Chinese dramas and films

On May 11, 2026, Youku unveiled the first teaser trailer and official poster for the costume drama "Where The Mask Ends" (Transfer Gold Hairpin, Marrying a Golden Hairpin, 嫁金钗).

Following the release, the number of pre-registrations on the Youku platform exceeded 690,000. The project is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2026, and the series will consist of 24 episodes (originally 30 were announced).

The drama's plot revolves around two young women with identical faces but different destinies.

Starring Tian Xi Wei ("Guardians of the Dafeng", "Wrong Carriage, Right Groom") and Yan An of PENTAGON, who has thus far appeared in one drama in a supporting role, "Fangs of Fortune".

Tian Xi Wei takes on several roles with a highly complex interrelationship.

A Chou. Since childhood, she has lived on the streets, collecting rubbish and enduring humiliation. Her real name is Wei Rao. She is the legitimate heiress to a wealthy clan, but she was swapped as an infant and grew up under the name A Chou. At the beginning of the story, she is forced to marry a dying heir in place of another bride.

Jun Dai (also known as the false Wei Rao). She has lived in a palace since childhood under a stolen identity – everyone calls her Wei Rao. She is arrogant, cruel, and a spoilt villainess. She was supposed to marry the dying heir, but she refuses. So, a beggar girl, A Chou, is foisted upon the groom in her stead.

The intrigue of the plot is built on this double substitution – in infancy and in the present.

Lu Zhuo, the gravely ill heir to an aristocratic clan, is believed to be on the verge of death, and it is decided to hastily marry him to Jun Dai, whom everyone takes for the fourth young lady Wei Rao. But Jun Dai, unwilling to become an eternal widow, finds a replacement in the form of her lookalike, the beggar A Chou, who assumes the name Wei Rao (in fact, reclaiming her own name, though no one knows this yet).

Meanwhile, the aristocrat changes his mind about dying and recovers. He believes his new, sudden wife to be a fraud who inspires no trust whatsoever.

For A Chou, a struggle begins between the Scylla and Charybdis of court intrigues.

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The creators have substantially reworked the novel's plot, strengthening the class confrontation line and adding elements of state-wide scale.

The project's director is Yang Long ("The Glory"), and the screenwriter is Zhou Mo ("The Story of Yanxi Palace").

Filming of the drama began on January 22, 2026, and concluded on April 4.

Read more: Tian Xi Wei and Yan An (PENTAGON) on the set of the drama "Where The Mask Ends"

During production, several events attracted the attention of the press and fans. On February 7, a key scene was filmed on set – a kiss between the main characters in a snow-covered forest after a long separation. According to eyewitnesses, the actors were so immersed in their performances that the kiss lasted about a minute, and Tian Xi Wei did not notice the golden hairpin fall from her coiffure. The director used a 360-degree shot for this episode, which generated additional interest among viewers.

Backstage video

At the beginning of filming, Yan An's image drew a wave of criticism: his makeup was deemed overly "heavy", and his appearance – not suited to the role of a military commander (this is currently a hot trend among critics). However, as shots of the actor wearing armour with his hair tied up in a bun appeared online, the negative feedback turned positive.

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