A new Chinese web-series "The Longest Day in Chang'an" has become a hit for its elaborate production and authentic representation of life in the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
新播出的网剧《长安十二时辰》因其精良的制作和对大唐盛世的完美重现而成为热播剧集。
elaborate /ɪ'læb(ə)rət/ adj.精心制作的；v.精心制作；详尽阐述
开播至今，《长安十二时辰》豆瓣评分保持在8.6分，口碑和影响力持续增长。
On Douban, a major Chinese media rating site, the series has scored 8.6 out of 10.
Set in Chang'an, today's Xi'an and capital of Shaanxi province, during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the series depicts the events of a single day divided into 12 periods according to the traditional Chinese zodiac.
故事背景设在盛唐时期的长安城，即现今陕西省会西安，讲述了一天12个时辰之中发生的故事。
heyday /'heɪdeɪ/：全盛时期
It is the Lantern Festival, a time when people take to the streets at night to celebrate. But, as the capital faces an imminent enemy attack, the entire city depends on a criminal on death row to save the day.
Chinese TV dramas are often criticized for being overlong, dragging storylines out simply to boost episode numbers. However, by compressing a panoramic view of society and a profound historical background into a limited time span, the show maintains a high intensity tempo.
panoramic [.pænə'ræmɪk] adj.全景的
吸引人的情节来源于主创对剧本的精心打磨。
导演曹盾说：“我们就是努力想还原大唐的一天（I have tried my best to recreate a single day in the Tang Dynasty）。”
Before shooting, Cao and the writing team read the original novel three times. The final script of the opening episode was the 23rd version written as they kept polishing the story.
在电视剧开拍之前，他还带着编剧团队读了三遍原著，第一集剧本的终稿是他们打磨了23版才定下来的。
有不少观众因此将其与经典犯罪悬疑美剧《24小时》相提并论。
The show has been compared by viewers to the US action drama series 24, not just due to its daylong format, but also for its suspenseful storyline and high-end production values.观众将该剧与动作枪战美剧《24小时》相提并论，两者都是讲述一天之内发生的故事，也都悬念重重、制作水平高超。
不过有赞就有弹，一些观众也认为该剧台词过于晦涩，剧情复杂，不易看懂。
Negative audience reviews about the show mainly center around the show's plot development and the use of ancient prose in conversations that some found obscure.负面评论主要集中在对剧情发展的不满意，一些观众也认为台词中的古语晦涩难懂。
The beginning of the first episode uses a long take to set the scene of the ancient capital during a festive occasion, drawing the viewer down into the ancient streets of Chang'an to walk among the children, street vendors and officials.
The crew referred to patterns on relics for costumes, and recreated details depicted in famous artworks.
剧组从文物古迹中寻找花纹图案作为服装参照，把名画名作中的细节重现出来。
Cao Dun says that although the film set was not 100 percent historically accurate, the crew spared no effort in trying to recreate the distinctive flavor of the Tang Dynasty, from the way people talked to the smallest details of their everyday life.
"All the costumes used in the show, whether for the protagonists or the extras, were made by the team－none of them were rented. We wove and dyed a lot of the cloth and printed the patterns ourselves," Cao says.
The crew went to great lengths to revive everyday life in the period. Experts even gave instructions on the preparation of 28 Tang Dynasty desserts appearing in different scenes.
go to great lengths：不遗余力；竭尽全力
用小管儿吸着吃的火晶柿子
古法造纸等非物质文化遗产也巧妙融入剧中。
Elements of traditional culture permeate the drama, with aspects of culture such as traditional papermaking process weaved into the plot.
permeate ['pɜrmi.eɪt] v.渗透；扩散
《长安十二时辰》还别出心裁地在每集开头采用了日晷报时。
因为每集讲述半个时辰（现在的一个小时）的故事，片头日晷的刻度投影指示的就是当时的时辰。
这种古老的计时方式既符合故事背景，又充满了仪式感。
Each episode opens with refined details, indicating a certain time period of the day with a giant sundial, an ancient method of recording time according to the shadow caused by the sun.每集都以精妙的细节开篇，用巨大日晷指示当天的时间。日晷是一种古老的计时工具，依照太阳的投影判断时间。
"I want to blend traditional Chinese culture into the series and let the audience appreciate its beauty. The beauty is not only aesthetic, which is reflected in social manners, clothing and cuisine, but also the beauty of traditional values," he said.
《长安十二时辰》官方美术概念稿 图源：@北斗北工作室
这部剧的用心和考究，也引来了不少专家学者的关注和讨论。
陕西师范大学历史文化学院教授于赓哲在微博上点评道：
“这剧的服化道值得表扬，虽然有纰漏，但已经很努力很棒。”
"The costumes, makeup and props for this show are commendable. Although there are some flaws, the crew has worked very hard and already excelled themselves."
海外网友也被圈粉
这样一部诚意满满、精雕细琢的良心之作也把浓浓的中国风吹到了海外。
《长安十二时辰》国际版海报
The series also eyes overseas markets. According to Producer Liang Chao, the series has been aired in Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. Overseas video platforms including YouTube, Viki and Amazon are streaming to paid subscribers.
With new dubbing and translation, the series is expected to hit European and African markets.
该这部剧还将重新配音译制，投向欧洲和非洲市场。
《长安十二时辰》以付费观看的方式上线亚马逊
虽然海外观看人数还不多，但该剧在各平台都获得了较高评分。
亚马逊评分：5星
Viki评分: 9.4/10
一些外国网友也给出了不俗的评价：
@Kiki_t: It is definitely a day full of action, conspiracy, betrayal, sacrifice and power. I didn't know what to expect when I started watching the first episode but it got really good and kept me wanting for more.
/1 
