Robin Williams found dead in apparent suicide

'Movie universities' pull crowds

Wu Hui, professor of Party-building at the CPC Central Committee's Party School, said, "This series is more realistic and attractive as it is successful in portraying the 'real' Deng Xiaoping to viewers."

He said the new series uses a great deal of its content to show what Deng was like in daily life, giving viewers a full picture of the statesman.

Wu said the drama comes at the right time, with the public placing great hopes in the leadership headed by President Xi Jinping.

"Deng pioneered the reform and opening-up that modernized China.

"Now, the government under President Xi has proved it has the determination and ability to resolve long-standing problems such as corruption and unfair distribution of income, so people have more hope that it will act like Deng to open a new chapter for the nation."

He said viewers could see that Xi has the same sense of mission as Deng had.

"Xi chose Shenzhen, the city that symbolizes Deng's reform and opening-up, as the destination for his first inspection tour to highlight his pledge to deepen overall reforms, and he has made tremendous achievements," Wu said.

"Now the TV series and other 'charm offensives' will help the government to clear remaining obstacles to ongoing reforms."

Yuan Wuzhen, a history professor at Xi'an University of Posts and Telecommunications, said, "Reforms have entered a complicated phase, so we can learn and gain a lot of useful experience from Deng's theories and efforts."