THE LYCHEE ROAD (长安的荔枝) (2025)

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Da Peng
Cast: Da Peng, Bai Ke, Sabrina Zhuang, Terrance Lau, Andy Lau, Yang Mi
Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 31 July 2025

Synopsis: The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Ma Boyong. Set during the Tang Dynasty's Tianbao era, it follows Li Shande (Da Peng), a middle-aged man who grumbles his way through countless tasks and pinches every penny, only to remain an insignificant low-ranking official. However, things seem to take a turn when he's suddenly summoned – someone has arranged for him to take on the lucrative role of 'Litchi Envoy'. If he succeeds, glory and wealth await and a chance to turn his life around. But if he fails...

Movie Review:

The first thing that struck us after watching this Chinese film was how much we take fresh fruit for granted. These days, we can enjoy a wide variety of fruits with ease, rarely thinking about how they reach us.

Set during the Tang Dynasty, the movie follows a protagonist on an extraordinary mission: to deliver fresh lychees from Lingnan (south of the Nanling Mountains) all the way to the imperial city of Chang’an. The journey spans over 5,000 miles, with travel limited to horseback over land and ships across the sea. To make things even more challenging, lychees are highly perishable — they lose their flavour just three days after being picked.

As the movie progresses, it becomes clear that this is more than just a story about a man finding ways to transport fresh lychees from Lingnan to Chang’an. The protagonist, Li Shande, is a low-ranking official who initially believes his task is to deliver lychee fritters. However, due to a cunning and deceptive scheme by higher-ranking officials, he soon discovers that what he must deliver are not fritters, but fresh lychees — a much more difficult and demanding challenge.

The fresh lychees are intended as a birthday gift for the emperor’s favourite concubine — so you can imagine how high the stakes are. As expected, there’s plenty of political scheming among the officials, and the mission turns out to be about much more than simply delivering fruit. For Li Shande, success means freedom from financial hardship — a powerful motivation to give his all for the sake of his wife and child.

Directed by Da Peng, who also stars as Li Shande, the film is engaging on many levels. It begins as a comedy, with the idealistic Li Shande narrating his life story — how he started out wanting to make a difference in his work, only to end up like many others, struggling to make ends meet. We laugh at the absurdity of his situation, but beneath the humour lies a relatable truth for many of us in the working world.

The story then follows Li Shande as he overcomes one obstacle after another to complete his mission. One clever idea leads to the next, and with the help of his newfound allies — played by Bai Ke, Terrance Lau, and Sabrina Zhuang — he tackles each challenge with growing determination. They become his greatest supporters, united in their belief that their plan will succeed. It’s emotionally satisfying to watch the underdogs band together and hatch their plan with heart and ingenuity.

The film takes a dramatic turn when Li Shande’s carefully laid plans are sabotaged by the antagonists, putting his friendships to the test. One particularly poignant moment sees Da Peng and Bai Ke’s characters in a simple exchange — a near-heartbreaking scene where their bond appears shattered by what seems like a selfish betrayal on Li Shande’s part.

But the tension doesn’t end there. A gripping sequence unfolds as a fleet of enemy horsemen threatens to derail the entire delivery. And perhaps most chilling is a quiet yet powerful scene between Da Peng and Andy Lau’s characters, where a sinister plot is finally revealed. It’s a masterfully executed moment that highlights the film’s ability to shift between humour, suspense, and emotional depth.

The film closes on a quiet, peaceful note, with Li Shande and his wife (Yang Mi) settling into a simple life far from the chaos of Chang’an. It’s a hopeful and heartfelt ending — one that leaves you wishing for the same kind of contentment after years of hard work and struggle. After all the highs and lows, it’s a reminder that peace and purpose are rewards worth striving for.

Movie Rating:

(Da Peng directs and stars in a film that engages on multiple levels, effortlessly shifting between humour, suspense, and emotional depth)

Review by John Li