The mainland Chinese hit drama “The Legend of Cang Hai,” starring top male star Xiao Zhan, officially concluded its 40-episode period series on June 11. The story not only marks the end of Cang Hai’s journey for revenge but also gives him and his beloved Xiang Antu a happy ending. Since its release on platforms like Youku and Disney+, the show has consistently topped the charts on Disney+ and recently surpassed a total viewership of over 2 billion across all platforms.
As Xiao Zhan bid an emotional farewell to his character “Cang Hai” on Weibo on the 12th, he wrote, “Little Hai, I am genuinely happy for you! Look, so many people understand you! By the way, I had a dream a few days ago, I saw your lonely figure walking steadfastly in the noisy surroundings. I tried hard to call out to you, but you seemed to not stop, continuing to walk resolutely… until disappearing into the crowd.” Zhang Jingyi, who played “Xiang Antu,” also expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you all, thank you Xiang Antu, thank you everyone involved, the Pillow Tower will always be here.”
Directed by Zheng Xiaolong, “The Legend of Cang Hai” stars Xiao Zhan and Zhang Jingyi. This IP is an extra novel from the “Grave Robbers Chronicles” series, with “Cang Hai” being the founder Wang Canghai from “Grave Robbers Chronicles: The Snake Swamp Ghost City.”
The drama follows the story of the son of the Qintian Monitoring Chief, who witnessed the destruction of his family in the Great Yong Kingdom. Ten years later, he reappears in the capital under the alias “Cang Hai,” using his crafting skills and cunning to unravel conspiracies and defend the nation. The storyline focuses on character growth, complex human nature, portraying a character who is deep in strategy but does not forget his kind heart.
“The Legend of Cang Hai” had its finale on Youku on June 11, with its Douban rating finally revealing a score of 7.1, sparking discussions online. Detailed data shows that over 330,000 users rated the show on Douban, with over 22.5% giving it a five-star rating, 5.3% giving it one star, and 33.8% giving it four stars.
User reviews of “The Legend of Cang Hai” showed a polarized response. Critics pointed out frequent plot holes and weaknesses, relying heavily on the protagonist’s aura to sustain the story. One highly-praised review bluntly stated, “The series is overall good-looking, but the script is lacking, relying heavily on the protagonist’s aura and lacking in tactics.” However, most praises focused on Xiao Zhan’s acting skills.
Despite mixed reviews, it is undeniable that “The Legend of Cang Hai” is one of the highly anticipated TV dramas in mainland China this year.
After its release on Youku, the show quickly gained popularity, breaking platform records. According to Cloud Merge data, as of June 4, “The Legend of Cang Hai” had a market share of 38.3% in terms of effective viewing. Data from Lighthouse Professional Edition showed that the show had an average play volume exceeding 41 million, surpassing the second-ranked “Bend” with 29.4 million.
“The Legend of Cang Hai” on Disney+ gained remarkable momentum after its finale, surpassing a total viewership of 1.5 billion. Hong Kong star Zheng Yuling, a long-time fan of Xiao Zhan, praised the show, saying, “‘The Legend of Cang Hai’ is different from typical revenge dramas, with a tightly-paced plot, unexpected twists, and meticulous production, making it irresistible to watch.”
At 33 years old, Xiao Zhan rose to become a top-tier actor in mainland dramas with his performances in “The Untamed” and “Joy of Life.” Since the premiere of “The Legend of Cang Hai,” discussions have revolved around Xiao Zhan’s looks, acting skills, and every move he makes. To portray “Cang Hai” in the best possible way and embody the cunning genius of revenge, Xiao Zhan not only diligently practiced his lines, martial arts, and etiquette but also quickly lost 8 kilograms, which has been a topic of fascination among fans.