Dream of Golden Years (Chinese: 你好1983; pinyin: Nǐ Hǎo 1983) 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.
Contents
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
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.