The Legend of the Condor Heroes

The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a 2017 Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha’s novel of the same title and a remake of the 1983 Hong Kong television series based on the same novel. The series was directed by Jeffrey Chiang and starred Yang Xuwen, Li Yitong, Chen Xingxu and Meng Ziyi in the lead roles. It started airing on Dragon TV in mainland China on 9 January 2017, and on TVB Jade in Hong Kong on 8 May 2017.The series was filmed primarily at the Xiangshan Film and Television City in Xiangshan County, Zhejiang Province. Shooting wrapped up in late August 2016. Other filming locations include Hengdian World Studios, Xiandu Scenic Area in Jinyun County and Xianju County in Zhejiang Province, Huanghe Shilin Scenic Area in Jingtai County and Tianzhu Grasslands in Gansu Province, and Tonghu Grasslands in Inner Mongolia. Although this series is one of many television series adaptations of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, it is the first one to be produced since Louis Cha last revised the novel.

In a January 2017 interview, producer Guo Jingyu explained why he produced a television series based on a wuxia novel which already has more than 10 earlier adaptations. He said that he is dissatisfied with many of the wuxia television series produced in recent years, and wanted to remake the 1983 Hong Kong television series The Legend of the Condor Heroes, which he enjoyed watching, for younger generations of viewers. He also explained the challenges he faced in operating with a very tight budget and time constraints, such as having to reduce the use of special effects and having to cast less well-known actors and actresses in the lead roles.