The Long Ballad

I. Introduction

The Long Ballad, also known as Chang Ge Xing (which was published from 2011 to 2016), is a 2021 Chinese television series based on the 2011 comic manhua of same name by Xia Da. The comic has received numerous awards such as the Golden Dragon Award for Best Girls' comic and the Newcomer Award at the first Sino-Japanese Youth Exchange Cartoon Festival. The Long Ballad is a fictitious drama set against the backdrop of the Tang dynasty, during the reigns of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong. Although the story features some real historical figures in Chinese history; many of the main characters and plotlines are fictional.

It is directed by Zhu Ruibin and stars Dilraba Dilmurat, Leo Wu, Zhao Lusi and Liu Yuning. The series airs on Tencent Video in 2021. The Long Ballad is available for streaming on Viu with english subtitles in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia.

II. Synopsis

During the nine years of Tang Wu De’s reign, the inner court was turbulent. Li Chang Ge, the daughter of the former crown prince, escapes by chance and heads to Youzhou for help.

On the way, Chang Ge runs into the famous A Shi Na Sun, a grassland tribe member, who introduces himself under the alias Qin Zhun. The two did not know each other, and gradually develops a sense of heroism and respect for one another.

After arriving to Youzhou, Chang Ge solves a conspiracy but her identity is revealed and she heads to Shuozhou to avoid disaster.

She hides by Sun Heng, the prefect of Shuozhou. Change Ge helps him resist the invasion of the grassland forces, but she did not expect that the enemy general was actually Sun. She had to support the bigger picture and resists her shock and distress at fighting on opposite sides of Sun.

However, the lone city of Shuozhou eventually falls. Chang Ge was willing to become a prisoner of war and is taken to the grasslands, but unexpectedly learns that the Great Khan had other intentions.

Chang Ge decides to temporarily set aside her personal grudges, and tries to break free from the situation regardless of risk. Sun does not hesitate to fight against the Great Khan to save Chang Ge, but the two are on the opposite sides of each other.

Chang Ge enters into exile, and she gradually understands the truth of the invincibility of the benevolent, and finally lets go of personal grievances.

After discovering that the former Sui forces were behind the plot, Chang Ge and Sun join forces to protect the peace between the Tang dynasty and the grasslands. The two finally recognize their feelings for one another and join hands at last.

III. Trailers

IV. Episodes

V. OSTs

VI. Reception

The Long Ballad has received several high scores of 8.6 on IMDB, 8.7 on Mydramalist &, 9.4 on Rakuten Viki, with a medium score of 5.9 on Douban.