The drama Beijing Fayuan Temple is adapted for the first time from Mr. Li Ao’s novel. The setting of the drama is e the late Qing Dynasty with severe and lingering rottenness and crisis. The drama portrays a story about how a group of patriotic reformists headed by Youwei Kang, Qichao Liang，and Sitong Tan strived to find a rejuvenization way for China with their efforts in launching the “One-hundred-day Reform” campaign after the Emperor Guangxu of Qing Dynasty put forward the reforms and issued the imperial edict of “Ming Ding Guo Shi Zhao” (Defining the Guidelines of National Constitution Reform)

Taking activities of Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, Tan Sitong, Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi as the context, Mr. Li Ao focuses on the these people’s efforts to change the backward situation of late Qing Dynasty and to protect the country from being bullied through reforms. The story is set Fayuan Temple as the major venue, and depicts a series of historical events from 1888 to 1927. The adaptation of the screenplay is based on the main stage time within 10 days from September 11th to 21st, 1898. It includes excerpts from the book, including Emperor Guangxu summoning Kang Youwei, idea development of the Constitutional Reform and Modernization, heroic and chivalrous spirit of Tan Sitong and the pursuit of new solutions by learning from western countries by Liang Qichao, aiming to demonstrate the spiritual outlook of historical figures of this period.

The drama will be performed by National Theatre of China, scripted and directed by Tian Qinxin. The performance will star Xi Meijuan, Zhou Jie, Jia Yiping and Fang Xu.