The Heart

Three cardiologists meet at the cardiac centre of the fictional Dongli Hospital (东立医院). Zhou Xiaofeng (周筱风, played by Mark Chao), a deputy chief physician, is about to be promoted to lead the coronary team when a new colleague arrives: Lin Yi (林逸, Jin Shijia), a surgeon from another hospital. They disagree about how to work, and the early episodes are largely about that friction. Fang Xiaoran (方筱然, Mao Xiaotong), an intensive-care doctor, joins later, and her way of defusing disputes helps the three settle into a team.

Each carries something outside the ward. State media describe Zhou as steady and tolerant, yet capable of real anger, for instance when a patient hides an infectious disease and endangers colleagues and family. Lin Yi has treated many patients while living with a heart condition that runs in his own family. The production team says some cases came from real events, among them a medical-dispute insurance fraud, a patient concealing an HIV diagnosis, and a young employee collapsing after overwork.

The series is set in a present-day Chinese hospital. It was written by Zhou Yifei (周艺飞), directed by Li Zhi (黎志), and is the first medical drama from the production company Linmon Pictures (柠萌影视). Its earlier title was Chizi Zhi Xin (赤子之心, "the heart of a newborn child"). The poster slogan played on the final title: "ask the heart with the heart" (以心问心).

Preparation was heavy. According to China News Service, the lead actors shadowed staff in a top-tier hospital for a month, the crew built an 8,000-square-metre hospital set, and more than 150 medical advisers checked the medicine over a 132-day shoot. The screenwriter says she spoke with nearly 50 cardiologists.

On reception, the producers told China News Service that during its CCTV-8 run the show had the highest average rating among evening dramas on all satellite channels, and that on Tencent Video its heat index passed 27,000 with a platform rating of 9.1. A sequel, The Heart 2 (问心2), followed in 2026.