Ling Long's Ferry (2026)

Synopsis

Set against a time-travel narrative, “LingLong's Ferry” intertwines two timelines to tell the story of the inheritance and innovation of Qimen black tea. In the late Qing Dynasty, Hu Linglong disguises herself as a man to take over her family’s tea business, only to face relentless opposition from her uncle. In the present day, tea entrepreneur Qiao Xin is unexpectedly transported through time after an assassination attempt, her spirit becoming bound to a blood-red jade pendant and inhabiting Hu Linglong’s body. Together, the two women overcome tea competitions, resist exploitation by British merchants, and improve traditional black tea production. Breaking through the gender constraints of her era, Hu Linglong creates the signature “Qimen Aroma,” while Qiao Xin helps her gain recognition at a prestigious tea exhibition in Shanghai. Along the way, Hu Linglong falls in love with Xu Zhinian, a naval officer of the Beiyang Fleet, and the pair remain steadfast in their commitment to tea craftsmanship despite family conflicts and national upheaval. When the jade pendant shatters, Qiao Xin returns to the modern world, only to be drawn back through time by a silver hairpin exchanged as a token of love. In the end, she develops the modern “Linglong Black Tea,” safeguards the secrets of the tea industry, and helps bring Chinese tea culture to a global audience. The story becomes a celebration of female empowerment, cultural heritage, and enduring patriotism across generations.