Mini-series To the Wonder premieres in Beijing

Reflecting on the intention of production, director Teng Congcong said it is the responsibility of the filmmaker to stand one step ahead of the audience and tell untold stories, instead of repeating themes that's been told countless times. "Li Juan is unique and irreplaceable in the world of literature today. My Altay is a collection of essays; they seem scattered but in fact they are very gathered. I wanted to get to its core," Teng said.

Ma said she joined the project to experience a different life. "Zhang Fengxia is far from the hustle and bustle, far from the city, she is different. I wanted to know what it felt like to be in her shoes," said Ma. "I was Zhang Fengxia for only two months, but my heart never left Altay even after filming ended. This is the biggest reason why we (filmmakers) choose to be in this profession," Ma added.

Qi Kang, one of the chief producers of the series and head of iQIYI's Canran Studio, further emphasized the collaborative nature of the project.

"I was drawn into great souls and interesting people. As the English name of the series To the Wonder suggests, it is a longing for our ideals, also the unknown. It is the encounter with like-minded peers that made this production possible," Qi said.

To the Wonder was announced by the CANNESERIES (The Cannes International Series Festival) as part of this year's Official Selection for Long Form Competition. This marks the first Chinese language long-form drama series to be selected in this competition since its launch in 2018.