Chang Hua Sen and Zhang Miao Yi investigate mysterious happenings in new Liao Zhai poster
The upcoming Chinese horror fantasy romance drama Liao Zhai starring Chang Hua Sen and Zhang Miao Yi has just exceeded 500,000 reservations.
If you have been following the production of Liao Zhai, you will know filming on the Chinese wuxia drama began in April, 2025 and was finished at the end of September. That means it will likely be the end of this year or the beginning of next before it actually premieres.
In other words, to have already earned 500,000 reservations this early in the game, it suggests Liao Zhai may be very popular indeed when it does eventually release.
Considering the C-drama was also named one of Tencent’s “Most Anticipated Dramas of 2026” at Tencent Video All Star Night last month, and is a very famous series of stories in China, I would say it’s pretty much guaranteed.
Along with the announcement of half a million reservations, Tencent Video released a gorgeous visual featuring leads Chang Hua Sen and Zhang Miao Yi in a wooded area at night that is lit by red lanterns, and obviously investigating a supernatural case from one of the drama’s main arcs.
Tencent also hinted at what we can expect with the drama, saying:
Strange tales and curious happenings unfold one after another, eerie and intriguing, painting a vivid panorama of life.
This newly reimagined collection of supernatural stories is definitely worth watching.
What is Liao Zhai about?
Now that the Chinese government has changed the rules about the number of episodes a C-drama is allowed (more are now allowed than previously), instead of being whittled down to 32 or 36 episodes, Liao Zhai is currently scheduled to run for 40 episodes.
And that means, due to the drama having a number of arcs, every arc will (hopefully) be properly developed.
The period drama itself is adapted from the classic Chinese story collection “Liao Zhai Zhi Yi” written by Pu Song Ling, and is the latest of several adaptations over the last three decades or so.
Its synopsis looks like this:
Strange and bizarre phenomena appear in the streets and all corners of the land. Humans, demons, gods, and ghosts are all worldly-wise; even flowers, trees, birds, and beasts possess spirits. Humans have demonic natures, and demons are born from the human heart.
A classic Eastern tale of the strange reappears, a volume of *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio*, deciphering yin and yang, good and evil, and depicting the myriad aspects of human life.
Liao Zhai is directed by Sha Wei Qi (Twelve Letters), and comprises a main story (which stars leads Chang Hua Sen and Zhang Miao Yi) with six other story arcs under it.
Those stories are:
- The Head of the Beauty
- Su Qiu
- Judge Lu
- Nie Xiao Qian
- Xiao Xie
- Master Long Fei
The main leads will appear in each story, while the others are the leads of their own arc.
And yep, with this crazily good main cast and some absolutely stellar supporting and guest cast members, I am just about as impatient as any other C-drama fan to have this drop.
I will let you know as soon as information about that is released by Tencent, likely some time later in this half of 2026.
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