First dibs: Catch Yanxi Palace spin-off series on Netflix before it's aired in China

Can't get enough of palace dramas?

You can soon catch the spin-off series of smash hit Story of Yanxi Palace on Netflix, way before the audience in China.

Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures will air on Dec 31 and tells the story of Princess Zhaohua, daughter of consort Wei Yingluo and Emperor Qianlong.

The spin-off stars newcomers Wang Herun and Wang Yizhe, who plays Princess Zhaohua and Fu Kangan, the son of scheming maid Hitara Erqing respectively.

In the show, the Qing dynasty princess contends with palace intrigue and a vendetta against her family. She also navigates the treacherous terrain of romance.

If you're a fan of Yingluo or Qianlong, you can also look forward to cameos from Wu Jinyan and Nie Yuan in the six-episode spin-off series.

Story of Yanxi Palace, a gripping tale of the power struggle among the emperor's concubines, enthralled viewers from China and abroad and was streamed over 15 billion times in 2018.

With its elaborate sets and costumes, as well as characters such the sharp-witted Wei Yingluo, genteel Empress Fucha Rongyin (Qin Lan), and ruthless consort Xian (Charmaine Sheh), Yanxi Palace became a megahit drama.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rUniSXMCcY[/embed]

Although Princess Adventures was filmed shortly after the main series, its release hit a roadblock in China.

Following the immense popularity of imperial dramas in recent years, Chinese authorities started taking them down after deeming their plots, which often include elaborate schemes hatched by back-stabbing courtiers, a negative influence on society.

After screenwriter Yu Zheng announced on Weibo earlier this month that the spin-off will be aired on Netflix, some Chinese netizens have even said they would consider 'climbing over the Great Firewall' so they could watch the show.

Will Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures achieve the same success as its predecessor? Keep your eyes peeled on Dec 31.

lamminlee@asiaone.com