A television drama about a wartime hero during World War II in China began airing to Chinese communities in and around New York City on Wednesday.

A scene from the Chinese TV drama Stellera Chamaejasme (Lang Du Hua), which began airing to Chinese communities in and around New York City on Wednesday.

The production team of the 36-episode Stellera Chamaejasme (Lang Du Hua), received a warm welcome at the show's premiere ceremony on Tuesday, thrown by the local broadcaster SinoVision in Manhattan.

Phillip Chang, the president of SinoVision, in his speech called the drama a representative of high-quality Chinese workmanship, and hoped that it could quench the nostalgia of overseas Chinese.

Also at the ceremony were Kuang Weilin, deputy consul general of the Chinese Consulate in New York, and John Liu, a New York City councilman.

Stellera Chamaejasme centers around a grass-roots hero, played by Yu Rongguang, during the Japanese invasion of China during the 1930s and '40s. It is named after a poisonous weed, which flowers in a harsh environment. It echoes the protagonist's adamant spirit during a hostile time.

The drama hit domestic small screens earlier this year and gained high audience ratings. It has already become a firm favorite among viewers.
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(CRI November 29, 2007)