Longest Day in Chang’an | 长安十二时辰

As someone who studies history in my free time and spent two years studying in mainland China, Tang Dynasty history has long captured my attention as one of the high points of Chinese civilization. It was for this reason that the Chinese drama The Longest Day in Chang’an (长安十二时辰) eventually caught my interest.

Released in 2019, the series generated significant buzz at the time, though I only recently got around to watching and finishing it. Structured around similar format with “24” TV series, The Longest Day in Chang’an presents a fast-paced thriller set in the Tang capital during the Lantern Festival, one of the most important celebrations of the year.

The story centers on Zhang Xiaojing, a disgraced former soldier turned detective and death-row prisoner who is temporarily released to investigate an imminent terrorist plot threatening Chang’an. In many ways, he functions as the series’ equivalent of Jack Bauer, a relentless and morally ambiguous figure racing against time. What begins as an attempt to stop a single terrorist attack gradually reveals a far deeper and more systemic crisis within the empire.

As someone who rarely watches television dramas, I found the series occasionally overly dramatic, and its conclusion somewhat underwhelming relative to the buildup. Even so, The Longest Day in Chang’an largely succeeds in conveying its core themes, aided significantly by its exceptionally high production value, detailed set design, and immersive depiction of Tang urban life.

What stood out to me most, however, was how the series offers a glimpse into the political and institutional environment that allowed a great empire like the Tang to collapse so catastrophically in the aftermath of the An Lushan Rebellion. Even in the face of an imminent terrorist threat, the ruling elite remains consumed by factional infighting, exemplified by the rivalry between the Crown Prince’s camp and the Minister of the Right. While the protagonist may avert disaster on this particular day, the series makes clear that constant elite power struggles ultimately paralyze the state, leaving it incapable of preventing far greater calamities such as An Lushan’s uprising.

With its high production quality and popular historical setting, The Longest Day in Chang’an serves as an excellent entry point for newcomers to Chinese historical dramas. At the same time, it offers a valuable opportunity for Mandarin learners especially those at HSK 4–5 level to test their Mandarin Proficency. As the series incorporates numerous cultural references and adaptations of well-known Tang poems such as Yong Liu (咏柳), Duan Ge Xing (短歌行), and Chang Xiang Si (长相思).