The premiere of "The Longest Promise" undoubtedly brings the most pleasant surprise in this July. After all, this fantasy drama had generated immense anticipation across various online platforms before its release and even topped the new drama expectation charts multiple times. With solid production quality, beautiful visuals, and a high-profile cast led by Xiao Zhan, Ren Min, and Wang Churan, it has already laid a solid foundation for its popularity. "The Longest Promise" is a Wuxia & fantasy drama adapted from Cang Yue's novel "Zhu Yan." It tells the story of Shiyin, the aloof crown prince of Kong Sang Empire, and Zhuyan, the passionate princess of Chi Tribe. Their fates intertwine due to an act of kindness when they were young. Shiyin accompanies Zhuyan on her journey while they both strive to protect the Kong Sang Dynasty. In terms of viewership data presented during its premiere broadcast, "The Longest Promise" indeed lives up to audience expectations. Jiang Jiajun's expertise in costume dramas is evident in this series. His rich experience in martial arts filming ensures smooth transitions between scenes and fluid camera movements. The quality showcased in numerous action sequences highlights his skillset. Moreover, the visual effects are also commendable…

Every year, there are numerous exquisite Chinese ancient dramas. Among them, the beautiful and elaborate costumes in Xuanhuan dramas often create breakout stars who rely on their good looks alone. In recent years, many popular actors have emerged from these productions. The just-concluded youth fantasy Xuanhuan drama "Back from the Brink" has been a hot topic since its release, with over 1 million views at its peak and an increasingly engaging viewing experience. With meticulous costume designs and adorable pet effects as well as two leads: Neo Hou and Zhou Ye, whose emotional intelligence is evident while they navigate through sweet and anguished plotlines with ease, this show not only caters to Gen Z audiences but also propelled the popularity of both 95s-born lead actors. In the series, Neo Hou (Hou Minghao) portrays thousand year dragon Tianyao with his striking appearance paired with deep love that he wholeheartedly, devotes himself to without complaint or regret despite being battered by injuries. He never blindly blames others out of hatred for what happened but rather grows stronger during his journey to find himself again, resulting in an arc made brilliant by Hou's acting skills that helped him stand out from others. During…

After experiencing the oriental beauty of "The Island of Siliang" and the passionate combat in "Douluo Continent", what other expectations can we have for Chinese animation? The release of stylized martial arts animation "Blades of the Guardians" on June 1, 2023, surprises us with something new. Unlike the recent popular science fiction or immortality themes on various streaming platforms, Chinese martial arts finally becomes the theme again in the animated series "Blades of the Guardians (Biao Ren, 镖人)". A mysterious middle-aged martial artist, with a thin horse and a young child, walks in the desert outside of the country. He negotiates deals with bandits while making friends among commoners, he is both a armed escort and possesses an adventurer's courage. This character has rekindled memories of martial arts within society after only four episodes aired. Some see it as embodying Wuxia aesthetics; others use it to refute claims that martial arts are dead - even inspiring some to pick up original comic books once more. For a long time, whenever the content industry reached certain points, it was necessary to discuss the disappearance of martial arts theme. It is believed that lack of audience interest and reluctance from production teams…

It seems that the audience's preferences have changed along with the trend of Xianxia dramas. Increasingly, Xianxia dramas are bringing back the long-lost sense of youth to the audience, offering a blend of joy, passion, and adolescent energy. Not only do viewers indulge in the sweet and bitter plotlines, but they are also awakened to their yearning for idealized love, which can inspire the brighter side of human nature. If every generation has its own Xianxia dramas, then the Xianxia dramas represented by "Love Between Fairy and Devil" and "Back from the Brink" undoubtedly fit the aesthetic taste of Generation Z in terms of art style, character design, and core values. They meet the current young people's demands for passionate values, which is markedly different from the previous style of Xianxia dramas.   Character Setting Downgraded Prior to "The Journey of Flower," the main theme of Xianxia dramas was the growth of youths in a collective background. Such as Li Xiaoyao, Jing Tian, and Baili Tusu were chosen because they came from the lower classes or had a strong aura. Since then, the protagonist of Xianxia dramas has become female, and the narrative of adolescent growth has been replaced by…

In Chinese films and television, the martial arts genre has always been a powerful presence. The exciting and thrilling martial arts scenes and plot conflicts filled with tension are loved by audiences. In the 1980s and 1990s, it can be said that it was the golden age of martial arts dramas, and the shadows of swords and knives and the stories of seeking revenge for past grievances became the memories of a generation on the screen. Around 2015, costume idols and Xianxia were popular for a while. In recent years, under the downward trend of the costume drama market, the output of martial arts dramas has also sharply declined, and the martial arts world has become somewhat quiet. At the end of last year, the online release of "Sword Snow Stride" triggered a heated discussion, once again arousing the audience's dream of the martial arts world. With the hot-blooded premiere of the costume martial arts drama "Pledge of Allegiance" this year, the martial arts genre may be making a comeback.   1 New Martial Arts Drama Unveils New Core Martial arts dramas have a strong audience base. With the rising popularity of new martial arts novelists such as Jin Yong,…

Chinese costume dramas have gained immense popularity in recent years, both in China and around the world. These dramas are known for their intricate costumes, beautiful set designs, and of course, their unforgettable female leads. While each drama has its own unique story and characters, there are three distinct types of female leads that are commonly seen in Chinese costume dramas. In this essay, we will explore these three types of female leads and examine what makes each of them so compelling. Costume dramas are an enduring theme, particularly beloved by female audiences. Upon reviewing the performance of dramas over the past three years, we have observed that the female leads' characterizations have been continuously innovative in these popular works. Some are powerful and gallant heroines, whose continuous growth propels the work's excitement; while others are clever and lovable young ladies, naturally drawing closer to the audience and evoking emotional resonance.   Female Leads in Hit Costume Drama Among the latest and most popular five period dramas in the past three years, take "A Dream of Splendor," "Douluo Continent," "My Heroic Husband," "Love Like the Galaxy" and "Legend of Fei" as examples. "A Dream of Splendor" features a "career-oriented" female…

With more than 20+ Xianxia dramas to be broadcast in 2022, the "Xianxia Craze" will sweep the screen again, so if you are a big fan of romance Xianxia dramas, don't miss them! We have already updated some of them in our list of Wuxia & Xianxia dramas. In this article, we have added a new part. Till The End of The Moon · 长月烬明·月照千峰 (Aired) Aired: Apr 6, 2023 Also known as: Zhang Yue Jin Ming Genres: Historical, Xianxia, Romance Main Role: Luo Yunxi as Tan Tai Jin/ Cang Jiu Min/ Ming Ye, Bai Lu as Li Su Su / Ye Xi Wu/ Sang Jiu, Chen Duling as Ye Bing Chang/ Mei Nu/ Tian Huan In order to save the world from being tormented by the demon god Tan Tai Jin, the daughter of the head of the Hengyang clan, Li Su Su, takes a desperate step back in time to 500 years ago and disguises herself as Ye Xi Wu, the youngest daughter of the Ye family, to stop Tan Tai Jin, who had not yet been completely corrupted by evil thoughts, from becoming a demon god. What she didn't expect was that 500 years ago Tan Tai…

If you're a fan of Chinese dramas, then you've probably heard of Xianxia and Xuanhuan genres. These two popular genres revolve around ancient Chinese myths, legends, and folklore and they have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their unique storylines, stunning visuals, and captivating characters. From epic battles between good and evil to intricate plot twists, Xianxia and Xuanhuan dramas offer a mesmerizing escape into a world of magic and adventure. In this article, we have compiled the top 10 Xianxia and Xuanhuan dramas that will take you on a thrilling journey through mystical lands and fantastical creatures. Whether you're a hardcore fan or just starting to explore this genre, these dramas are sure to keep you hooked till the very end.   Chinese Paladin · 仙剑奇侠传 "Chinese Paladin" is a Chinese Xianxia Xuanhuan drama adapted from the RPG game of the same name. It stars Hu Ge, Crystal Liu, Ady An, and Eddie Peng in leading roles. Also known as: Xian Jian Qi Xia Zhuan Aired: Jan 24, 2005 Episodes/Duration: 34/50min Period Background: Alternative reality Genres: Xianxia, Romance, Wuxia, Fantasy Main Role: Hu Ge as Li Xiao Yao, Crystal Liu as Zhao Ling Er, Ady An as…

In 2022, Chinese Xuanhuan dramas achieve great success, with the airing of "The Blue Whisper", "Immortal Samsara", and "Love Between Fairy and Devil", that have left countless netizens lingering in the fairyland. As with historical dramas, there are still some unaired dramas on the 2022 to-broadcast list, check them out here. In this article, we will recommend some of the Xuanhuan dramas that will be aired in 2023.   Lost You Forever · 长相思 (Aired) Aired: July 24, 2023 Also known as: Chang Xiang Si Period Background: Alternative Reality Genres: Romance, Fantasy Main Role: Yang Zi as Xiao Yao, Zhang Wan Yi as Qiang Xuan, Deng Wei as Tu Shan Jing Plot summary of Lost You Forever In the ancient times, humans, gods and demons lived together, and the three kingdoms of Shennong, Xuanyuan and Gao Xin were in power. However, after a hundred years of hardship, Ji Jiu Yao (姬玖瑶, played by Yang Zi), the queen of Gao Xin, had not only lost her identity but also her looks and she had to settle in Qing Shui Town as Wen Xiao Liu, who had nowhere to go, no one to rely on, and no way to protect herself. Ji Jiu…

In China's long history, there have been countless thousands of distinguished generals and military strategists, and even today, their noble deeds and achievements are still often talked about. In this article, we will introduce Bai Qi to you. Bai Qi was a very famous general in the state of Qin during the Warring States period and his military successes laid a good foundation for the later unification of China by Emperor Qin Shihuang. According to historical records he won more than 70 battles, and never lost one. In his lifetime his troops killed over a million soldiers. Bai Qi (白起; 332 BC – 257 BC), also known as Gongsun Qi (公孫起), was a military general of the state of Qin (秦) during the Warring States period (战国时代) of China. Born in Mei (present-day Mei County, Shaanxi), Bai Qi served as commander of the Qin army for over 30 years, being responsible for the deaths of over one million people, earning him the nickname Ren Tu (人屠 lit. manslayer'). According to the historical book Shiji (史記) he captured more than 73 cities from six other enemy states, and to date no records have been found to show that Bai suffered a single…

In 2022, Chinese drama frequently produced wonderful works, history, Xuanhuan, romantic, mystery, even the most discerning viewers can find a drama that suits them. In this article, we have selected eight ancient costume dramas that are among the best in terms of reviews and reputation.   01 The Long River · 天下长河 Details of The Long River Also known as: Tian Xia Chang He Aired: November 11, 2022 Episodes/Duration: 40/45min Period Background: Qing Dynasty Genres: Historical, Political Director: Zhang Ting Main Role: Luo Jin as Kangxi Emperor, Yin Fang as Chen Huang, Huang Zhi Zhong as Jin Fu. Plot Summary of The Long River ”The Long River“ takes the story of water governance in the Kangxi period as the main line. It tells the story of Jin Fu, Chen Huang and other water governance talents who overcome all obstacles to protect the stable water situation of the Yellow River and jointly build dikes that cannot be washed away by floods. Since a huge flood in the 15th year of Kangxi, the young Emperor Kangxi began recruiting river governance talents. Chen Huang, a 24-year-old scholar who just after the failure of the imperial examination, stood out and was good at river governance.…

More than 20 Chinese historical dramas are scheduled to air in 2022, covering mystery, romance and comedy genres, including the highly anticipated Luoyang, starring Huang Xuan and Wang Yi Bo; The Wind Blows From Longxi, starring Chen Kun and Bai Yu, and A Dream of Splendor, starring Crystal Liu and Chen Xiao. The following is a list of Chinese historical dramas highlights for 2022, as compiled by Newhanfu.   Luoyang · 风起洛阳 (Aired) Aired: December 1, 2021 Also known as: Feng Qi Luo Yang Period Background: Tang Dynasty Wu Zhou Period Genres: Historical, Mystery Main Role: Huang Xuan as Gao Bing Zhu, Wang Yi Bo as Bai Li Hong Yi, Victoria Song as Wu Si Yue, Song Yi as Liu Ran The drama is adapted from Ma Bo Yong's novel "Luo Yang", which tells a series of stories about a group of people from different classes who are investigating an unsolved case in Luoyang during the Wu Zhou period. Gao Bing Zhu, a notorious deputy marshal at the bottom of society in Luoyang, is involved in the case by mistake and becomes a suspect. While trying to prove his innocence, he meets Bai Li Hong Yi, who is trying to…

Kesi (缂丝), the most traditional type of silk weaving in the Chinese silk industry, which is highly appreciated for its decorative qualities. Kesi is a kind of pattern with warp and weft, forming a pattern border, with the effect as if was carved, and rich two-sided three-dimensional sense of silk crafts. The knitting technique of Kesi is different from the embroidery and brocade. Suzhou Kesi painting is also known as the "Four Great Weavers" of China, along with Hangzhou silk painting, Yongchun paper painting and Sichuan bamboo curtain painting. The Kesi technique has appeared many times in the collection of ancient costume dramas, such as the delicate Kesi fans in the hands of the concubines of “Story of Yanxi Palace”, adding endless style to them. The another drama “Marvelous Women” which take the Qing Dynasty as the background, has restored the weaving scene of the Kesi.   The Uniqueness of Kesi Different from the weaving method of Song brocade, Shu brocade, cloud brocade which are woven through the warp and weft. Kesi with raw silk as the warp, a variety of colorful cooked silk threads for the weft, which are dug and woven by the method of passing through the…

Not a week later and I'm back again with the details on our even larger, even longer hanfu outing just last weekend on Saturday, August 13th! You can check out our absolutely PHENOMENAL photographer this time at @Ryfucius on Instagram, he was incredibly dedicated and we couldn't have done it without him. Inspired by the fun we had on the East Coast New England outing, Yulan and I decided to plan a second outing for our SF Bay Area friends on the West Coast too. This time with a party of 14 and a whole day's time, our itinerary was expanded to include multiple photo locations and a karaoke session at the end of the day—and hey, I got to participate this time! Our first stop was the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, a beautiful park with a lot of natural beauties. Our main target location was the Chinese Pavilion, an incredible work of archtiecture gifted to San Francisco by Taiwan. With a pointed roof and some enchanting carvings in the pillars and benches surrounding the pavilion, it was a perfect spot for a group photo as well as a lot of solo shots. We couldn't waste the rest…

Youku's pending fantasy drama "Till The End of The Moon" returns to the online game style and moves towards a new design direction. Not wanting the confusion of costume shapes in period-specific costume dramas, these dramas that pursue traditional Chinese costume forms such as "The Longest Day In Chang'an" and "Royal Feast" were also well received by the audience. In the newly launched drama projects, even the emotional-based ancient costume idol dramas, have begun to try their best to choose a style in line with today's hanfu culture in the design of clothing. Looking back on Chinese ancient costume dramas, in addition to the antique classic stylings in the audience's impression, such as "Journey to the West" and "Dream of the Red Chamber", there are also some pioneering, trendy, and bold ancient costume styles time. The stylings design of ancient costume dramas has great styles and aesthetic differences due to different themes and story backgrounds. This article will review the styling history of Chinese costume dramas from the two types of fairy chivalrous and realistic retro, combined with hairstyle, hair accessories, and clothing.   01 Evolution of Xianxia hairstyle In the early ancient costume dramas, there was no concept of "XianXia (仙侠)". "Xian"…

Cultural variety shows and historical dramas have opened up a new trend of Chinese celebrities' traditional costume styling. Starting with "National Treasure" in 2017, celebrities frequently time travel to various dynasties to experience the life of ancient people. Yang Zi acted in many Xianxia dramas (such as Ashes of Love, and Immortal Samsara), but in "National Treasure", she had the opportunity to talk with Princess Wencheng across time and space. The appropriate gold ornaments, together with the flower inlay between her eyebrows, highlight her dignified and luxurious side. Zhang Zifeng, transformed into a Qing Dynasty astronomer, Wang Zhen Yi. With her plain attire and calm and quiet temperament, you seem to be able to see the majestic universe in her heart. The 2019 suspense drama "The Longest Day In Chang'an", the thrilling investigation process, with a rich display of Tang Dynasty styling, adds a lot of features to this drama. In the show "Meet the temple of heaven" 2019, has a number of actresses changing into Qing Dynasty attire, which combined with the scenery of the Temple of Heaven, really gives a feeling of history shining into reality. Compared to Xianxia and Wuxia dramas, cultural shows and historical dramas usually…

  Chen Xiao (陈晓) Main costume drama works A Dream of Splendor (Gu Qian Fan) Nothing Gold Can Stay (Shen Xingyi) The Qin Empire III (Mi Yan) The Three Heroes and Five Gallants (Bai Yutang) Legend of Lu Zhen (Gao Zhan) To be announced Long Life Long Street (Main Role) The Ingenious One (Main Role)   Chen Xingxu (陈星旭) Main costume drama works Goodbye My Princess (Li Chengyin) The Legend of the Condor Heroes 2017 (Yang Kang) To be announced Love When The Stars Fall (Shao Dian You Qin) Feng Lai Qi (Main Role)   Cheng Yi (成毅) Main costume drama works The Imperial Age (Young Zhu Di) Love and Redemption (Yu Sifeng) The Promise of Chang'an (Xiao Chengxu) Stand by Me (Qi Yan) To be announced Immortal Samsara (Tang Zhou) Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Zhu Ye (Main Role) Si Hai Zhong Ming(Main Role) The Lotus Casebook (Li Lian Hua) General Order (Main Role)   Gong Jun (龚俊) Main costume drama works Word of Honor (Wen Ke Xing) The Player (Ren Yi Xia) Unique Lady (Zhong Wu Mei) To be announced Legend of Anle (Crown Prince Han Ye) Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Yue Hong (Main Role) Si Ming (Main Role)   Jeremy…

Cdrama Heroes (Say Hero Who is Hero, 说英雄谁是英雄) launched on May 23rd, the drama stars Joseph Zeng, Yang Chao Yue, Liu Yu Ning, Baron Chen, and Meng Zi Yi. It tells the story of Wang Xiaoshi, a kind-hearted teenager who goes down to the mountains and enters the Jianghu. He meets Bai Choufei, Wen Rou, Su Mengxiu, and others by chance and builds a deep friendship. In the adventure of the capital Jianghu, they experienced the brotherhood and romance of youth, and gradually grew up from ignorant teenagers to become unique heroes. Martial arts has always been a favorite genre of film and television, a series of classic martial arts works, such as "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", have left a deep impression on the audience. However, the times have changed, and the martial arts drama of our time should be how to shoot? This is the question that every martial arts drama creator thinks about. And "Heroes" has given its answer. "Heroes" are adapted from the martial arts novelist Wen Rui'an's work of the same name, and he is one of the four great masters of the new martial arts, along…

So many choices for your first hanfu—what are some factors you should consider before making your first purchase?

Historical political dramas, focus on power and strategy. In Chinese historical political dramas, the protagonists are usually in changing dynasties, with tense plots and complex character conflicts that portray the dark rivalry between different forces and keep the audience engrossed in the drama. If you ask what is the attraction of historical political dramas? Probably it can meet the aesthetic experience and expectations of the audience in many ways. The overall story is set in ancient times, and most of the settings are related to the imperial court, which satisfies the public's desire to pry into the royal family. The storyline, full of logical reasoning and details, also makes the audience constantly look forward to the direction of the plot. There are three kinds of themes in Chinese historical dramas that show the means of power and strategies. The first is imperial dramas, in which the plot focuses on the struggle for power among emperors, ministers, and heirs, mainly highlighting the politics of strategists, such as "Kang Xi Dynasty" and "Ming Dynasty in 1566", etc, basically takes history as the main vein and is rated by netizens as the peak of the power and strategies drama. The second kind is…