Chinese dramas and films

On 10 August 2026, the 32-episode legal drama «Zhong Qi» (重器, Heavy Weapon) premiered on CCTV-8 and the streaming platform iQiyi.

The storyline spans the period from 1979 to 1997 - a time when Chinese law underwent its first major overhaul of the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), the country lacked a stable and systematic legal framework. The operation of laws was effectively suspended, including the foundational Criminal Code and Civil Code. In place of a formal legal system, a system of political expediency was imposed.

Decisions in criminal and civil cases were often made not by courts but by party committees or revolutionary groups based on the «shidai jingshen» (时代精神, spirit of the times, the prevailing ideology).

Judicial system was paralysed, and the procuratorate effectively ceased to function. Citizens had no mechanisms to protect their rights, and court rulings frequently depended on the political climate.

After the Cultural Revolution, the country found itself in a legal vacuum. On 1 July 1979, the fifth session of the National People's Congress adopted seven major laws in a single day — an event that went down in history as the «Seven Laws in One Day» and marked the starting point for rebuilding China's legal system.

The laws enacted included the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the Organic Law of the People's Courts, the Organic Law of the People's Procuratorates, two laws on the electoral system and local self-government, and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Joint Ventures Using Chinese and Foreign Investment.

China thus began the restoration of its legal system. It was not until 1997 that the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party officially put forward the directive of governing the country according to law, completing the transition to a rule-of-law system.

At the heart of «Zhong Qi» are five law school graduates: Chen Yi Zhong, Yu Gao Yuan, Lu Ze Ming, Xia Ying Jie and Zhang Li Hui.

The story begins in 1979, when the protagonists start working in different branches of the legal system — the procuratorate, the courts and the bar.

On the ground, they confront the reality that, in essence, laws do not yet exist, and both society and the judiciary operate under a «presumption of guilt». Over more than a decade of narrative development, they strive to change the legislation.

Running like a red thread through the drama is the establishment of the concept of presumption of innocence. Although seven laws were passed in 1979, the presumption of innocence was not enshrined in them. Even the very discussion of the idea of presumption of innocence had long been forbidden in China due to ideological constraints.

The series examines in detail the difficulties and contradictions faced by the country's first post-reform lawyers. Suspects, for instance, had no right to remain silent, and an indictment could be built on contradictory testimony. The protagonists are compelled to defend the principle of «innocent until proven otherwise», relying on the shaky foundation of recently enacted laws.

According to reviews, the drama culminates with the adoption of amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code in 1996, which for the first time enshrined in Article 12: «No one shall be found guilty except by a court judgment».

«Zhong Qi» is not merely a historical drama but an epic account of China's struggle to establish the presumption of innocence. It is a story of the building of a system, where the central conflict lies not in «who did it,» but in «how and by what right we can judge».

The leading roles are played by Huang Jingyu («Our Dazzling Days», «The Punishment») and Jiang Qiming («To the Wonder», «Harbin 1944»).

Huang Jingyu portrays young prosecutor Chen Yi Zhong, who through his own experience comes to appreciate the imperfections of the legislation and seeks to strike a balance between the letter of the law and justice.

Jiang Qiming plays county court judge Yu Gao Yuan, a character who constantly balances between the requirements of the law and the pressure of local customs.

The cast also includes Zhang Jianing, Jiang Peiyao and Yan Peilun. In supporting roles, the series features acclaimed veterans such as Yu Hewei, Ding Yongdai, Ning Li, Wu Yue and Chen Xiaoyi.

Production lasted 160 days: filming commenced on 19 May 2025 in Sichuan province and wrapped on 29 October 2025 in Qinghai province. Shooting took place in several cities, with the main locations being Sichuan, Chongqing and Qinghai. For authenticity, the creators recreated the atmosphere of the 1980s: courtrooms were reproduced in 1:1 scale from old blueprints, and the sound team recorded the creaking of wooden chairs and the howl of the wind in an old courthouse in Shenyang.

The visual style evokes a retro feel, reminiscent of an old film projector. The actors forwent foundation make-up and filters — viewers can see cracks in the brick walls, stains on enamel mugs and worn corners on case files. Extras spoke in local dialects.

All plotlines are based on more than a dozen real criminal cases.

The premiere attracted attention not only from viewers but also from the professional community.

On the opening day, the audience rating on the Kuyun platform peaked at 1.85%, with a two-episode average of 1.4878%.

On iQiyi, the project surpassed 6,000 points on the platform's internal popularity scale within the first few hours.

Six advertising brands supported the series launch.

The series will air two episodes back-to-back every evening at 19:30 on CCTV-8 and iQiyi.