On October 3, the AI animated drama Tongfu Inn, jointly produced by Xinhua Net and the Publicity Department of the Pingyang County Party Committee, officially concluded with the release of its finale. Inspired by the Ponan Historical and Cultural District, the digital series offers a modern interpretation of the cultural heritage of the historic street, presenting audiences with a distinctly local story rooted in Pingyang: the most precious treasure in the world has never been gold or riches, but the enduring vitality of a place and the peaceful, prosperous lives of its people.
The story is rooted in the real Ponan Ancient Street. As a provincial-level historical and cultural district in Zhejiang, Ponan Ancient Street once served as a major land and water transportation hub between Zhejiang and Fujian. Tongfu Gate guarded a key passage along the ancient postal route, through which countless merchants and travelers moved between the two regions. Shops flourished and businesses thrived. The generations before them established trade routes and watched over their homeland, memories of which were transformed into the drama’s wuxia tale surrounding the “treasure of Tongfu Gate.”
In the series, the desire for wealth sets off a chain of conflicts. The antagonist, Gu Jiuzhang, becomes obsessed with the treasure hidden in the secret chamber and seeks to control the ancient trade route through southern Zhejiang, throwing the historic street into turmoil. After a series of trials, the two halves of the bronze token are finally reunited, and the sealed chamber from a century ago slowly opens. Contrary to expectations, there is no gold or treasure inside. Instead, it holds a yellowed scroll known as the Peacekeeping Pact.
Looking back at the past, the ancestors of the Gu, Chen, and Lu families joined merchants from across southern Zhejiang to establish the pact. Their goal was never to claim wealth for themselves, but to keep the trade and postal routes open and ensure that the people living along the streets could enjoy peaceful lives. Their ancestral motto, “Protect Tongfu, year after year of peace,” embodies the simple ideal passed down through generations in Ponan.
With the conflict settled, peace returns to the ancient street. The heroine Lu Guiwan chooses to remain at Tongfu Inn, returning to the rhythms of everyday life alongside innkeeper Gu Zhi’an and gatekeeper Chen Shouzhong as they continue to protect their shared homeland.
Throughout the series, Pingyang’s cultural heritage is woven into the story. Intangible cultural heritage such as Pingyang Yellow Tea, Pingyang egg painting, puppet theatre, Aojiang Dragon Boat Rowing, and Xiaojiang Big Drum all appear throughout the narrative, while local specialties such as Wushizhang fried rice noodles, Shunxi yellow rice cakes, and horseshoe bamboo shoots bring the flavors of everyday life to the screen. Wuxia serves simply as the storytelling framework; at its heart, the series pays tribute to local roots, the everyday lives of ordinary people, and the cultural heritage protected and passed down from one generation to the next.
As the animated drama comes to an end, its story extends into the real world. Today, following conservation and revitalization efforts, the Ponan Historical and Cultural District retains its winding stone-paved streets, while Tongfu Gate still stands proudly. Historic residences and the old wharf have taken on new life, making the district a destination for visitors exploring Pingyang’s history and culture. The stories of the jianghu may eventually come to an end, but the vibrant everyday life of the ancient street continues.
One gate connecting Tongfu, carrying the legacy of a thousand-year-old postal route; one enduring commitment, protecting the everyday lives of countless families.
