryside and its people, to see the changes and feel their contentment as well.