Legend of Fuyao

Lore & Background

The story takes place in the universe of Five Kingdoms led by the Imperial City of Tianquan. Fuyao was formed from a lotus borne by the Ancient firmament. Adopted as an orphan, she served as a slave for the Xuanyuan sect from the Taiyuan Kingdom. A series of tragedies resulted in a journey across the land to gather the magical artifacts that could lift the curse that blighted her life. Along the way, she met the Crown Prince of Tianquan who was masquerading as the heir of Taiyuan while conducting secret missions to quell unrest in the Five Kingdoms. The pair fell in love as they battled the complicated politics and power plays between the different forces. With the help of her loyal companions, Fuyao set out to unravel the heinous plot of the ancient firmament. She discovered her real identity as the 'Lotus Princess' and succeeded in destroying the evil forces, bringing peace to the land of Five Kingdoms.

Reader's Guide

Legend of Fuyao was produced by Linmon Pictures and directed by Magnolia Award-winner Yang Wenjun. Filming began on June 27, 2017 in Hengdian World Studios and wrapped on November 24, 2017, with additional location work in Yinchuan. The series built numerous sets on a barren land of up to 60,000 square meters. Despite divided reviews, the series gained 14 billion views in 50 days, becoming the most viewed online drama of the summer season. It was praised by CCTV media for transmitting positive values such as persistence, independence, and magnanimity, and was highly praised in the Daily Pakistan newspaper for its cinematography and presentation of Chinese characteristics. The series also featured notable crew including martial arts choreographer Li Cai, art director Shao Changyong, and costume designer Stanley Cheung.

Did You Know?

• The series is based on the novel Empress Fuyao by Tianxia Guiyuan.
• Filming took place at Hengdian World Studios and Yinchuan, with sets built on up to 60,000 square meters of barren land.
• The series reportedly gained around 13 billion views over its run, making it one of the most viewed online dramas of the summer season.

The Epic Narrative of the Five Kingdoms

Set within the sprawling universe of the Five Kingdoms, a realm governed by the Imperial City of Tianquan, the series follows Fuyao, a young woman born from a lotus carried by the Ancient Firmament. Raised as an orphan and forced into servitude for the Xuanyuan sect of the Taiyuan Kingdom, she endures a cascade of personal tragedies that ultimately propels her onto a sweeping quest. Her mission: to collect magical artifacts capable of breaking the curse that has shadowed her existence. During this odyssey, her path crosses with the Crown Prince of Tianquan, who has been operating under a false identity as the heir of Taiyuan while secretly working to suppress unrest across the kingdoms. What begins as a chance encounter blossoms into a deep romance, tested constantly by the intricate political machinations and power struggles that define the world around them. Surrounded by loyal companions, Fuyao ultimately uncovers the sinister conspiracy woven by the Ancient Firmament, reveals her true identity as the Lotus Princess, and defeats the evil forces threatening the land, restoring peace to all Five Kingdoms.

A Dream Team Behind the Camera

Produced by Linmon Pictures, the series assembled an extraordinary creative team that blended award-winning directors with celebrated choreographers and designers. At the helm was Yang Wenjun, a Magnolia Award recipient previously known for Divorce Lawyers, who brought a refined storytelling sensibility to the project. The action sequences were shaped by Li Cai, a martial arts choreographer whose résumé includes the acclaimed films Hero and House of Flying Daggers. Art direction fell to Shao Changyong, recognized for his work on Nirvana in Fire and The Disguiser, while costume design was entrusted to Stanley Cheung, a two-time Golden Horse Award winner. Filming commenced on June 27, 2017, at Hengdian World Studios and concluded on November 24, 2017, spanning nearly five months of production. Beyond the studio, the crew also shot in Yinchuan and constructed an enormous set on a stretch of barren land measuring up to 60,000 square meters, underscoring the scale of ambition behind the production.

Casting and the Making of Fuyao

Yang Mi's selection as the female lead was first revealed at Linmon Picture's annual television production showcase in February 2017, when the project was described as an eastern fantasy infused with thrilling political intrigue and contemporary relationship values. Four months later, in June 2017, Ethan Juan was confirmed as the male lead, with both actors personally announcing their roles on their respective Weibo accounts. The following month, July 2017, saw the unveiling of major supporting cast members through official picture stills released to the public. The series is adapted from the novel Empress Fuyao by author Tianxia Guiyuan, and it stars the two leads in a story that weaves together fantasy elements, courtly politics, and a central romantic arc. The production was designed to appeal to a broad audience by combining the spectacle of an epic fantasy world with emotionally resonant character dynamics, a formula that would prove highly effective upon the show's release.

Breaking Records and Crossing Borders

Airing on Zhejiang TV from June 18 to August 13, 2018, the series achieved remarkable viewership both domestically and internationally. While critical reception was divided, the show's popularity surged through online platforms, where it accumulated a staggering 14 billion views within just 50 days of release, earning the distinction of being the most-watched online drama of that summer season. The broadcast model also reflected the evolving Chinese streaming landscape: portions of the series were made available on Tencent Video ahead of the television premiere, with VIP subscribers gaining access to four episodes before non-VIP viewers and the regular TV broadcast. Internationally, the series found enthusiastic audiences abroad, with the Daily Pakistan newspaper singling out the production as a wonderful presentation of Chinese characteristics and specifically lauding its cinematography. Back home, CCTV media praised the show for championing positive values such as persistence, independence, and magnanimity, while encouraging viewers to pursue their dreams.