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| Yang Zi Embarks on a Grand Journey in “The Way You Come Back”, Portraying the Iconic Dong Zhujun (Photo: Weibo) |
Yang Zi’s just been announced as the lead in a fresh historical drama titled The Way You Come Back, and it’s got everyone buzzin’.
In this new epic, Yang Zi’s steppin’ into the shoes of Dong Zhujun, the legendary founder of Shanghai’s famous Jinjiang Hotel, a woman whose story’s as wild as it is inspiring.
After the official announcement dropped, Yang Zi took to social media and wrote, “After facing storms and changes, the magnolia still blooms calmly. It’s an honour to step into the extraordinary life of Dong Zhujun.” Quite poetic, eh?
A Story of Grit, Love, and Shanghai’s Spirit
The show dives deep into Dong Zhujun’s real-life journey — a tale that’s got it all: hardship, resilience, and loads of heart.
She starts off as a poor lass named A Yuan, sold to a brothel ‘cos of her family’s struggles.
There, she meets Xia Zhishi, a man she ends up helpin’ escape from danger — and love soon blossoms between them.
After they tie the knot, the two head to Japan to study, where A Yuan reinvents herself, takin’ on the name Dong Zhujun.
Four years later, she’s back in China as the wife of a Sichuan governor — but when the marriage turns cold, she takes her four daughters and sets off for a new start in Shanghai.
And that’s where her proper legend begins.
Dong Zhujun founds the Qunyi Thread Factory, the first of its kind owned by a woman, before the chaos of the 1932 Shanghai War destroys it.
But she doesn’t quit — nah, she rebuilds, opening Jinjiang Teahouse and Jinjiang Sichuan Restaurant, which secretly served as safe havens for revolutionaries and progressives of the time.
Later on, after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, she handed her businesses over to the state, and those humble establishments became the Jinjiang Hotel — a Shanghai icon that still carries her name and legacy.
Production Details and What’s Ahead
The Way You Come Back is being produced by Tencent Video and Shengxi Huashi, alongside Jinse Media, with Yang Yang sitting in the director’s chair.
Shooting kicks off in November 2025, with about 150 days planned on set — so we’re likely lookin’ at a 2027 premiere.
Judgin’ by the plot, it’s not just another historical drama — it’s the story of a woman who fought her way through a man’s world, built an empire, and left behind a legacy of power and grace.
So Yang Zi’s about to serve up another powerhouse role — a proper mix of class, grit, and old Shanghai glamour.
Fans are already buzzing to see her bring Dong Zhujun’s story to life, and if early chatter’s anything to go by, The Way You Come Back might just be one of the most anticipated historical dramas of the decade.
Source: Sohu