Tan Songyun drama sparks controversy despite record popularity

The Chinese historical drama ‘Lan Huong Nhu Co’, starring Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi, has achieved record-breaking popularity metrics on Tencent Video in 2026, but has simultaneously sparked significant controversy.

While the series reached a heat index of 31,492 within its first week—the fastest to surpass the 30,000 mark in 2026—critics and netizens have questioned the legitimacy of these figures. Some viewers have alleged that the popularity metrics are artificially inflated, noting that actual viewership numbers for certain episodes appear disproportionately low compared to the reported heat levels.

Furthermore, the production has faced backlash for its marketing strategies. Critics argue that the series is ‘relying on the reputation’ of the highly successful 2018 drama ‘Minh Lan Truyện’ and its lead actress, Zhao Liying, by drawing constant comparisons between the two shows. Fans of Zhao Liying have expressed dissatisfaction with promotional themes that attempt to position ‘Lan Huong Nhu Co’ as a successor to the established classic.