Yang Yang is officially returning to the wuxia genre with the highly anticipated new drama Rain Ring Bell, where he transforms into a new-generation version of the legendary hero Zhan Zhao alongside Zhang Ruonan.
The large-scale martial arts series is scheduled to premiere on May 13 through Disney+ and Youku, immediately becoming one of the most anticipated Chinese dramas of the year.
Before its premiere, Rain Ring Bell already surpassed 4 million reservation viewers on Youku, proving enormous anticipation from audiences even before release.
Adapted from the novel by minifish, the drama combines traditional wuxia storytelling with mystery investigation and political conspiracy themes. Set during the Northern Song Dynasty, the story follows imperial guard Zhan Zhao after he becomes entangled in a dangerous rebellion case connected to the Prince of Xiangyang.
After surviving an assassination attempt, Zhan Zhao joins forces with female swordswoman Huo Linglong, played by Zhang Ruonan, and wandering martial artist Bai Yutang to uncover hidden corruption and conspiracies threatening the kingdom.
The production has particularly attracted attention for blending classic martial arts action with darker “anti-corruption” investigation elements, creating what many viewers describe as a historical wuxia-thriller hybrid.
Yang Yang’s casting as Zhan Zhao has already generated major excitement among wuxia fans.
Zhan Zhao remains one of the most iconic fictional heroes in Chinese literature, famously known from The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants. The character is traditionally portrayed as a righteous martial artist serving under Judge Bao while balancing loyalty to both justice and the jianghu world.
Previous portrayals by veteran actors like Kenny Ho and Vincent Jiao became legendary among audiences, making the role especially challenging for newer actors.
However, producer Hou Hongliang confidently described Yang Yang as the “perfectly chosen Zhan Zhao,” praising not only the actor’s strong historical-drama visuals but also his calm and disciplined aura, which closely matches the character’s personality.
The drama’s action scenes are also receiving early praise.
According to behind-the-scenes footage released before the premiere, the production heavily focused on practical martial arts choreography rather than relying excessively on CGI effects. Director Liu Hongyuan reportedly described the project as a “handcrafted wuxia.”
Fight choreography was carefully customized according to each character’s personality. For example, Zhan Zhao’s combat style was inspired by Southern-style Hung Gar martial arts to reflect the character’s grounded and composed temperament.
Yang Yang himself admitted during production interviews that the series contained some of the most difficult action sequences of his career.
The actor stated, “I finally realized how difficult real wuxia action can be.”
Many scenes reportedly required combat inside rainstorms, boats and extremely tight spaces, while other major sequences involved wire work and physically demanding sword fights.
The production team additionally revealed that Yang Yang personally performed over 95% of his action scenes, with reports claiming he sometimes filmed the equivalent of three days’ worth of fight choreography in a single day.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ruonan is also drawing attention for taking on her first-ever true wuxia heroine role.
Previously known for romance projects like My Love and The First Frost, the actress earned the nickname “first love goddess” thanks to her soft and healing image. Her sudden transformation into a sword-wielding martial arts heroine has therefore surprised many viewers.
Producer Hou Hongliang explained that Huo Linglong was intentionally designed to break away from traditional wuxia female stereotypes, adding that Zhang Ruonan’s lively and refreshing aura could bring unexpected charm to the character.
With its combination of political intrigue, realistic martial arts choreography and high-profile casting, Rain Ring Bell is already shaping up to become one of the biggest wuxia releases of 2026.
Sources: Yahoo News
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