A craze for Shanghai is sweeping China thanks to a television drama set in the city in the 1990s that has tapped into growing nostalgia for a past era, at a time of deep economic malaise in the country.

Blossoms Shanghai, which aired the last of its 30 episodes on Jan. 9, tells the story of Ah Bao, a young opportunist trying to strike riches through the city’s then nascent stock market and export industry, while romancing three women. The show, originally a novel, was adapted by Wong Kar-wai, the first foray into TV for the Hong Kong director whose distinctive cinematography is present in the sultry aesthetics of Blossoms. Wong, who was born in Shanghai, is best known internationally for his movies including In the Mood for Love and Chungking Express.