The Legend of Zang Hai
A 2024 Chinese drama about love, power, and redemption.
The Legend of Shen Li is a 2024 Chinese television series produced by Youku, Quantum Entertainment, and Chunyu Film and Television. Directed by Cao Yiwen and written by Zhao Liuyi, the series was originally released on Youku and CCTV8 in March 2024, and later made available on streaming platforms such as Viu, Disney+, and Viki. It became one of the most highly anticipated Chinese dramas of 2024, breaking records for reservations and viewership on Youku.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Revenge · Historical drama
- Creator
- Kennedy Xu
- Writer
- Zhao Liuyi
- Director
- Zheng Xiaolong, Cao Yiwen
- Starring
- Xiao Zhan · Zhang Jingyi · Zhou Qi · Huang Jue
- Narrator
- Zhao Ming Zhou
- Country
- China
- Language
- Mandarin
- Num Seasons
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 40
- Runtime
- 45 minutes
- Channel
- Youku / Viu / Netflix / Viki
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series follows the protagonist Shen Li, a powerful demon lord who, after a fateful encounter, embarks on a journey of self-discovery and love. As she navigates the realms of gods and demons, Shen Li gradually puts down her obsession and seeks the welfare of the people of the world. The main cast includes Zhao Liying as Shen Li, Lin Gengxin as Xing Zhi, and Xin Yunlai as Mo Fang, among many others.
Reader's Guide
The Legend of Zang Hai is significant for its commercial success and cultural impact. It was the first drama to break 9.7 million reservations on Youku, and it achieved explosive ratings upon its premiere, exceeding 100 million views and surpassing 10,000 in popularity heat index on Youku within 38 hours—the fastest to reach that milestone on the platform. The final episode reached a peak market share of over 40.1%, topping charts for 23 consecutive days. Its overseas cooperation map spans 15 regions, including platforms in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, North America, Cambodia, Japan, and South Korea. The head of Disney Asia Pacific noted that the series broke cultural barriers and was a common choice of audiences worldwide. In 2025, the Beijing Television Artists Association included the series on a curated list of innovative and recommended television works, recognizing it as one of the most noteworthy and artistically innovative dramas of the year.
Did You Know?
- The series started filming in Hengdian on December 30, 2023 and wrapped up mid June 2024.
- It is one of the most anticipated dramas on Youku, with high reservation numbers.
- The series has exceeded 1 billion views, currently at 3 billion views.
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