SATV, Kathmandu, November 27 – The Nepali dubbed version of the 22-episode Chinese TV series "Minning Town," which focuses on poverty alleviation, is set to premiere in Kantipur Television today. Subsequently, it will air regularly every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9 pm. The series, a realistic masterpiece that garnered significant viewership and acclaim in China, will also be broadcast simultaneously on the Chinese and Nepali movie/TV channels of South Asia Network TV, injecting new vitality into cultural exchanges between China and Nepal.
"Minning Town" is based on the true story of poverty eradication efforts in the Xihaigu region of Ningxia. Through the compelling struggles of characters like Ma Defu and Li Shuihua, it vividly portrays the transformative changes in a poor county in Western China, driven by the paired assistance policy. In recent years, Minning Town in Yinchuan City, Ningxia, has actively practiced the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." By leveraging east-west cooperation and promoting green, eco-friendly industries, the once barren "dry desert" has been transformed into a vibrant "golden oasis," showcasing a remarkable model of poverty alleviation through ecological restoration and sustainable development.
When broadcast in mainland China, the series saw soaring ratings and won numerous awards, including the Best Chinese TV Series at the 28th Shanghai Television Festival Magnolia Awards. Its multiple dubbed versions, such as English and Arabic, have also garnered widespread attention overseas.
The dubbing and subtitling for this Nepali version were meticulously completed over nine months by the team at South Asia Network TV. While preserving the core spirit of the original work, the team conducted in-depth localization tailored to the aesthetic preferences of Nepali audiences. Particular attention was paid to the translation of dialectal and cultural elements. The witty dialogues in Ningxia dialect and distinctive features like the Northwest folk song "Hua'er" were skillfully "culturally decoded" through Nepali dubbing.
A spokesperson for South Asia Network TV revealed, "We established a special cross-cultural expert panel to analyze the contextual meaning behind each line frame by frame, striving to ensure each character's language style aligns with local Nepali expression habits while retaining the original's rustic charm."
Notably, the paired assistance model of "Fujian-Ningxia Collaboration" depicted in the series interestingly echoes Nepal's ongoing "Inter-Provincial Development Cooperation Plan." Expert commented, "The East-West cooperation mechanism presented in the series holds significant reference value for Nepal in addressing regional development imbalances. Conveying development experiences through cultural products is more easily accepted by the public compared to mere policy advocacy."
Currently, anticipation is building within Nepal for the series' broadcast. Kantipur Television will utilize a comprehensive media strategy across online, newspaper and television platforms for multi-faceted promotion.
The premiere of the Nepali version of "Minning Town" marks a new stage in China-Nepal film and television cooperation. This epic struggle story, transcending Minning Town, is poised to begin a new chapter at the southern foot of the Himalayas.
