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TV series
Poster for Live up to Your Youth

Live up to Your Youth

2026 · 1 season

A bittersweet, slow-building ensemble portrait of hopeful strivers whose artistic dreams collide with a harsh, indifferent city.

Created by
Xiaolong Zheng
Genres
Drama
Overview
In 1990s Beijing, a small inn bears witness to the lives of a group of young men and women who have come from all corners of the country, to chase their dreams in the city. Xu Shengli, obsessed with scriptwriting, never gives up despite constant rejection. Singer Zhuang Zhuang, yearning to perform on prestigious stages, can only make a living through commercial gigs. Shen Ranran, hoping to play leading roles, faces opportunities and tough choices in the flashy entertainment industry. Talented cellist Tao Liangliang plays under overpasses, pursuing his musical dreams. Guo Zongbao, a background actor and an artist at heart, juggles odd jobs in order to treat his wife and children's illnesses. Painter Cao Ye struggles in a world that does not understand him. They work tirelessly for their dreams, yet reality is always cruel and unyielding. As the new millennium arrives, some continue to persevere while others are forced to give up, but the flame of art never dies in their hearts.
How it feels
Melancholic, earnest, warm and dark. Measured and needs your attention.
About
Ambition, art, friendship, class
Content
Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.
Note
Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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In the USNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
Created by
Xiaolong Zheng
Genres
Drama
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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Full breakdown
Tone
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Era
period
Audience
adult
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language mild
  • Violence mild
  • Sex mild
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action2
Horror0
Humour3
Realism8
Romance4
Tension4
Darkness5
Complexity5
Emotional weight7

Cast

Where to watch in the US

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No streaming, rental or purchase options are known in the US.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres
drama
Created by
Xiaolong Zheng
Written by
Mantang Gao
Starring
Bai Yu, Zhang Ruonan, Lin Yun, Wang Yanlin, Song Jiateng, Alvin Cao, Sa Rina, Ding Yongdai
Length
1 seasons, 32 episodes
Network
CCTV-8, iQiyi
Country
China
Languages
Mandarin

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