Chinese dramas and films

On September 11, 2026, the historical drama «Against The Current» (兰香如故, The Story of Xiang Lan, Orchid Fragrance Remains, 蘭香如故) premiered on CCTV-8 and the streaming platform Tencent Video.

The project consists of 47 episodes split into two parts: the first, «Orchid Fragrance Remains» (31 episodes), and the second, «Enduring Fragrance» (16 episodes).

The lead roles are played by Tan Song Yun («As Beautiful As You», «The Road to Home») and Liu Xue Yi («The Princess‘s Gambit», «Kill Me Love Me»). The directors are Huang Ying Xiang and Chen Dan, and the screenplay was written by Tong Hua, author of the novels «Lost You Forever» and «Startling by Each Step», and Xiao Lou.

The story is based on He Yan Shan's novel. The action takes place during the Ming dynasty.

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Shen Jia Lan (Tan Song Yun), the eldest granddaughter of Grand Secretary Shen, was betrothed to Lin Jin Qi (Liu Xue Yi), the eldest grandson of Minister of Personnel Lin. But after her grandfather was convicted of treason and the entire family was wiped out, the Lin family renounced the Shen clan and sought to marry into the Zhao family.

Servants of the Lin family saved Shen Jia Lan by passing her off as their own deceased daughter. And so Shen Jia Lan took on the identity of Xu Lan Xiang and became a maid in the home of her former fiancé. Despite the harsh circumstances, the heroine does not lose heart, works diligently and resists injustice. In the end, she wins Lin Jin Qi's heart, earns the trust and respect of the Lin family, and clears the Shen family name.

The creators stress that «Against The Current» is not a traditional historical melodrama but a group portrait of women fighting for survival in a world where intrigue and hierarchy determine people's fates. For Tan Song Yun, this role was the most demanding of her career in terms of age range: her character travels the path from youth to old age. The actress became so deeply immersed in the image that after filming scenes as the elderly heroine she could not shake off the character's state for a long time.

Filming took place from May to October 2025. For the project, an impressive set complex was built in Hengdian - an entire historical Ming-era estate. The production team spent four months developing the design and then eight months building a real garden. The total area of the structures was about 2.7 hectares. All details were made by hand to ensure maximum historical accuracy. The completed complex is planned to be preserved as a tourist attraction after filming ends.

Even before the premiere, the series drew a significant audience. On Tencent Video, advance subscriptions exceeded 3 million, and the internal anticipation rating reached 11,610. On the day of the premiere, the drama topped the list of the most popular projects on Tencent Video, where the internal figure exceeded 23,000. On CCTV-8, the peak real-time rating exceeded 1%. Analysts note, however, that the project shows a strong start in online popularity while falling short of expectations in television ratings.