CHINESE show “Story of Yanxi Palace” has become the most-Googled TV show of 2018 globally.

According to BBC’s report, Google’s data shows that out of all the TV series that were followed and searched many times by netizens last year, “Story of Yanxi Palace” in China topped the list, becoming the most-searched TV series in 2018.

According to the report, the series is overwhelmingly popular on the Chinese mainland and has been viewed more than 15 billion times on website iQIYI. The series premiered on iQIYI in July, before reaching Chinese domestic TV channels and more than 70 markets abroad.

There are few reasons for the popularity of the series, such as that it keeps pace with the trend of feminist shows, and has a high-quality production value.

According to Chinese magazine Portrait, the series producer Yu Zheng said that the actors were paid less because the company had “deliberately cast lesser-known actors,” more money could be spent on better costumes, makeup, props, and other aspects, and it was precisely these details that won the audience’s admiration for “Story of Yanxi Palace,” BBC said.

Set against the backdrop of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), “Story of Yanxi Palace” features the struggles for power among ambitious women in the imperial palace who want to be the future empress.

BBC also said the show’s popularity in China reflected the “feminist-themed soap operas” that have been capturing the attention of Chinese audiences in recent years. (SD-Agencies)