When it comes to the golden age of Hong Kong TV dramas, who was more popular—Ming-Chun Wang or Yazi Zhao? This question has been debated for decades without a definitive answer.
When it comes to the golden age of Hong Kong TV dramas, who was more popular—Ming-Chun Wang or Yazi Zhao? This question has been debated for decades without a definitive answer.
In the early 1980s, when Hong Kong TV dramas were introduced to the mainland, Wong Ming-chun’s *Love Across Mountains and Rivers* and *Spring Dream in Beijing* drew such massive audiences that the streets were deserted whenever they aired. People hummed the theme songs everywhere—even children could sing a few lines.Chow Ya-chi’s *Shanghai Beach* was also a hit, and Feng Chengcheng’s braids captivated an entire generation. But in terms of reach and longevity, Wang Mingzhen’s two series were indeed a cut above the rest. Set against the backdrop of family feuds in the early Republican era and the War of Resistance, the subject matter was perfectly tailored to the tastes of audiences at the time.
Zhao Yazhi got married and had children in the 1980s, putting her career on hold for several years. But in the 1990s, *The Legend of Emperor Qianlong* and *The New Legend of the White Snake* propelled her straight to the second peak of her career.The role of Bai Suzhen was absolutely brilliant; to this day, everyone still calls her “White Snake Lady.” Afterward, she gradually stepped back from the spotlight, occasionally appearing at commercial events or on variety shows, yet her popularity has remained consistently high—she’s aged with grace. And
what about Wang Mingquan? She just can’t stop!
