Dream of Golden Years () is a 2026 Chinese mainland period inspirational television drama. Produced by iQIYI, it is directed by Zhu Dongning and Huang Chun, and Zhou Ye and Zhai Xiaowen in the leading roles. The series is adapted from the Web novel Rebirth in the 1980s: A Spicy Wife by Bao Zhuangcheng, and premiered exclusively on iQIYI on March 17, 2026.
Plot Xia Xiaolan (played by Zhou Ye), a modern real estate executive, falls into despair after a major upheaval in her company and is unexpectedly transported back to 1983, where she is reborn as an eighteen-year-old girl from a poor rural family. After her rebirth, Xia is no longer willing to submit to fate. Believing firmly that education can change one's destiny, she overcomes numerous hardships in pursuit of academic opportunities and eventually gains admission to her dream university.
Outside of academics, Xia embarks on an entrepreneurial journey. She begins by selling duck eggs and fried pancakes, later expands into clothing resale with her keen business instincts, and eventually enters the real estate industry, where she rapidly accumulates wealth. Along the way, she meets Zhou Cheng (played by Zhai Xiaowen), a gifted young man from a legal family, and the two develop a romance built on mutual support and growth. Through Xia Xiaolan's rise from adversity, the series portrays the determination of a generation of young people striving to transform their destinies amid the tide of China's reform and opening-up era.
Cast
Main cast Actor Character Description Zhou Ye Xia Xiaolan Originally a 36-year-old modern real estate executive, she is reborn in 1983 as an 18-year-old rural girl. With advanced business insight and perseverance, she rises from a street vendor to a successful figure in the real estate sector. Believing that knowledge can change one's fate, she overcomes numerous obstacles to enter a prestigious university and achieve both academic and professional success. Supported by love and friendship, she transforms from a girl trapped in adversity into a socially responsible entrepreneur of a new era. Zhai Xiaowen Zhou Cheng Born into a prominent family in Beijing, Zhou Cheng is a legal prodigy who graduates from Huaqing University at the age of 20. Upright, gentle, and responsible, he possesses strong business acumen but chooses to dedicate himself to the development of economic and trade law. As Xia Xiaolan's emotional anchor and steadfast partner, he rejects a life of comfort and grows alongside her during the era of reform, embodying both idealism and a sense of social responsibility.
Supporting cast Actor Character Description Dong Xuan Liu Fen Xia Xiaolan's mother, a traditional rural woman from the 1980s. Initially timid and trapped in an unhappy marriage, she awakens to resist her fate under her daughter's encouragement. She gradually learns to navigate the business world and successfully runs a clothing store, becoming both her daughter's strongest supporter and an independent, confident woman of a new era. Zhao Da Liu Yong Xia Xiaolan's maternal uncle and Liu Fen's elder brother. Tu Ling Li Fengmei Xia Xiaolan's aunt by marriage. Wang Guanyi Du Zhaohui Xia Xiaolan's business partner. The eldest son of Hong Kong's Zhengrong Group, he appears frivolous on the surface but is in fact sharp, decisive, and highly perceptive in business. Amid complicated family struggles, he adopts a playboy persona for self-protection, but after meeting Xia Xiaolan, he becomes one of her most important supporters and benefactors. Jiang Yi Chen Xiliang A core member of Xia Xiaolan's entrepreneurial team. Energetic and innovative, he has a keen sense of the market and fights alongside other young people in the wave of economic reform. Zheng Wei Kang Wei Zhou Cheng's close friend. Lin Xiao Bai Zhenzhu Kang Wei's business partner. Fan Linfeng Pan San Chen Qitai Master Qiu Chan Sau Chu Madam Du Du Zhaohui's mother. Kuei Ya-lei Grandma Yu Xia Xiaolan's landlady. Zhang Duo Tang Hong'en A man who is fond of Liu Fen and the former husband of Ji Ya. Lan Xi Ji Ya Tang Hong'en's former wife. Jiang Zixin Xia Ziyu Xia Xiaolan's cousin.
Soundtrack
Production Dream of Golden Years was jointly produced by iQIYI and Huayu Daye. After being officially registered with the National Radio and Television Administration in April 2024, the drama attracted media attention due to its adaptation from the popular online novel Rebirth in the 1980s: A Spicy Wife.
Filming officially began in November 2024. During production, the series emphasized recreating the authentic atmosphere of the 1980s, with careful attention given to set construction and costume design based on the historical and social context of the period. On August 22, 2025, the drama received its official distribution license, sparking industry discussion about the growing popularity of female inspirational period dramas. It was ultimately scheduled to premiere on iQIYI on March 17, 2026.
References
External links