Zhao Liying (赵丽颖) stands as a luminary in the realm of historical and fantasy dramas. Known for her versatile acting, ethereal screen presence, and ability to embody strong female leads, Zhao has dominated China's television landscape for over a decade. This article curates her most iconic costume dramas, offering insights into their historical settings, genres, and cultural significance. Perfect for newcomers to Chinese TV, these recommendations blend rich storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and Zhao's unparalleled charm.
The Legend of Lu Zhen 陆贞传奇
- Aired: 2013
- Period Background: Set in the Northern Qi Dynasty (北齐; 550–577 CE), a short-lived but culturally rich regime during China's chaotic Northern and Southern Dynasties (南北朝; 420–589 CE). This era was marked by frequent wars, shifting alliances, and the rise of Buddhism, offering a dramatic backdrop of political instability and social transformation.
- Genres: Historical Epic, Political Drama, Female Empowerment
- Main Roles:
- Zhao Liying as Lu Zhen – A commoner-turned-political strategist.
- Chen Xiao (陈晓) as Emperor Gao Zhan – A reformist ruler battling court corruption.
Adapted From: The novel Nü Xiang (女相, "Female Prime Minister") by Zhang Wei (张巍), loosely inspired by the life of Lu Lingxuan, a historical female official in Northern Qi.
Born into a merchant family, Lu Zhen faces betrayal after her father's death, forcing her to disguise herself and enter the imperial palace as a low-ranking maid. Unlike typical palace dramas focused on romantic rivalries, Lu Zhen Chuanqi emphasizes intellectual battles. Lu Zhen's mastery of porcelain-making (a nod to Northern Qi's ceramic innovations) and strategic acumen catch the eye of Prince Gao Zhan. Together, they dismantle corrupt factions, reform land policies, and stabilize the economy.
Their relationship evolves from wary allies to partners who respect each other's ideals. In a groundbreaking arc, Lu Zhen declines becoming Gao Zhan's concubine, insisting on serving as his political equal. Her appointment as Nu Guan (女官, nǚ guān; female official) challenges Confucian norms that confined women to domestic roles. The finale sees her overseeing diplomatic envoys from Türkic tribes, symbolizing her transcendence of gender and class barriers.
Though exaggerated for drama, Northern Qi did allow some women administrative roles, particularly in palace logistics. The series revives interest in this overlooked aspect of Chinese history.
Scenes depicting temple construction and debates over monastic tax exemptions mirror real 6th-century conflicts between rulers and religious institutions.
Lu Zhen's early servant attire features rough hemp fabric, contrasting with later robes embroidered with mandarin ducks (symbolizing marital harmony) and phoenix motifs (denoting authority).
Zhao Liying's portrayal of Lu Zhen—a woman who leverages knowledge over manipulation—subverts stereotypes of "scheming concubines" common in Chinese palace dramas. The series' focus on meritocracy and institutional reform parallels modern workplace struggles, making it relatable beyond historical fiction fans.
Directed by Li Huizhu (李慧珠), renowned for blending historical rigor with fast-paced storytelling, the drama became a 2013 ratings champion, averaging 8.72% viewership. It catapulted Zhao Liying to fame, earning her the Best New Actress award at the 5th China TV Drama Awards. International streaming platforms like Viki rate it 9/10, with fans praising its "Game of Thrones-level intrigue without the nihilism."
Watch For: The tense "Porcelain Kiln Debate" (Episode 19), where Lu Zhen exposes a corrupt minister using her ceramic expertise—a scene that masterfully intertwines craftmanship, politics, and feminist defiance.
The Journey of Flower 花千骨
- Aired: 2015
- Period Background: A mythical ancient China blending historical fantasy with the Xianxia genre—a subcategory of Chinese fantasy centered on immortal heroes, celestial realms, and Taoist-Buddhist spiritual cultivation.
- Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Tragedy, Political Intrigue
- Main Roles:
- Zhao Liying as Hua Qian Gu – A cursed orphan destined to reshape the fate of immortals and mortals.
- Wallace Huo (霍建华) as Bai Zi Hua – The stoic leader of the Changliu Sect, burdened by his role as guardian of the Six Realms.
- Jiang Xin (蒋欣) as Xia Zi Xun – A jealous immortal who poisons Bai Zi Hua, triggering the central conflict - Adapted From: The bestselling novel The Journey of Flower by Fresh Guo Guo (Fresh果果), a pioneer of the Xianxia literary genre.
Born under an inauspicious star that annihilates all life around her, Hua Qian Gu is shunned as a harbinger of calamity. Her fate intertwines with Bai Zi Hua, the revered leader of the Changliu Sect, when she becomes his sole disciple. Their bond transcends master-student dynamics, evolving into a forbidden love that defies celestial laws. When Xia Zi Xun, a fellow immortal infatuated with Bai Zi Hua, poisons him, Hua Qian Gu embarks on a perilous quest to gather the Nine Supreme Artifacts—mythical objects like the Yan Shui Yu (炎水玉)—to save his life.
However, unleashing the artifacts' power destabilizes the mortal realm, igniting wars among kingdoms and attracting demonic forces. Hua Qian Gu's transformation from a compassionate disciple to the Demon Goddess—a deity fueled by betrayal and rage—forms the series' tragic core. In a climactic sacrifice, she destroys the artifacts and herself to restore peace, leaving Bai Zi Hua to mourn her loss for eternity.
Taoist-Buddharmic Themes: The drama explores karma (因果) and renunciation, as Bai Zi Hua's vow to protect the Six Realms forces him to suppress personal desires. Hua Qian Gu's journey mirrors the Buddhist concept of dukkha (suffering arising from attachment).
Xianxia Aesthetics: Ethereal settings like the Changliu Mountain (长留山) and Underworld Palace (七杀殿) draw from classical Chinese landscape paintings, while spellcasting rituals incorporate Taoist talismans and incantations.
Hua Qian Gu's rise as the Demon Goddess critiques patriarchal power structures, contrasting her agency with Bai Zi Hua's rigid adherence to duty.
Director Trio: Helmed by Lin Yufen (林玉芬), Gao Linbao (高林豹), and Liang Shengquan (梁胜权)—visionaries behind classics like Chinese Paladin 3—the series combined CGI-enhanced battle scenes (e.g., the Ten Thousand Swords Formation) with intimate character drama.
Princess Agents 楚乔传
- Aired: 2017
- Period Background: Set in a fictionalized Warring States era inspired by the Northern Wei Dynasty (北魏, Běi Wèi; 386–534 CE), a turbulent period marked by ethnic conflicts between Han Chinese and Xianbei nomads. The drama reimagines the dynasty's rigid caste system, where aristocrats (menfa 门阀) enslaved war captives as "human hunting targets" for sport.
- Genres: Action, Political Thriller, Survival Drama, Female Empowerment
- Main Roles:
- Zhao Liying as Chu Qiao – An enslaved warrior turned revolutionary leader.
- Lin Gengxin as Yuwen Yue – A nobleman mastering military strategy and ice-based martial arts.
- Shawn Dou (窦骁) as Yan Xun – A prince whose trauma transforms him from ally to tyrannical antagonist. - Adapted From: The novel The 11th Royal Agent (11处特工皇妃) by Xiao Xiang Dong Er (潇湘冬儿), blending espionage tropes with historical fiction.
Captured as a child and branded with the mark of slavery, Chu Qiao survives as a human "prey" in aristocrats' hunting games. Her combat skills catch the eye of Yuwen Yue, a cold-hearted nobleman who trains her as a spy. Initially distrustful partners, they gradually unite to dismantle corrupt factions exploiting peasants and slaves.
The story pivots when Yan Xun, Chu Qiao's childhood friend and a Xianbei prince, witnesses his family's massacre by Wei elites. His descent into vengeance—ordering mass killings of Han civilians—forces Chu Qiao to choose between loyalty to him or her ideals. In a defining moment, she declares: "I fight not for a king, but for tianxia (天下, ‘all under heaven')—a world where no child starves." Leading a rebel army, she destroys the caste system but refuses the throne, opting to mentor a new generation of leaders.
The "human hunt" ritual mirrors historical accounts of Xianbei nobles using prisoners for archery practice. The caste system critiques the Nine-Rank System (九品中正制), a real hierarchical structure favoring aristocrats.
Chu Qiao's fighting style combines jianfa (剑法, swordplay) from the Tang Dynasty Manual of Military Arts with gritty, survivalist moves atypical of female leads.
Slaves wear coarse hemp dyed in ash tones, while nobles flaunt silk robes with crane motifs (symbolizing longevity). Chu Qiao's transition to leader is marked by armor featuring the Azure Dragon (青龙), a celestial guardian in Chinese cosmology.
Zhao Liying performed 60% of her stunts, including a climactic battle filmed at -20°C where Chu Qiao single-handedly holds a mountain pass against 300 soldiers. This physical intensity, paired with her emotional range—from feral survival instincts to philosophical debates about power—redefined expectations for Chinese action heroines.
Director Wu Jinyuan (吴锦源) utilized over 10,000 extras and 100+ sets, including a full-scale replica of a Northern Wei palace.
Achieved 40 billion cumulative views, with fan translations in 15 languages. Trended globally on Netflix in 2019 for its "feminist warrior aesthetics."
The Story of Ming Lan 知否知否应是绿肥红瘦
- Aired: 2018
- Period Background: Set in the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋, Běi Sòng; 960–1127 CE), a period celebrated for its cultural flourishing, technological innovations, and the rise of the scholar-official (shidafu 士大夫) class. This era saw advancements in poetry, painting, and philosophy under Emperor Renzong's reign, with Neo-Confucianism shaping societal norms. The drama meticulously recreates 12th-century Kaifeng (汴京), the bustling capital, through its markets, academies, and intricate family compounds.
- Genres: Family Saga, Romance, Historical Slice-of-Life, Zhengju (正剧) – A prestige genre prioritizing historical authenticity and moral complexity over melodrama.
- Main Roles:
- Zhao Liying as Sheng Ming Lan – The shrewd yet compassionate youngest daughter of a mid-ranking official's concubine, navigating patriarchal constraints with strategic silence and calculated kindness.
- Feng Shaofeng (冯绍峰) as Gu Tingye – A misunderstood military heir ostracized for his "wild" reputation, whose loyalty to Ming Lan defies Song-era gender expectations.
- Liu Lin (刘琳) as Wang Ruofu – Ming Lan's formidable stepmother, embodying the complexities of feudal matriarchal power.
Adapted From: The critically acclaimed novel 知否？知否？应是绿肥红瘦 by Guan Xin Ze Luan (关心则乱), praised for its anthropological detail on Song customs. The title, borrowed from Li Qingzhao's (李清照) poem, metaphorically contrasts societal facades ("green luxuriance") with hidden truths ("red withering").
Born to a concubine who dies in childbirth, Ming Lan survives her marginalized status in the Sheng household by mastering the art of ren (忍, endurance). She observes strict Confucian hierarchies outwardly while covertly outmaneuvering rivals—from her envious sisters to corrupt relatives embezzling family funds. Her marriage to Gu Tingye, initially a pragmatic escape from a toxic engagement, evolves into a partnership where they jointly combat political conspiracies and clan betrayals.
Key arcs include Ming Lan's defense of Gu Tingye during a treason trial, where she orchestrates a courtroom spectacle using Song legal protocols, and her leadership during a peasant revolt, showcasing Song rural socioeconomics. The finale sees her establishing a school for girls—a quietly revolutionary act in a society prioritizing male education.
The Sheng clan's interactions mirror The Book of Rites (礼记), emphasizing filial piety (xiao 孝) and marital harmony (qi he 妻和). Scenes like ancestral shrine rituals and dowry negotiations were vetted by historians.
Ming Lan's hanfu features Beizi (褙子, long jackets) and Moxiong (抹胸, undergarments) reconstructed from Emperor Huizong's Court Ladies' Adorning Their Hair painting.
The drama highlights zhenjie (贞节, widow chastity) pressures and the qie (妾, concubine) system, yet Ming Lan's agency subtly critiques these norms.
Ranked among Netflix's Top 10 non-English shows in 2020, praised for its "Pride and Prejudice meets Downton Abbey" appeal.
Ming Lan's quiet resilience—using wit over confrontation—challenges Western "strong female lead" tropes, offering a nuanced portrayal of empowerment within historical constraints. The series' focus on domestic politics and ethical dilemmas provides a relatable entry point into Song culture for international viewers.
The Legend of ShenLi 与凤行
- Aired: 2024
- Period Background: A mythical ancient China blending Xianxia cosmology with political intrigue, set across celestial realms, mortal kingdoms, and the demonic underworld. The story reimagines classical Chinese mythology, particularly the symbolism of the phoenix (fèng 凤) as a dual emblem of destruction and rebirth.
- Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Political Strategy, Mythological Epic
- Main Roles:
- Zhao Liying as Shen Li (沈璃) – A phoenix deity and warrior queen of the Spirit Realm (Lingjie 灵界), exiled to the mortal world after defying a political marriage. Her journey from a hunted outcast to a cosmic peacemaker redefines divine femininity.
- Lin Gengxin as Xing Zhi (行止) – The last surviving ancient god (shanggu shen 上古神), burdened with maintaining cosmic balance. His aloof demeanor masks a profound capacity for sacrifice, especially for Shen Li.
- Shawn Dou as Mo Fang (墨方) – A conflicted spy torn between loyalty to his demonic lineage and love for Shen Li - Adapted From: The novel 本王在此 (I Am Here) by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (九鹭非香), a master of Xianxia narratives that blend Taoist philosophy with romantic tension.
Shen Li, the Phoenix Sovereign of the Spirit Realm, flees an arranged marriage to the frivolous Heavenly Prince Fu Rongjun (拂容君), only to be ambushed and stripped of her powers. Falling to the mortal realm in her avian form, she is mistaken for a "charred chicken" and sold at a market. There, she encounters Xing Zhi, posing as a mortal named Xing Yun, who recognizes her divinity and purchases her. Their coexistence evolves from antagonistic banter to a partnership combating threats like Liu Ming (六冥), a deposed demon king seeking to unleash chaos by reviving ancient beasts.
The duo's quest to restore cosmic equilibrium intertwines with a slow-burn romance. Xing Zhi, bound by celestial laws forbidding divine love, secretly orchestrates Shen Li's marriage to Fu Rongjun to purify her demonic energy—a plan undone by his growing affection. Meanwhile, Shen Li grapples with her lineage: her father, Feng Lai (凤来), is a fire phoenix weaponized by Liu Ming, while her mother, Liu Yu (琉羽), died shielding her from political exploitation. The climax sees Shen Li sacrificing her phoenix core to seal the apocalyptic Xu Tianyuan (墟天渊) rift, while Xing Zhi relinquishes his godhood to resurrect her, symbolizing their transcendence of duty and desire.
Shen Li's "Five Phoenix Transformations" (wu feng hua shen 五凤化身) draw from classical texts like The Book of Rites and Shan Hai Jing. Each color—red (fire), yellow (鹓鶵, yuān chú, representing nobility), green (鸾, luán, love), purple (鸑鷟, yuè zhuó, resilience), and white (鸿鹄, hóng hú, purity)—reflects facets of her identity and Taoist five-element theory.
Shen Li subverts traditional Xianxia heroines by rejecting passive romantic tropes. Her weapon, the Red Tassel Silver Spear, symbolizes martial prowess and political agency, contrasting with Xing Zhi's water-based magic embodying yin (阴) flexibility.
The series critiques blind loyalty to authority through Liu Ming's downfall and Mo Fang's redemption arc, echoing Confucian debates on righteousness (yi 义) versus filial piety (xiao 孝).
From the steely resolve of Chu Qiao to Ming Lan's quiet intellect, Zhao embodies diverse archetypes of Chinese womanhood. Her dramas often weave historical or mythological elements with universal themes—love, justice, self-discovery—making them accessible to global viewers. Collaborations with top-tier directors and studios ensure lavish sets, intricate costumes, and cinematic visuals.
