We have another Republican-era Chinese spy thriller well on its journey to our screens, with the interestingly titled A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains wrapping up its filming on March 3rd and releasing its wrap photos today.
The upcoming war-themed, historical crime drama stars Zhang Ruo Yun, Liu Shi Shi and Wang Yang (who replaced Wang Chuan Jun in December midway through filming due to health issues Chuan Jun’s was suffering from), and has been filming since November 27th, 2025.
Stills from the drama have been released over the last couple of months, but today is the first time we have seen the wrap photographs, and we got a large selection of them.
Interestingly, they also feature the actors still in their period costumes, so we got a nice hint of the drama’s atmosphere as well.
The plot of A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains
Now, I am a sucker for both Republican-era dramas (what a fascinating time in recent Chinese history, eh?) and spy thrillers, so both genres in one drama is an absolute delight for me.
When you learn about A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains‘ plot, I have a feeling it might be for you as well. Especially if you are also interested in the history behind the beginnings of the Chinese Communist Party.
That plot sounds like this:
On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month in 1933, before a secret meeting of underground Communist Party members in Shanghai was even scheduled to begin, half of the twelve attendees had already been arrested. (Isn’t that an intriguing set up?)
Because of this, the Party members realized their secret operation had been leaked and that there might be a traitor within their ranks.
Communist Party member Chen Qian Li ( Zhang Ruo Yun ) is given a critical mission and arrives in Shanghai. His task is to find the traitor among the twelve, purge the ranks, and complete another top-secret mission while also being under relentless pressure from the enemy.
Chen Qian Li meticulously pieces together past events and people, dispelling the fog of mystery, and with unwavering faith, protects the Party’s secret transfer operation—”A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains”. Thus, ensuring its planned execution .
Yes, the drama is another pro-CCP drama, and we have been getting a fair number of those recently, but that never bothers me.
As I have said before, whether you are British, American, German, Spanish, Thai, Brazilian, Egyptian, or one of any number of other nationalities, there are dramas and films put out by studios in your country that are pro your government as well.
The Chinese, of course, are no different.
A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains cast
Along with the cast members I have already mentioned — Zhang Ruo Yun, Liu Shi Shi and Wang Yang, the drama also stars Guan Xiao Tong, Chen Dao Ming, Zhang You Hao, Sun Yi, Yin Fang, Chen Long, Zhang Tong, Cai Lu, Cao Zheng, and Sun Qiang among others.
Landy Li, Peng Guan Ying and Angel Wang also make guest appearances.
The spy thriller is being directed by long-time director Wang Jun whose recent award-winning drama The Tale of Rose was also critically-acclaimed, and is written by Wang Juan (Joy of Life) and Jin Hai Shu (The Wind Blows From Longxi) – so, yes, with these luminaries involved, I think we could be getting something special, don’t you?
Oh, and by the way, it will be a Tencent Video release.
Enjoy the pretty cast photos from the A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains filming wrap. I will let you know when concrete information about the drama’s premiere is announced.
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