# White Deer Plain (TV series)

White Deer Plain (Chinese: 白鹿原) is a 2017 Chinese television series. It is based on the Chinese literature classic of the same name by Chen Zhongshi. Its plot revolves around the hardships and spiritual pursuits of several generations living on the White Deer Plain in Shaanxi.
The series reportedly took 17 years of preparation and had a production budget of 230 million yuan (US$33.39 million). It mirrors the changes which have taken place in the Chinese countryside over the first half of the 20th century, and the crew spent time in the countryside to experience rural life for a month before filming commenced. The series is directed by Liu Huining and Liu Jin, and stars Zhang Jiayi as the main character. The 85 episode drama premiered on Anhui TV and Jiangsu TV on 16 April 2017. However, the show was taken off air after one episode. It resumed airing on 10 May 2017.
The series received positive response on Douban. People's Daily praise the series for retaining the essence and spirit of the original work while making the story more dramatic and fascinating, and The Beijing News say that the series is one of the best produced on television. However, it has low viewership ratings, which has been attributed to the heavier subject matter of the drama. White Deer Plain received the Outstanding TV Series Golden Angel Award at the 2017 Chinese American Film Festival (CAFF) at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles.

## Plot

This is the story of the White Deer Plain, home to the struggles of the Bai and Lu families. Bai Jiaxuan is honest and righteous while Lu Zisen is intelligent and ambitious. Their rivalry lasted for three generations.

## Cast

* Zhang Jiayi as Bai Jiaxuan
* He Bing as Lu Zisen
* Qin Hailu as Xiancao
* Liu Peiqi as Mister Zhu
* Liu Hongtao as Lu San
* Ge Zhiyun as Lu Taiheng
* Lei Jiayin as Lu Yaopeng
* Zhai Tianlin as Bai Xiaowen
* Li Qin as Tian Xiao'e
* Ji Ta as Hei Wa
* Deng Lun as Lu Yaohai
* Wang Xiao as Bai Xiaowu
* Sun Yi as Bai Ling

## Ratings

| Air date | Episode | Jiangsu TV CSM52 City ratings | Jiangsu TV CSM52 City ratings | Jiangsu TV CSM52 City ratings | Anhui TV CSM52 City ratings | Anhui TV CSM52 City ratings | Anhui TV CSM52 City ratings |
| Air date | Episode | Ratings (%) | Audience share (%) | Rank | Ratings (%) | Audience share (%) | Rank |
| 2017.4.16 | 1 | 0.654 | 2.01 | 5 | 0.523 | 1.61 | 7 |
| 2017.5.11 | 2-3 | 0.603 | 2.00 | 3 | 0.522 | 1.73 | 9 |
| 2017.5.12 | 4-5 | 0.546 | 1.81 | 5 | 0.495 | 1.65 | 8 |
| 2017.5.13 | 6-7 | 0.547 | 1.84 | 5 | 0.481 | 1.61 | 8 |
| 2017.5.15 | 8-9 | 0.562 | 1.85 | 5 | 0.511 | 1.68 | 8 |
| 2017.5.16 | 10-11 | 0.54 | 1.86 | 7 | 0.478 | 1.64 | 8 |
| 2017.5.17 | 12-13 | 0.605 | 2.1 | 6 | 0.419 | 1.46 | 8 |
| 2017.5.18 | 14-15 | 0.602 | 2.09 | 7 | 0.482 | 1.67 | 8 |
| 2017.5.19 | 16-17 | 0.57 | 1.92 | 5 | 0.499 | 1.69 | 8 |
| 2017.5.20 | 18-19 | 0.613 | 2.06 | 4 | 0.58 | 1.94 | 7 |
| 2017.5.21 | 20 | 0.612 | 2.1 | 7 | 0.527 | 1.82 | 8 |
| 2017.5.22 | 21-22 | 0.642 | 2.05 | 6 | 0.552 | 1.76 | 8 |
| 2017.5.23 | 23-24 | 0.651 | 2.14 | 5 | 0.565 | 1.85 | 8 |
| 2017.5.24 | 25-26 | 0.723 | 2.42 | 5 | 0.527 | 1.77 | 8 |
| 2017.5.25 | 27-28 | 0.691 | 2.43 | 4 | 0.589 | 2.07 | 7 |
| 2017.5.26 | 29-30 | 0.757 | 2.62 | 3 | 0.574 | 1.99 | 6 |
| 2017.5.27 | 31-32 | 0.754 | 5.607 | 3 | 0.613 | 2.121 | 5 |
| 2017.5.28 | 33 | 0.859 | 3.211 | 3 | 0.545 | 2.058 | 8 |
| 2017.5.29 | 34-35 | 0.808 | 2.837 | 3 | 0.625 | 2.201 | 7 |
| 2017.5.30 | 36-37 | 0.863 | 2.886 | 3 | 0.639 | 2.138 | 8 |
| 2017.5.31 | 38-39 | 0.876 | 2.95 | 4 | 0.609 | 2.06 | 6 |
| 2017.6.1 | 40-41 | 0.935 | 3.25 | 3 | 0.626 | 2.18 | 6 |
| 2017.6.2 | 42-43 | 0.951 | 3.18 | 3 | 0.59 | 1.98 | 6 |
| 2017.6.3 | 44-45 | 1.055 | 3.45 | 3 | 0.672 | 2.2 | 5 |
| 2017.6.4 | 46 | 1.022 | 3.41 | 3 | 0.614 | 2.06 | 6 |
| 2017.6.5 | 47-48 | 1.081 | 3.51 | 3 | 0.689 | 2.24 | 5 |
| 2017.6.6 | 49-50 | 1.023 | 3.48 | 3 | 0.721 | 2.46 | 5 |
| 2017.6.7 | 51-52 | 1.066 | 3.73 | 3 | 0.678 | 2.38 | 6 |
| 2017.6.8 | 53-54 | 1.039 | 3.67 | 3 | 0.68 | 2.41 | 5 |
| 2017.6.9 | 55-56 | 1.059 | 3.620 | 3 | 0.640 | 2.197 | 4 |
| 2017.6.10 | 57-58 | 0.998 | 3.418 | 3 | 0.679 | 2.322 | 4 |
| 2017.6.11 | 59 | 1.164 | 4.212 | 1 | 0.669 | 2.437 | 5 |
| 2017.6.12 | 60-61 | 1.208 | 4.128 | 1 | 0.720 | 2.464 | 4 |
| 2017.6.13 | 62-63 | 1.195 | 4.144 | 1 | 0.692 | 2.392 | 4 |
| 2017.6.14 | 64-65 | 1.133 | 3.96 | 1 | 0.732 | 2.56 | 4 |
| 2017.6.15 | 66-67 | 1.047 | 3.64 | 2 | 0.725 | 2.53 | 4 |
| 2017..6.16 | 68-69 | 1.092 | 3.86 | 1 | 0.772 | 2.74 | 3 |
| 2017.6.17 | 70-71 | 1.169 | 4.09 | 1 | 0.762 | 2.67 | 2 |
| 2017.6.18 | 72 | 1.14 | 4.22 | 1 | 0.745 | 2.78 | 4 |
| 2017.6.19 | 73-74 | 1.204 | 4.19 | 1 | 0.788 | 2.75 | 3 |
| 2017.6.20 | 75-76 | 1.146 | 4.05 | 1 | 0.718 | 2.54 | 5 |
| 2017.6.21 | 77 | 1.125 | 4.13 | 1 | 0.734 | 2.7 | 5 |
* Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2017 | 8th Macau International Television Festival | Best Television Series | White Deer Plain | Nominated |
| 2017 | 8th Macau International Television Festival | Best Director | Liu Jun | Nominated |
| 2017 | 8th Macau International Television Festival | Best Actor | Zhang Jiayi | Nominated |
| 2017 | 8th Macau International Television Festival | Best Supporting Actor | He Bing | Nominated |
| 2018 | 31st Flying Apsaras Award | Outstanding Television Series (Historical) | White Deer Plain | Won |
| 2018 | 31st Flying Apsaras Award | Outstanding Screenwriter | Kun Jie | Won |
| 2018 | 31st Flying Apsaras Award | Outstanding Director | Liu Jin | Nominated |
| 2018 | 31st Flying Apsaras Award | Outstanding Actress | Qin Hailu | Nominated |
| 2018 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Television Series | White Deer Plain | Won |
| 2018 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Director | Liu Jin | Won |
| 2018 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Writer | Kun Jie | Nominated |
| 2018 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actor | Zhang Jiayi | Nominated |
| 2018 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actress | Qin Hailu | Nominated |
| 2018 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Supporting Actor | He Bing | Nominated |
| 2018 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Zhai Tianlin | Nominated |
| 2018 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Supporting Actress | Li Qin | Nominated |
| 2018 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Cinematography | Huang Wei | Won |
| 2018 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Art Direction | — | Nominated |
| 2018 | 29th China TV Golden Eagle Award | Outstanding Television Series | White Deer Plain | Won |
| 2018 | 29th China TV Golden Eagle Award | Best Actor | Zhang Jiayi | Nominated |