Chinese dramas and films

On June 11, 2026 the long-awaited premiere of the drama «Archives: The Nanyang Mystery» (Southern Anecdote, The South Bureau, Cases of the South) took place.

The leading roles are played by Zhang Xin Cheng ("You Are My Lover Friend", "Justice in The Dark"), Ding Yu Xi ("White Cat Legend", "Melody of Golden Age"), Jiang Pei Yao ("Under the Three Rivers", "Once a Youth") and Fu Da Long ("The Lost National Treasure", "PLA Air Force").

The series burst onto screens at breakneck speed. After numerous delays, the show passed censorship just a few days ago and received its distribution certificate on the eve of the premiere. Meanwhile, the episode count was cut from the original 36 to 33.

Release date chaos accompanied the launch. First, rumors leaked online that the premiere would take place on June 10, then reports pointed to June 12, but the official producers and iQiyi themselves remained completely silent until the very day of release. This behaviour sparked outrage: fans complained en masse that they were being strung along. The topic "Is this series worth watching?" generated over 70,000 discussions on social media, and some viewers said such tactics put them off even before the first episodes aired.

The action takes place in the early Republican era in the Nanyang region. The story is a prequel to the famous "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" universe and follows two agents of the Southern Archives, Zhang Hai Yan and Zhang Hai Xia, as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of ships. They come into conflict with a warlord who uses a deadly plant called "Dusk Grass" to unleash a plague.

During the investigation, Zhang Hai Yan and Zhang Hai Xia face numerous life-threatening situations, which even leave Zhang Hai Xia paralysed. As the clues gradually come together, Zhang Hai Yan discovers that all signs point to a large vessel – the Nanan.

Ding Yu Xi's character, Zhang Hai Xia, racked up over 100 million views on iQiyi, reaching that milestone within three minutes of the drama's premiere.

The iQiyi rating has exceeded 6000, and the drama currently holds 4th place on the platform's list of most popular series.

Commercial breaks: five ad spots at the start, eight brands featured in episodes 1 through 6, for a total of 29 advertisements.

The acting in the drama is praised by almost everyone, with Ding Yu Xi and Zhang Xin Cheng singled out for special mention. Fu Da Long has drawn particular acclaim – his villainous character has become a highlight of the series. High production values, large-scale sets, costumes and the actors' willingness to perform demanding scenes (for example, Ding Yu Xi spent up to six hours at a time in the water) have earned viewers' praise. Since this is part of the "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" franchise, interest is also sparked by the departure from the canonical tomb-and-labyrinth adventures in favour of a plot centred on the mysteries of the southern Chinese jungles and the secrets of the sea.

Read more:
Zhang Xin Cheng and Ding Yu Xi to star together in series based on "Grave Robbers' Chronicles"
Ding Yu Xi, Zhang Xin Cheng and Jiang Pei Yao finish filming on drama "Southern Anecdote"
First trailer for series "Southern Anecdote" featuring Ding Yu Xi and Zhang Xin Cheng
Zhang Xin Cheng, Ding Yu Xi and Jiang Pei Yao in trailer and highlights for drama "Southern Anecdote"
New Stills Released from Drama 'Southern Anecdote' Featuring Zhang Xin Cheng and Ding Yu Xi