The Legend of Zang Hai
| The Legend of Zang Hai | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster | |
| Simplified Chinese | 藏海传 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Zàng Hǎi Zhuàn |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Kennedy Xu |
| Written by | Zhao Liuyi |
| Directed by | Zheng Xiaolong, Cao Yiwen |
| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Zhao Ming Zhou |
| Country of origin | China |
| Original language | Mandarin |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 40 |
| Production | |
| Production location | China |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | May 18 – June 13, 2025 |
The Legend of Zang Hai is a 2025 Chinese television series produced by Youku, Quantum Entertainment, and Chunyu Film and Television. It was directed by Zheng Xiaolong and Cao Yiwen, and written by Zhao Liuyi.
The series was released on Youku on 18 May 2025 [1]. It is also available on streaming platforms Viu, Disney+, and Viki.
Plot
After experiencing the massacre of his family, the main protagonist Zang Hai goes through decades of ambush and precipitation, and finally completes revenge with exquisite and reasoned calculations. In the process, after gaining more power, Zang Hai gradually put down his obsession and sought the welfare of the people of the world.[1]
Cast and characters
Main
- Xiao Zhan as Zang Hai / Zhi Nu
- Jiang Rui Lin as young Zhi Nu
- Zhang Jingyi as Xiang An Tu
- Zhou Qi as Zhuang Zhi Xing
- Huang Jue as Zhuang Lu Yin / Duke Ping Jin
Supporting
- Liang Chao as Master Gao Ming
- Song Yuan Fu as Guan Feng
- Yang Bo Xiao as Shi Lei
- Liu Chao as Zhuang Zhi Fu
- Wang Kun Lun as Master Zhang
- Sha Bao Liang as Chu Huai Ming
- Xing Min Shan as Cao Jiang Xian
- Yang Yu Tong as Zhao Tong Er / Ba Gong Zi [8th young master]
- Jin Tie Feng as Shi Yi Ping
- Qiao Zhen Yu as Lord Yong Rong
- Tian Xiao Jie as Shi Bing Wen
- Michelle Bai as Liu Chu
- Yu Nan as Xiang Yu Su Ti
- Zhao Zi Qi as Jiang Xiang
- Zhang Guo Qiang as Emperor
- Xu Ling Yue as Shen Wan
- Liu Ming Ming as Shi Quan
- Tan Yang as Zhuang Shan
and many others
Guest
- Wallace Chung as Kuai Duo [Zang Hai's father]
- Michelle Chen as Zhao Shang Xian [Zang Hai's mother]
- Huang Jun Peng as Ji Qun
- Lin Ya Dong as King Yan
- Shao Wen as Yang Zhen
- Shi Yu as Eunuch Sun
- Zhang Duo as Master Xing Dou
- Sun Zheng Yu as Song Xin [Old man]
- Lin Ya Dong as King Yan
Production
It started filming in Hengdian on December 30, 2023 and wrapped up mid June 2024.[2] The series tells the story of Zang Hai's life.[3][4][5]
Television soundtrack
The Legend of Zang Hai television series features a number of original soundtrack pieces. Below is a list of the tracks included in the official soundtrack release:
| No. | Title | Lyrics By | Composed By | Performed By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "It's Me" (Theme Song) | Yi Chu Zhen | Hu Xiaoqiu | Sun Nan |
| 2 | "Hidden Star" (Insert Song) | Zhou Jieli | Hu Xiaoqiu | Yuan Yuwei |
| 3 | "Blooming Cang Mang" (Insert Song) | Yang Sili, He Lan | Yang Sili | Wang Xinye |
| 4 | "Who Waits" (Insert Song) | Yang Sili, He Lan | Yang Sili | Liu Yuxin |
| 5 | "Moon Song" (Insert Song) | Zhou Jieli | Hu Xiaoqiu | Dan Yichun |
| 6 | "Amidst the Wind and Moon" (Insert Song) | Gu Xing | Chen Xinqing, Mo Qiao | Xilinnayi Gao |
| 7 | "Returning to the Moonlight" | — | Yan Qingsai | — |
Reception
The Legend of Zang Hai was one of the most highly anticipated Chinese dramas of 2025. It is the first drama to break 9.7 million reservations on Youku. The drama achieved explosive ratings and critical acclaim upon its premiere, exceeding 100 million views and surpassed 10,000 in popularity heat index on Youku just 38 hours after its premiere, becoming the fastest drama to reach this milestone setting a record in the history of the platform.[6] The final episode reached a peak market share of over 40.1%, topping the charts for 23 consecutive days. It also ranked highly on several charts, including the overall online drama series effective viewership ranking and the ranking of newly released drama series with 30 days of effective viewership.[7][8]
On the first day of the broadcast of Legend of Zang Hai, the peak ratings of CCTV reached 2.4666%. In the first week of its launch, the drama swept the ratings on various major streaming charts: it topped the Disney+ chart in Taiwan for 7 consecutive days. It also topped the charts in Hong Kong. X trends: "Legend of Zang Hai" entered the Trends charts in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Ukraine, India and other places on the day of its launch. #Legend of Zang Hai ranked in the top 12 of the global trend, #ZangHaiZhuan ranked in the top 1 of the Thai trend, and multiple entries related to Legend of Zang Hai and Xiao Zhan ranked in the top 5 in Thailand. It ranked in the top 10 in Vietnam, Malaysia and other regions. In addition, the title and starring related entries entered the top 5 and top 9 of the longest-lasting tag list in Ukraine within 24 hours. The Legend of Zang Hai has exceeded 1 billion views (currently at 3 billion views) and its popularity has skyrocketed. Xiao Zhan's performance was highly praised by the director and he wanted to work with him again.[9]
Its overseas cooperation map spans 15 regions, covering platforms such as Singapore Singtel, Malaysia Astro, Thailand Truevision, Vietnam FPT, Philippines and Indonesia Viu, North America Viki, Cambodia PPCTV, Japan C7, and South Korea SBS. The head of Disney Asia Pacific said: "The Legend of Zang Hai broke the cultural barrier. The data proves that it is not only a hit in China, but also a common choice of audiences around the world."[10][11][12]
When asked to comment on the mainland TV series Legend of Zang Hai, which has ranked in the "Top 10 Hot Broadcasts of the Day in Taiwan" for seven consecutive days and media reports from the island indicating that the series is so captivating that viewers cannot bear to stop watching, and they have highlighted the memorable quotes from the series, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said that a large number of original cultural masterpieces have emerged, receiving high market recognition and widespread appreciation from audiences.[13]
In 2025, the Beijing Television Artists Association, with support from the Beijing Municipal Broadcasting authorities, released a curated list of innovative and recommended television works across genres. The Beijing Television Arts Innovation 推优 honors outstanding productions that demonstrate artistic innovation, cultural impact, and industry significance in both content and craft. Inclusion on this list signifies that Legend of Zang Hai is recognized as one of the most noteworthy and artistically innovative dramas of the year by a respected television arts organization in China.[14]
Accolades
| Award | Category | Nominee | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weibo TV & Internet Video Summit Award (2024) | Most Anticipated TV Series of the Year | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [15] |
| China Television Annual Ranking Award (2025) | Jury Award for Anticipated Television Series of the Year | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [16] |
| 11th Wenrong Awards | Outstanding Drama Series of the Year | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [17][18] |
| Outstanding Young Director of the Year | Cao Yiwen | |||
| Outstanding Young Creative Producer of the Year | Zhang Ben | |||
| Quality Organization of the Year | Youku | |||
| Weibo Annual Blockbuster Certification | Most Popular Drama of the Year | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [19] |
| Hengdian Film Festival of China | Best Art Direction for a Television Series | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [20] |
| Best Net Drama | ||||
| Best Young Director for a Television Series | Cao Yiwen | |||
| Golden Angel Awards | Best TV Series of the Year | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [21] |
| Outstanding Young Director of the Year | Cao Yiwen | |||
| 8th 初心榜 (“Initial Heart List”) 2025 | Annual Outstanding Drama (“年度杰出剧集”) | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [22][23] |
| Outstanding Young Director of the Year | Cao Yiwen | |||
| Outstanding Young Producer of the Year | Zhang Ben | |||
| Weibo Vision Conference (2025) | Most Influential / Annual Influential Work | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [24] |
| Golden Lotus Awards (Macau International Movie Festival) | Best TV Series | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [25][26][27] |
| Best Director | Zheng Xiaolong, Cao Yiwen | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Xiao Zhan | |||
| Best Actress | Zhang Jingyi | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Huang Jue | |||
| Best Cinematography | Pan Xing | |||
| Best Screenplay | Zhao Liu Yi | Won | ||
| Sohu Fashion Awards (2025) | Annual Domestic TV Drama | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [28] |
| 4th CMG China TV Drama Annual Ceremony | Overseas Influential TV Drama of the Year | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [29][30] |
| Newcomer of the Year | Cao Yiwen | |||
| Best Actor | Xiao Zhan | Nominated | ||
| Breakthrough Actress | Zhang Jingyi | |||
| Powerful Actor of the Year | Huang Jue | |||
| Producer of the Year | Cao Ping | Won | ||
| Art Director of the Year | Liu Chengyi | |||
| Outstanding TV Series of the Year | Legend of Zang Hai | |||
| Beijing Daily's Film and Television Awards | Most Popular Male Actor of the Year | Xiao Zhan | Won | [31] |
| Most Popular Drama Series of the Year | Legend of Zang Hai | |||
| 2026 SMG TV Series Quality Awards | Annual Quality Role Model Drama | Legend of Zang Hai | Won | [32] |
| Quality Director of the Year | Zheng Xiaolong, Cao Yiwen | |||
| Annual Excellent Quality Star | Xiao Zhan | |||
| Annual Quality Producer | Cao Ping | |||
| Annual Quality Art Director | Liu Chengyi | |||
| Annual Quality Rising Star | Zhou Qi | |||
| Annual Quality Highlight Drama Star | Huang Jue | |||
| Outstanding Performance Drama Star of the Year | Michelle Chen | |||
| Annual Quality Highlight Drama Star | Wallace Chung |
References
- ^ 燕子爱写字 (October 24, 2024). "肖战新剧《藏海传》确定上星，总共40集，不出意外这剧会爆！_手机网易网". www.163.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ "Legend of Zang Hai Filming Locations Outside Hengdian".
- ^ "#藏海傳官宣開機#古裝劇《藏海傳》今日官宣開機並發布概念海報-- 新浪香港". Sina新浪香港 (in Chinese). December 30, 2023. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ^ "新剧｜郑晓龙执导、肖战主演《藏海传》开机_有戏_澎湃新闻-The Paper". 澎湃新闻-专注时政与思想-ThePaper.cn (in Chinese). December 30, 2023. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "肖战最新《藏海传》路透，2024年优酷首播，你期待吗？". Sohu (in Chinese). June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ ""Legend of Zang Hai" Starring Xiao Zhan Achieves 9,500 Heat Index on Youku Within 24 Hours of Premiere".
- ^ "《藏海传》总导演郑晓龙：没把肖战当成偶像演员来拍".
- ^ "Yunhe Data released its 2025 TV drama semi-annual report: "The Legend of Zang Hai" achieved a peak market share of 40.1%, setting an industry record". Archived from the original on January 13, 2026.
- ^ ""Legend of Zang Hai" has surpassed 1 billion views and has become a huge hit!".
- ^ "《藏海传》海外热播：一次语言与叙事的精准适配".
- ^ "'Legend of Zang Hai' adds to surging popularity of C-dramas worldwide".
- ^ "Palace intrigue conquers global screens: are C-dramas China's new soft power?".
- ^ "The mainland TV series "Legend of Zang Hai" has been ranked among the "Top Ten Most Popular TV Series in Taiwan Today" for 7 consecutive days. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council responded".
- ^ "2025 Beijing Television Arts and Literature Innovation Awards Released". Archived from the original on January 13, 2026.
- ^ "Xiao Zhan starred in "Legend of Zang Hai" and landed on the prime time of SBS in South Korea and won the Thailand Annual Award". Archived from the original on November 14, 2025.
- ^ ""Legend of Zang Hai" won the annual hit certification on Weibo, and the phenomenal blockbuster set off a craze for the drama".
- ^ ""The Legend of Zang Hai" won four awards, including Outstanding Drama of the Year on the Original Aspiration List". Archived from the original on November 14, 2025.
- ^ "11th Wenrong Awards honor young TV, film talent". Archived from the original on November 14, 2025.
- ^ ""The Legend of Zang Hai" has been certified as a Weibo hit of the year, and this phenomenal production has sparked a craze for watching the series".
- ^ "Hengdian Film Festival of China". Archived from the original on November 14, 2025.
- ^ "The Legend of Zang Hai won the Golden Angel Awards at the 2025 China-US Television Festival". Archived from the original on November 23, 2025.
- ^ "The 8th Annual "Original Aspiration List," a barometer of China's film and television industry, has been announced".
- ^ "The full list of winners for the 8th Original Aspiration List has been announced, with "The Legend of Zang Hai being most awarded TV Series". Archived from the original on November 23, 2025.
- ^ "Vision Conference, yet awards came knocking on his door? The Legend of Zanghai is still too authoritative". Archived from the original on November 23, 2025.
- ^ "Xiao Zhan's drama, "The Legend of Zang Hai" has been nominated for awards at the Macau International Television Festival, and the hit drama has now won six awards". Archived from the original on November 25, 2025.
- ^ "The Legend of Zang Hai portrait was submitted to the Macau International Television Festival, where a constellation of stars competed for glory".
- ^ "The 16th Macao International Television Festival announced its nominees for Best Drama Series". Archived from the original on November 25, 2025.
- ^ "The 2025 Sohu Fashion Awards concluded successfully, with stars shining brightly". Archived from the original on January 13, 2026.
- ^ "The Legend of the Tibetan Sea: Outstanding TV Series of the Year; Xiao Zhan nominated for Best Actor of the Year". Archived from the original on February 19, 2026.
- ^ "24 Annual Awards! The 4th CMG China TV Drama Annual Ceremony Announced". Archived from the original on February 19, 2026.
- ^ "The Legend of Zang Hai won two awards at Beijing Daily's Film and Television Awards".
- ^ "The winners of the 2026 TV Drama Quality Ceremony have been announced, with Xiao Zhan's "The Legend of Zang Hai" emerging as the biggest winner!". Archived from the original on March 12, 2026.