MediaCorp Channel 8's trilogy series The Journey (simplified Chinese: 信约 ) is a story about Singapore told through the lives of different generations of Singaporeans through the years, over the country’s almost one century of history. The story is told in three parts, spread across three years wrapping at the end of 2015 (year of the Nation’s 50th birthday).
As of 26 August 2015, all 91 episodes of the trilogy series have been aired on Channel 8. It consist of three parts - Part 1, A Voyage with 31 episodes; Part 2, Tumultuous Times with 30 episodes; and Part 3, Our Homeland with 30 episodes.
The story begins with footage of the National Day Parade, 2013. As the audience continues to enjoy the Parade, the urban Marina Bay landscape starts to fold and ravel, before the screen starts to move along the Singapore River, in the 1920s. Later, it dives in underwater where it shows a Tong Mao ship carrying passengers who migrate from mainland China to early Southeast Asia en route to Nanyang, later known as Singapore. Hong Shi (Desmond Tan) and his bride, Yazi (Jeanette Aw), set off for Nanyang from their homeland, China. Three years ago, he had gone to Nanyang without her. He returned to get her and they made the decision to settle in Nanyang, despite her father’s objections. On the same ship are two brothers, Zhang Tianpeng (Li Nanxing) and Zhang Tianying (Allen Chen). Tianpeng looks for help as Tianying is ill, but to no avail. The sailors want to throw Tianying overboard, as they are afraid his fever may be a symptom of a contagious disease. Tianpeng is grateful when Hong Shi and Yazi fork out all they have to bribe the sailors into letting Tianying remain. In gratitude, Tianpeng swears an oath of brotherhood to Shitou.
While trying to flee from the police, Dangyong meets Ding Hao and saves him. Ding Hao apologises for what he did years ago. Dangyong refuses to return to the syndicate; he regrets sacrificing so many young students in his youthful quests. Dangyong returns home and is happy to learn Zhang Min has given birth to a son. White Dog tells Zhang Yan that Dangyong is hiding in Bukit Ho Swee. Zhang Yan suspects Dangyong’s three-year-old son is his child, and his fury builds as he observes Dangyong’s happy family life. Zhang Yan makes plans to burn Dangyong and his family to death. While trying to entice Hong Kuan to leave with him, he slips, and his lighter sets the kerosene aflame.