Live Up to Your Youth: Story, Cast and Series Facts

Story and premise

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, full of avant-garde ideas, 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.

Series details

• Title: Live Up to Your Youth
• Format: Scripted
• Language: Chinese
• Genres: Drama
• Premiere date: 2026-03-22
• Final broadcast date listed: 2026-04-03
• Status in TVmaze: Ended
• Network listed by TVmaze: CCTV-8
• Web channel listed by TVmaze: iQIYI
• Network country: China
• Typical episode runtime: 46 minutes
• TVMaze ID: 85715

Seasons in the TVmaze catalogue

• Season 1: premiered 2026-03-22; final listed air date 2026-04-03; episode order: 32.

Source and licence

Adapted from Live Up to Your Youth on TVmaze. The synopsis is reproduced as plain text; catalogue facts, cast and season records are selected and reformatted. This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, following the TVmaze API licence. Network and web-channel credits identify the service listed in this source; they do not establish current streaming availability.