“Story of Yanxi Palace” premieres today—join us to witness the beauty and wit of the Qing imperial harem go head-to-head!

The Zhu brothers’ latest hit, “Story of Yanxi Palace,” is set to premiere on July 19 on iQIYI, eagerly awaiting its audience! The series chronicles the journey of Wei Yingluo, a palace maid during the Qing dynasty, who, with the support of Empress Fucha, steadily rises to become an upright and resilient court official. Along the way, she forms a deep bond of mutual understanding and trust with Emperor Qianlong, overcoming countless trials together and ultimately earning his favor as the esteemed Consort Ling—a pivotal figure in ushering in the golden age of the Qianlong era.

“Story of Yanxi Palace” is an ancient‑court drama produced by Dongyang HuanYu Film & Television Culture Co., Ltd., directed by Hui Kaidong, and starring Qin Lan, Charmaine Sheh, Nie Yuan, Wu Jinyan, and others. The Zhu brothers have long been renowned for their expertise in period‑piece productions; upon securing production approval, their team swiftly delivered four distinct versions—two from TVB, one from iQIYI, and another from Hangzhou. With tight deadlines and exacting standards, the Zhu brothers are celebrated in the industry for their combination of high quality and rapid turnaround. For this series, post‑production color grading uniformly employed a sophisticated gray palette, elevating the overall aesthetic; the subtitle team meticulously consulted historical texts to ensure authenticity and period‑specific flair. Meanwhile, the sound mixing, ambient design, dialogue editing, and visual effects all exuded grandeur and emotional resonance. With seamless collaboration across departments, the team strove to deliver a large‑scale, high‑caliber period‑drama centered on palace intrigue.

The intricate schemes and shrewd calculations of the imperial consorts in the series are truly admirable, while the romantic entanglements between the lead characters keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The backstabbing, intrigue, and treachery unfold at a breakneck pace, leaving us spellbound. With that said, let’s dive into the trailer and get a taste of the opulent palace drama set against the backdrop of Qianlong’s golden age.

Although the set design of “Story of Yanxi Palace” makes use of a wide variety of props, every detail—whether it’s the overall layout or the intricate carvings and polishing—has been meticulously crafted by the production team with no room for carelessness. Notably, the actresses’ lip makeup in the series is particularly distinctive: far from the exaggerated “blood‑red lips” typical of earlier Qing‑dynasty dramas, it features only a subtle touch of cinnabar on half the lip, offering a refined, modernized interpretation of traditional Qing‑era women’s makeup.

A big batch of high-definition stills is here!

“Story of Yanxi Palace” is set to premiere on July 19, exclusively on iQIYI. New episodes will drop twice a week, from Thursday to Sunday at 8:00 PM, with VIP members getting an early sneak peek of eight episodes. The Zhu brothers invite you to tune in to iQIYI’s “Story of Yanxi Palace”—don’t miss it! Let 2018 be swept up in the “Yanxi” craze!