Chang Ge Xing / Choukakou / The Song of the Long March is a beautiful and sweeping manhua set in China during the Tang dynasty. It follows the life and movement of Li Chang Ge -- formerly Princess Yongning of the Tang dynasty -- in the wake of a coup de etat staged by her uncle that sees her family dead and results in a (failed) attempt on her own life.

Without spoiling too much, I will say that the manhua is a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in history, and anyone who appreciates a well-written, strong female character. Li Chang Ge is highly intelligent, extremely cunning, but also scrupled and, in many cases, exceedingly loyal. She is not without flaws, of course; her "path" is a sad and lonely one of vengeance, and even for all that, she struggles to banish the emotions that path carries with it. And yes, romance fans -- although this is primarily a historical/political drama, there are romantic undertones that promise to play out a bit more in the future.

The art in this story is breathtaking and does an amazing job portraying a wide variety of characters and settings; conveying tone and feeling without having to be explicit about it. You will laugh, cry, and find yourself philosophizing as you read along. My only hang up with this story is that it's currenly on hiatus; I can only hope it gets picked back up soon.

Truly truly truly worth every second spent reading. It is a feast for the mind and the heart and the eyes.