With the nation's reform and opening-up policy, China gradually reintegrated with the rest of the world after dozens of years of seclusion.

Unprecedented great changes took place, having a tremendous impact on the daily lives of ordinary people, as well as their mindset.

While it might be an interesting subject for historians in the future to study the Chinese people of the 1980s and 1990s, a recently-finished TV drama has provided some evidence of changes within society during that time.

The realistic Xuebai, Xiehong (White Snow, Red Blood), through the stories of people down on their luck, keeps a record of the development and changes in Chinese society within the 20 years.

Ding Xiaoli, a dropout student who works as a waitress at a small countryside restaurant dislikes the notion of being unknown for her whole life.

She seizes a chance to move to the provincial capital, changing her destiny.

Over the next 20 years she grows up with the transformation of Chinese society. She meets many people, some are of great importance in her life, and others are simply passers-by. She experiences the ups and downs like us all.

"Ding is representative of traditional Chinese women with many traditional virtues, such as diligence and goodness," said critic Li Zhun, giving high praise for the 20-part TV series.

The shooting began in September in Nanjing, in East China's Jiangsu Province, and ended in late November.

Producer Zhang Zhu argued the swift shooting does not prevent the drama from being a work of art because all involved were very efficient.

The part of Ding is played by young actress Xie Lan.

White Snow, Red Blood was jointly produced by the Jiangsu Zhenhui Film and Television Co Ltd and Shanghai Film Group with an investment of about 7 million yuan (US$845,000).

It is based on Ding Xiaoli, a novel from writer Sha Liu. According to the investors, several other works from Sha including Menshen (Door-god) will soon be adapted for TV.

(China Daily December 19, 2002)