Chinese dramas and films

The filming of the xianxia detective drama «Beautiful Fairytale» (烟雨神游记) officially wrapped on July 18, 2026. The project was in production for 271 days, having started on October 18, 2025, in the Hengdian film studio.

Starring Zhou Yi Ru («Glaze of Love», «Veil of Flames»), Lin Mu Ran («Pursuit of Jade», «The First Jasmine») and Yang Zhi Gang («Strange Chronicles of Tang», «The Qin Empire»).

The plot revolves around the intertwined fates of gods and mortals. A Snake Demon named Xiao Bai (Zhou Yi Ru) defies the will of heaven to save a mortal and is punished by divine retribution – she is reborn as Linghu Yu, daughter of demon hunter Linghu Chu Qiu (Yang Zhi Gang).

The God of War, Yang Yi Zhan (Lin Mu Ran), is also cast down into the mortal world and becomes a demon hunter as well. Together with Linghu Chu Qiu, they travel the human realm investigating mysterious cases involving demons.

Unlike traditional xianxia mythological tales with clear-cut good and evil, the series emphasises subjective emotions and the individual choices made by the characters. The detective-episode structure incorporates elements from classic texts – «Classic of Mountains and Seas» (山海经), «Chu Ci» (楚辞), and «Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River» (洛神赋).

The director is Ju Xing Mao, and the screenwriter is Guo Jing Yu, both known for their work on the successful project «Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty» (唐朝诡事录). The supporting cast, in addition to the leading trio, includes Yu Yi (as the head of the Demon Suppression Bureau Yang Tian Gang), Yue Li Na (as the Dowager Empress), Wei Zi (as Yan Bei Dou), as well as Xu Jia Qi, An Yue Xi, Han Dong, Ma Xin Rui, and Hao Fu Shen.

For Lin Mu Ran, who played the fallen god of war, this role marked his first leading part in his career. Born in 2005, he made his debut as an infant in 2006 in the family drama «Golden Marriage» (金婚). He had previously appeared mainly in cameo or supporting roles, such as in the dramas «Nothing But You» (2023), «Lost in the Shadows» (2024), and «Love, Death and Cat» (2024).

His real breakthrough came in early 2026 with the release of the drama «Pursuit of Jade», where Lin Mu Ran played the crazy villain Sui Yuan Qin. Despite a wave of criticism (he even had to apologise), his performance attracted the attention of millions of viewers: within a short period, the actor gained over 1.4 million new followers on Weibo alone, while his short videos on Douyin amassed over 200 million views. In a record 10 days, his Douyin followers grew from 30,000 to 101,000 – a 16-fold increase. The rising star, nicknamed "little brother" for his young age and expressive looks, cemented his success with the role of a lovestruck assassin in the recently concluded drama «The First Jasmine».

In his farewell to the role, Lin Mu Ran wrote on social media: "One thought to be a god, one thought to enter the mortal world. For me, this time was not just acting, but immersion into a part of the character's life."

The series «Beautiful Fairytale» was filmed over nearly nine months, covering all four seasons from winter to summer. Virtual production technology was actively used to create fantastical locations – the Heavenly Gates, the Underworld, and other Eastern landscapes. 

The project is planned for 60 episodes, with the episode length still unknown. 

The premiere is expected in 2027 on the iQIYI platform, where pre-registration is already open.

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