In the Moonlight (2026): Bao Shang’en and Wang Hongyi’s Chinese Drama Is Almost Here — And It Looks Beautiful

A princess forced into exile, a reclusive ruler devoted to the gods, and one moonlit glance that changes everything.

Expected premiere: May 25, 2026 Episodes: 40 Genre: Historical · Romance

If desert backdrops, forbidden romance, and political intrigue are your kind of C-drama recipe, In the Moonlight (2026) has your name written all over it. Starring Bao Shang En and Wang Hongyi, this highly anticipated historical romance is expected to premiere on May 25, 2026 on Tencent Video. After months of buzz since filming wrapped, the wait is finally almost over — and based on everything we know so far, this one is shaping up to be one of the standout historical dramas of the year.

A princess with no say in her own fate

Li Yao Ying is a princess who didn’t choose the life she was handed. Forced into a political marriage and sent far from everything she knew, she finds herself exiled to a distant land — traded like a bargaining chip in a game of power she had no part in designing. It’s the kind of opening that immediately puts you in her corner, because there’s something universally infuriating about watching someone have their future decided for them without so much as a word in their defense.

But then comes the turning point: she is saved by Luo Jia, also known as Sultan Gu — a reclusive, quietly devout ruler who has dedicated himself to the gods and lives apart from the chaos of the political world. Their first encounter happens under the desert moon, and in that single glance, something shifts between them — a pull that neither of them quite asked for, but neither can ignore.

Love forged in the middle of war

What starts as an unexpected meeting quickly becomes something much deeper as war and instability begin to close in around them. Rather than retreating to the sidelines, Li Yao Ying and Luo Jia choose to stand together — fighting side by side to protect their people and the world they’re slowly building around each other. It’s a romance that earns itself through action rather than just proximity, and that’s always a more satisfying kind to watch unfold.

Adding tension to the central love story are the supporting characters who bring the political dimension to life — Quan Yilun and Ma Qiuyuan play figures with their own motives and agendas, keeping the drama grounded in something more complex than just romance. And Yang Shize makes a special appearance as Li Yao Ying’s older brother — a detail that promises some emotionally layered family dynamics in a story that could easily have kept its focus narrow.

About the source material

In the Moonlight (2026) is adapted from the novel Yue Ming Qian Li (月明千里) by Luo Qing Mei. The title translates beautifully as something close to “the moonlight travels a thousand miles,” which fits the drama’s central theme of connection across distance and circumstance perfectly. The production was handled by Linmon Pictures, with filming completed over a four-month shoot that began in early 2025, capturing the sweeping desert landscapes of Yinchuan for the backdrop. The scenery alone, from what’s been glimpsed in early stills, looks genuinely cinematic.

pretty people, we love you #inthemoonlight 月明千里 pic.twitter.com/j6iRcmb0sM

— ❦ (@ziyounae) June 23, 2025

Honest thoughts: is In the Moonlight (2026) worth the wait?

EDITOR’S TAKE

“A devout desert king and an exiled princess who refuses to be broken — under the moonlight, that’s not just a love story. That’s a whole atmosphere.”

I’ll be honest — the premise caught me immediately. There’s something about a desert setting, a reclusive male lead devoted to something greater than himself, and a heroine who didn’t choose her fate but refuses to be defined by it, that just feels like rich material for a historical romance. The visual potential alone — moonlit deserts, sweeping landscapes, the contrast of a warrior princess and a quietly spiritual ruler — makes this one of the more visually distinctive dramas coming out this season.

What really has me paying close attention is Wang Hongyi stepping into his first proper male lead role. He’s been a familiar face in supporting roles for a while now — known for showing up, doing great work, and then watching someone else get the girl. This time, the story is built around him, and from the early stills and buzz around the drama, he looks like he belongs there. It’s the kind of career moment that fans of his have been waiting for, and I genuinely hope the drama delivers for him.

Bao Shang’en as the bold, rebellious princess feels like solid casting too. She’s been steadily building up her period drama experience, and a lead role in something this scale is a natural next step. The real question — as always — is whether their chemistry translates on screen the way the still photos seem to suggest.

At 40 episodes, it’s on the longer side, and with a romance-heavy historical drama, pacing always matters. But if the political storylines stay strong and the leads deliver, there’s more than enough story here to justify the runtime. In the Moonlight (2026) is firmly on my watchlist — and I think it deserves a spot on yours too.

Drama details

Are you watching In the Moonlight (2026) when it drops? Let us know in the comments — are you here for Wang Hongyi’s lead debut, the desert romance, or the political drama brewing in the background?

📸 251203 电视剧月明千里 Weibo Update

Bao Shangen and Wang Hongyi attended the 26th ATF to promote #InTheMoonlight. Stay tuned for their reunion! #BaoShangen #WangHongyi pic.twitter.com/HANpMCyixK

— 包包𓍼ོ (@forshangen) December 3, 2025

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