Chinese dramas and films

The premiere date has been set for the historical drama «Against The Current» (兰香如故, The Story of Xiang Lan, Orchid Fragrance Remains, 蘭香如故). According to the production team, the series will debut on September 11, 2026, on CCTV-8 and the streaming platform Tencent Video.

The lead roles are played by Tan Songyun («As Beautiful As You», «The Road to Home») and Liu Xueyi («The Princess's Gambit», «Kill Me Love Me»).

Read more: Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi to Star in Historical Drama «Against The Current»

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

The project is based on He Yanshan's novel «Lan Xiang Yuan». The story follows Shen Jialan (Tan Songyun), granddaughter of a high-ranking official. After her family is destroyed by court intrigues, servants Xu Wanquan and his wife save her and give her the name of their deceased daughter, Xu Lanxiang. She then enters the household of her former fiancé Lin Jinqi (Liu Xueyi) as a servant.

Shen Jialan's journey takes her from a powerless slave to the mistress of the house. Through intelligence, kindness, and perseverance, she earns the respect of the family and the love of Lin Jinqi.

The creators emphasise that «Against The Current» is not a conventional historical melodrama but rather an ensemble piece that portrays women fighting for survival in a world where intrigue and hierarchy shape people's fates.

Tan Songyun takes on the widest age range of her career, portraying her character from youth to old age.

The actress became so immersed in the role that she reportedly had difficulty stepping out of character after filming scenes as the elderly version of her character.

For the production, an impressive historical estate set was built in Hengdian. The creative team spent four months on the design, followed by eight months of construction on a Ming-dynasty garden. The total area of the complex is approximately 2.7 hectares. Every detail was crafted by hand to ensure maximum historical authenticity. After filming wraps, the site is expected to be preserved as a tourist attraction, drawing fans and generating revenue.

Video about set construction

Pre-release reservations have already surpassed 3 million.

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