ARTS / CULTURE & LEISURE
Variety show reveals the charm of Luoyang
‘Glory is Back’
Published: Sep 21, 2021 05:58 PM


From top: Visitors view items at the Erlitou Cultural Site Museum. 
A precious relic Photos: IC
Promotional material for <em>Glory is Back</em> Photo: Courtesy of iQIYI

Visitors view items at the Erlitou Cultural Site Museum. Photo: IC From top: Visitors view items at the Erlitou Cultural Site Museum. 
A precious relic Photos: IC
Promotional material for <em>Glory is Back</em> Photo: Courtesy of iQIYIFrom A precious relic Photos: IC



From top: Visitors view items at the Erlitou Cultural Site Museum. 
A precious relic Photos: IC
Promotional material for <em>Glory is Back</em> Photo: Courtesy of iQIYI

 Promotional material for Glory is Back Photo: Courtesy of iQIYI

Luoyang, one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization and the capital of 13 Chinese dynasties, is the epitome of ancient China's political, economic and cultural development. To relive its glory days with young TV viewers, the city has turned to a more modern medium, the variety show.

Following in the footsteps of season one in Dunhuang, home to the famous Mogao Grottoes in Northwest China's Gansu Province, the second season of Glory is Back was shot on location in Luoyang.

Before season two released, many viewers had high expectations for the show as the first season got a high 7.7/10 on Chinese media review platform Douban. 

The program examines the cultural changes that have taken place in Luoyang, Central China's Henan Province from a young perspective, restoring the ancient city's historical glory through a variety of performances that reveal its charm.

The variety show is produced by Chinese video platform iQIYI, Luoyang Wenbao Group and Luoyang Radio and TV Station. 

As China celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chinese archeology in 2021, the first episode's theme was "the earliest China." 

Famous show host Wang Han along with young entertainers including Luo Yizhou and Tang Jiuzhou, both of whom debuted on iQIYI's idol competition show Youth With You, took viewers on a tour of the Erlitou Ruins.

Under the guidance of Liu Zhou, a skilled cultural relic restorer, the hosts learned how to restore bronze relics so that young audiences could better understand the difficult work carried out by Chinese archeologists and appreciate the treasures left behind by their ancestors.

The discovery of the Erlitou Ruins was a great moment for the study of Chinese civilization's 5,000-year history. 

Encompassing an area of 3.75 square kilometers, the Erlitou Cultural Site is believed by many archeologists to be the ruins of the capital of the Xia Dynasty (C.2070-C.1600BC) as the remains of a large palace complex were discovered there.

As season two progresses, the hosts will explore different aspects of Luoyang culture such as food, funerals and literature through cultural relics found in local museums. Experts in archeology will also appear on the program to help audiences to better understand the city.

At a press conference for the show, Chen Wei, senior vice president of iQIYI, said the show's goal is to pay respect to the history and culture of Luoyang.

The production team said it wants the show to bring history closer to young people, arouse the audiences' love for traditional culture and fully realize the charm of Luoyang as a cultural icon.

To strengthen this influence, the city is seeking other partnerships with various media platforms. A new TV drama named Fengqi Luoyang (lit: Wind from Luoyang) will debut in 2021 on iQIYI to show Luoyang during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).