Dali Princess is a History television series produced by China Central Television in 2006. This series completed filming on January 22, 2006 and its release is scheduled for end of 2008. Spanning over 30 episodes, series focuses on main lead Ai Yue's love relationships travels a bumpy/rough road, and many difficulties in life
Casts
*Ruby Lin as Duan Ai Yue
*Liu Tao as Ah Ci
* Wang Ban as Liu Bo En
* Xu Seng as Long Chu lai
* Fan Zhi Qi as Duan Mu hai
* Gao Bao bao as Yan Cha hua
* Jin Shun tzu as Zhao Bao zhu
Synopsis
Swirling wind
On the eve of the 1911 Revolution, a time of troubles, Nan Shan Zhuang owner Yang Muhai is making preparations for the fire/flare festival. Muhai is very wealthy. With the help of the Qing government looted people's wealth, his family lives in extravagance. Muhai's favorite is the youngest daughter Ai Yue, bright and intelligent, very understanding towards others but she is very clear on the lines of love and hate, she is not like other family members always ordering people around, shouting at the servants. Enmity developed between Ai Yue and servant girl Ah-Ci due to a small matter. Ah-Ci is a silly girl, no matter the time of day she likes to dance with bamboo pole and smoke box, sings folk songs. Her singing infected/influenced Ai Yue, always being mischievous with Ah-Ci. At the fire/flare festival is a handsome bright young fellow named Liu Bo En and Long Chulai, four young people meeting each other, get along very quickly.
Ai Yue gradually falls for Bo En, but she's too proud and unwilling to reveal her feelings.
Instead this lets Ah-Ci to have the opportunity to be with him. Ah-Ci is passionately in love with Bo En. Long Chulai admires Ai Yue, but because of his ugly looks he keeps it to himself, can only secretly love Ai Yue.
Tumultuous times
The 1911 Revolution erupts, Muhai's family meets hard times, Bo En is assigned to Beijing, Ai Yue is forced to fulfill a childhood marriage contract - but is sold by her heartless husband to a notorious opium lord. Intead the ruthless Wang Kun is moved by Ai Yue's Sandao tea, a friendship arises b/w the two people and he also finances Ai Yue's tea garden. Muhai suddenly dies, putting the heavy burden of the Duan family on Ai Yue's shoulders; on one hand she has to develop the tea garden, on the other she has to subside internal friction. For a while she is mentally and physically exhausted, fortunately Ah-Ci and Long Chulai comes out to help. As time wears on, Ai Yue develops a subtle feeling for Long Chulai, cannot say whether it's love or friendship.
Dali Princess
The tea garden is becoming a success, Sandao tea becomes a sort of a local trademark. The members of the Daun family, under Ai Yue's training, each learned survival skills, they are no longer useless people who only eat and drink. At the same time Bo En returns, but Ai Yue discovers that her relationship w/ Ah-Ci has grown apart.
In 1915 Yuan Shi Kai proclaims himself the new emperor. The movement to protect the country starts in Yunnan, Ai Yue donates a massive amount of money to help the new army bring down Yuan. Long Chulai and Bo En join the movement together, heading go off to Yixing, defeats the northern army in the famous "Battle of Lu Na", but news about Bo En's death is transmitted from the front. Ai Yue and Ah-Ci continue to manage the tea garden, both of them reconcile. Ai Yue unconditionally gives the tea garden to all the workers; as time passes, people start to forget the name of Ai Yue, only know that she comes from Dali and so they call her: "Dali Princess."
Characters
; Duan Ai Yue
Dali Nan Shan Zhuang master's beloved daughter who is bright and intelligent, very understanding towards others, is very spoiled, pampered and doesn't do any work. But she is very clear on the lines of love and hate. At the fire/flare festival she met Liu Bo En and get along very quickly also fall in love with him
; Ah-Ci
Dali Nan Shan Zhuang's servant girl. Ah-Ci and Ai Yue, both were born in Dali, in the same year, same month, same day. After her mother died, 10 years later Ah-Ci came back for revenge. She trying to silly girl, then get everyone to like her, treat kindly, get the master's trust. Finally, Ah-Ci become Ai Yue's stepmom
; Liu Bo En
He studied abroad in France to accept military training, wants to serve the country, he arrives at the manor to put his training into practice. He hired by Muhai to train the citizen's army. When the revolution suddenly takes shape, Bo En reveals his true identity at this time. Bo En is a member of the alliance, he arrives at the manor for the purpose of coordinating with the revolution.
; Long Chu lai
Liu Bo En's friend. But wants to challenge Bo En to a duel, both refuse to give way. He admires Ai Yue, but because of his ugly looks he keeps it to himself, can only secretly love Ai Yue.
; Duan Mu hai
Nan Shan manor owner. He is very wealthy. With the help of the Qing government looted people's wealth, his family lives in extravagance. 10 years before 1911 Revolution when Ah-Ci's mother got the plague, he was take the lead in this situation. he pushed Ah-Ci's mother into the fire and she burned to death
Production
* Year in Production: November 2005 and completed filming on January 22, 2006
* Production: Mainland China
* Film Setting: Dali, Yunnan
