Life in A Dream of Splendour's Capital - City/Food/Entertainment and More [CC] 

It's lovely to see how happy this drama has made you. I empathize. This is the most romantic drama I've seen. It may be set in historical context, but the main leads relationship feels so nuanced and modern. Thank you for the historical details. It will make it even more enjoyable.

I am so grateful to you for recommending this drama so enthusiastically. It has been quite a while since I've been so happily invested in a drama. I love the history of it and the costumes; and the acting is so good! Thanks also for this little historical excursion.

Brett and Eddie learning the pipa was one of the funniest thing I'd seen😂. I always wondered about the pomegranate skirt... Thanks for the lesson!

Just to put a bit more context into the “Eastern Capital”, Japanese capital Tokyo is written as 東京 in Kanji (Chinese characters) . Because it is indeed the capital on the east, as opposed to Kyoto (京都，Chinese characters literally mean Capital). Kyoto had always been the capital city until 1869, when the city Edo was made into the new capital and consequently changed name to Tokyo (eastern capital). So regardless if it’s Japanese capital Tokyo or Chinese Kaifeng in this case, they are called eastern capital for the exact same logic, hence the same Chinese characters for the name.

There were 2 ways to get ice: 1> They cut large blocks of ice during the winter and saved them in special ice houses underground. 2> In ancient china, during tang dynasty, it was discovered saltpeter will absorb a lot of heat when it encounters water. Let the water cool until it freezes. This method has been very mature in the Tang Dynasty, and many intelligent vendors have used this method to produce many ice related products.

There is nothing that makes us happy seeing the Queen of Drama Watching pleased with a drama this good. So far 3 Episodes dedicated to the drama, that means the production did an incredibly fantastic job!

Thank you so much! I was actually late to seeing this drama, watched it by accident, and was so taken with it that I thought, "I wonder what AvenueX thought about it" and immediately came here to search and find, and here you are explaining many things I didn't know, and which adds even more context to such a lovely series. The education is wonderful to receive, so thank you again for sharing it and your enthusiasm for what we see on screen!

I am amazed at how this drama is not getting rave reviews especially internationally when as someone who's not a particular fan of romance. It truly is one of the best period pieces I've seen in a while. The relationships just feel so much more mature than the regular squealing female lead who gasps at any sign of affection.

You've answered almost all my cultural questions. AvenueX is the best channel to learn from while enjoying dramas.

I started to learn Guqin now after I watched your Guqin video, may be I will try the Song Dynasty costume next time! You are truly a Chinese culture ambassador😆

I like how you educate people on the historical background of these dramas.

Probably my favorite video from your Chanel. I really appreciate you taking the time to make such videos and explain your findings in such detail. Not to mention you explain things in a simple way so it is easy to understand. Through your videos I have become more curious about Chinese culture and it’s history. It is always good to learn something new and you make drama watching an educational experience for me in the most unexpected ways possible. I didn’t expect to hear two set violin from this channel so thank you for that surprise too.

Such a surprise to see a reference to TwoSet Violin’s channel 😆

I'm glad you clarified the differences in pi pa playing. I thought she was totally playing it wrong 😅

I’m loving this. My favorite by far. The leads are amazing with electrifying chemistry. Love your outfit.

A Dream Splendor really exceeded my expectation😍😍😍😍😍😍.. I already watch all 20ep and cant wait for the new ep.. This drama and Day Breaker are the best c-drama so far this year. 🥰🥰🥰

Thank you SO MUCH for the education on landmarks and other content related to the show. Honestly just having the translated subtitles isn’t enough to completely understand the plot and storyline. You look lovely as always! Thanks again! 😊

I’ve watched this drama purely because of your enthusiasm for it and I’ve not been disappointed, I’ve binged the first 30 episodes over the last 3 days. This is hands down the best romantic drama I’ve ever watched. I’ve had a little crush on Chen Xiao since I saw Nothing Gold Can Stay last year but his chemistry with Lui Yifei is mesmerising. I wish there were more than 40 episodes!

Also pomegranate is an interesting shade of not quite red but deep pink which was associated with concubines.

among the three capitals of Luoyang, Xi'an(Chang'an) and Kaifeng(Bianjing), I've always taken a liking to Bianjing. Well Song Dynasty being my favorite time in history specially during emperor Renzong's rule, I've read countless novels both fiction and nonfiction set in this capital and I've come to love this bygone city. Thank you for making this video introducing this wonderful city to so many more people ♡

My mom and I started to watch Meng Hua Lu last night because of your first good review, and we loveee it, it's one of the best drama we've seen so far in 2022 after Under The Skin. Your review truly helps, thank you AvenueX

The mention of TwoSet Violin got me so excited! Hahaha

AvenueX is so happy nowadays coz of this drama, I can't help it coz I am happy too as I await Season 2 of joy of life.

Love this drama..also love the serious writing of details it has troughtout the drama..thank you, AvenueX, for sharing your knowledge about the accuracy because most of the time I watch cdramas I wonder if the details on the said dramas are properly employed or faked (for the sake of the drama) 😊 hope for a slight but thorough review about their costumes, fine buildings, and the waterways which are used so often as their sites..

I love when you do these very important and helps with references otherwise lost. Love the pomegranate flower a lot more. I just thought it was pretty.

Thank you so much for all the insights. I look forward to seeing part two. I am loving the series itself.

The moment i first play this drama, it felt so good & relatable. The actors are so good looking & they acted well. It felt fresh that everybody does their job like a pro thar they are. I also love to watch the little historical nuggets and to hear from AvenueX that it might be quite accurate is so refreshing.

So fascinating. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and the nuances of culture. Can't wait for similarly themed videos in the future!

OMG. A plug for my other fav RU-vid channel, Twoset Violin !!

I appreciate you sharing some history on this drama. I really enjoy the culture and learned lots of things. 😁🌻Thank you! I love this drama. Artistic show and grace. Of course crime, male dominance...etc. 😉

I am still at episode 12, so thank you for explaining the cultural experiences that one can easily see but not understand.

Wonderful video! Thank you for thinking of your international fans. Can’t wait for the 2nd part.

Amazing back ground stories. Thank you for sharing, love it!

Really appreciate this video and also much respect to meng hua lu drama crew

And here I am just sitting in my 200 year old country while op talks about a book written 2 THOUSAND years ago that was referencing "the good old days" from years prior 🙃

This video is so educational and also I learned a lot from the comments. Thank you every one!

Hi Avenue, I'm a new subscriber and I LOVE your videos. I've been watching Chinese dramas for 5 years now and it's really nice to finally find a Chinese drama reviewer. Fighting!!

One of the few Chinese drama that I’m hooked watching Ep 1 again while waiting for the new Episodes

really excellent explanation! Much appreciated. I am a spinner(I spin fiber so cloth can be made), so when you discuss some of the challenges of making cotton cloth, I fully understand. Linen is so different. and silk is another totally different thing to work with. I have the pleasure of working with all of them. I will be sharing this with friends who will be interested in the historical aspects.

It's so nice to see you all happy and smiley talking about this drama.

Super interesting!!! I love hearing about these kinds of details as it adds to the whole experience of watching dramas

You are so awesome. Thank you for this. Also it's nice to see you happy and enjoying the drama.

I love your videos! Thank you for taking time to educate us viewers.

Amazing breakdown! I would love to see more of this kind of videos

Bravo. Love your facts. So interesting to note the coffee art and barista started in China with Tea Art

I want to watch this show even more after this amazing history lesson!

This video was great. Thank you. I love the historical context and your explanations. Very informative and filled with precious nuggets.

you are amazing! explaining all these little detail which we would not have known. thank you so much for the knowledge.

Wow! Thank you so much, Avenue X. So interesting. I'm really enjoying this series, and this video provided so much context. 🙏🙏🙏 I truly appreciate this.

Thank you for this interesting video. Looking forward to part 2. 💜

What a treat! More, please.

I haven't started watching the drama yet but thank you for making this video!

Very interesting. Can anyone please recommend a good book or a couple of books, ideally English texts on the Chinese dynasties? Many thanks

AHHHHHHHHHH AvenueX knows TwoSet!!!!! I can rest in peace.

I love your history explainers, thank you 😀

Thanks for this video. Very educational and I look forward to part 2.

Thanks for talking about this drama. Because I watched it and loved it.

Thank you for your video! This answered so many questions! I did wonder if they were talking about Tokio when saying Dongjing!

It was indeed very interesting, I can't wait for part 2 ! :D

I really loved this session, i hope you do more ❤️

Actually in ancient China, the large amount of cotton, pepper and many other spices were imported from ancient India ( primarily from South- eastern India).

thank you so much for sharing these interesting tidbits

I loved it so much! Can’t wait for the second part ✨

This is so interesting thank you so much!!💜

I love this episode and learning about all the cultural/historical background of the drama. It'll be great if you can do more of these!

IT was super interesting, I can't wait for part 2 😊

This was so interesting and I enjoyed it so much. I hope you do more videos like this.

i can't believe we have Avenus X referencing 2set!! Wonder what a crossover between their content would look like👀

I really love these kinds of videos from you where I could learn all the cultures of different dynasties while watching the drama. Makes the drama more enjoyable while paying attention to all the points you mentioned. Thank you and please make more of these kinds of videos.

Hi AnenueX, I’m so excited that you are doing these cultural explanations for this drama. Can you please incorporate the end part of the first few episodes where Chen Lian was explaining what real life was in the capital city? What I have noticed is that that part is not translated anywhere, but I think it contains great amount of information thats worth talking about. Thanks!

Love videos like this! Thanks for the info!

Thank you so much for the history lesson, I really appreciate you taking the time to share this. It certainly enhances my viewing experience.

Very interesting, thank you! Great to get my sort of fix while waiting for next episodes 😁🙏💖

Always excited to see you excited I’ll definitely watch once it’s done airing 😁

Thank you for gushing about this drama in earlier video. It's so so good! I can't wait for more episodes to be released. It's so interesting and intelligent, it's a pleasure to watch. Pan'er is my spirit animal ❤️❤️❤️

Great video. So much detail and history so I enjoyed it !!!

really interesting - thanks for this!

Thank you for your explanation

Thank you, AvenueX, That was so fascinating to learn about the Song dynasty culture back then. I really enjoy it and looking forward to the second part.

I'm so happy to see you make a second video no this wonderful drama! I'm enjoying it very much as well :)

thanks for this video, I love all your cultural classes.

Fantastic! Thank you for the history lesson and for pointing out the cultural treasures in the drama A Dream Of Splendor. 💃🏽

Thanks for the break down I am enjoying this show so much !!

After a long drought of no good dramas, I'm glad you're enjoying this so much! I'm loving it so far. It's so good!

Thank you for interesting information

I really enjoyed this video and learning about the cultural and historical background. I like reviews, but this was really informative and enhances my enjoyment of an already well made drama. I hope you continue this for other series as well.

I'm watching it atm, and really enjoying it, the leads are really good. However, the comic parts do puzzle me a bit... they seem a bit disjointed and not really blending with the rest of the more serious, and sometimes very sad, emotional, parts. The humour is also slapstick style, which is not everyone's cup of tea. The whisking of the tea into foam was also prominent in Royal Nirvana (He li hua ting), where the Emperor teaches one prince how to do that, but not the Crown Prince. And yes, also in Europe spices, including pepper, were very expensive...

Thanks for the information

i enjoy this video a lot . thank you!

Avenue X, I am watching A Dream of Splendour on RU-vid, even with the interruptions of commercials it is well worth my time! Thank you so much for bring this drama to everyone's attention. I was sad to find out that it might be in two sections. How will I live out the time between? Both the FL and ML leads have been long favourites of mine, therefore, it has an added delight. On the other hand, the script is so beguiling, any excellent actors might draw me in!

I noticed the early cities of china were based on the yellow river (such as the main cities in Henan province, the base of the northern song dynasty) and the yangtze river such as hangzhou in zhejiang province.

This is interesting. Thank you for this. I like all the cultural references in it.

The reason I love china : Preserving it's history like no body else (unchanged...if you know why I said un-changed...)

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing, I’ll have to check out this drama now!

this was very interesting! 😊 thank you!!!

Wow, wow!!! I know that word is ‘over used’!! But it’s fits here for me, as again I am awed at the most interesting historical approach our host has taken!! An indication that she is impressed with the truth and facts presented in a Dream of Splendor!! As an American, I’m enjoying the drama from many angles of interest. Will save further comments for as the story/plot progresses. Not too happy with what I am viewing now; but do look forward to the Dream becoming a reality for the leads! Thx for all the creators of this production and always for all the gracious subbers!!

wow...thank you for the history class. im learning a lot these days

Thank you so much for your commentary! ADoS is one of those shows that elegantly balance the story and the decorum, while others (Royal Feast among the latest) are mainly preoccupied with promoting material culture, damaging the flow of storytelling.

really like this story telling of dramas!

What a wonderful video - so rich in history and cultural explanations - THANK UOU 🥰💜💜💜