How a shoestring budget and dangerous stunts created China's most iconic television masterpiece

Art · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 1986 adaptation of Journey to the West became a cultural phenomenon despite broken wires, pyrotechnic accidents, and a near-firing of its composer. Director Yang Jie navigated investigations and funding crises to produce a series that remains a household name, defined by its commitment to art over commercial gain.

Commissioned in 1981 to dramatize Chinese literary classics, the production of Journey to the West was defined by extreme resourcefulness. Director Yang Jie managed nearly every aspect of the show, from casting to scouting locations across China. Because the team lacked modern media references, they turned to Peking opera for character movement and appearance, hiring actors with backgrounds in the genre. This choice proved vital for Sun Wukong, played by Liu Xiao Ling Tong, whose family specialized in the role.

The production process was fraught with peril. With only one camera available for the first season, episodes took months to complete. Stunt work was particularly dangerous; actors were suspended by wires that frequently snapped, forcing the crew to use cardboard boxes and pillows for safety. In scenes involving fire, such as the battle with Red Boy, the production opted for real pyrotechnics over special effects. Liu Xiao Ling Tong later recalled nearly suffocating and having his costume burned off during these intense sequences.

Financial instability nearly derailed the project. By 1986, the first fifteen episodes had cost three million yuan, leading CCTV to pull funding and investigate the team for alleged financial mismanagement. The series was only saved by a loan from the China Railway 11th Bureau Group. Despite these hurdles, the show achieved a staggering 89.4% viewership rate in 1987. Composer Xu Jingqing’s innovative score, which blended traditional instruments with electronic synthesizers, was initially criticized as too Western, yet it ultimately produced iconic themes that remain embedded in the public consciousness.

Reflecting on the series' enduring legacy, Yang Jie attributed its success to the crew’s singular focus on artistic integrity rather than fame or profit. While the second season, filmed in 1998, faced more criticism and lower viewership, the original 25 episodes have been rebroadcast over 2,000 times. The series remains a testament to a time when limited resources were overcome by sheer creative fervor.

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