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| 75-Year-Old Liu Xiaoqing Shocks Viewers as Young Heroine in Splendid Tranquility, Age-Gap Romance Goes Viral. (Photo: Sohu) |
At 75, Liu Xiaoqing is back in the spotlight as the female lead of the vertical short drama Splendid Tranquility (锦绣安然), portraying a young embroidery maiden opposite a significantly younger male co-star.
The series premiered on 25 February 2026 and immediately set social media buzzing, not for its two-minute episodes or revenge-driven plot, but for the bold casting choice that places one of China’s most established actresses in a youthful romantic role.
Fresh off her dignified grandmother role in The Prisoner of Beauty, Liu Xiaoqing flips expectations by playing Su Wanqing, a skilled weaver whose life is upended after her parents are killed.
Armed with inherited embroidery techniques, she sets out to clear her family’s name, revive ancestral craftsmanship, and find love along the way.
Her on-screen partner, Jin Jia, was initially rumoured to be 29, a claim later corrected to 45, though the age gap between the leads remains a hot topic.
What’s catching the eye is not just the casting, but the presentation. The production leans heavily into soft-focus visuals, and the story includes romantic moments under peach blossoms, including kissing scenes that quickly went viral.
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According to reports, one such scene was added late in the writing process, with Liu Xiaoqing herself questioning whether it needed to be taken “that far”, a detail that only fuelled online discussion.
The drama’s reception has been sharply divided. Supportive fans are applauding Liu Xiaoqing for refusing to let age define the roles she can take on.
Many quoted her own words, saying this is “exactly the age to pursue my career”, praising her confidence and work ethic as rare in an industry often obsessed with youth.
Others see her move into the short-drama market as smart and forward-looking, especially as more established actors explore vertical-format projects.
On the flip side, sceptical netizens argue that the visual gap between character age and real age breaks immersion.
Some viewers feel the casting is designed primarily to create buzz, comparing it to other short dramas known for pushing boundaries to grab attention. A smaller but louder group questioned whether romance-focused scenes were necessary to tell Su Wanqing’s story at all.
The conversation grew louder when supporting actor Gu Yanshou was reported to have liked a netizen’s comment describing acting alongside Liu Xiaoqing as a “work injury”.
Although he later clarified it was an accidental tap and stressed that it was an honour to work with her, the incident added another layer to the already heated discussion about behind-the-scenes dynamics.
For longtime viewers, the debate has also revived memories of Liu Xiaoqing’s career peak. In 1995, at 45, she famously portrayed Wu Zetian from youth to old age in Empress Wu Zetian, a performance that became a benchmark and cemented her status as an enduring screen icon.
To some fans, Splendid Tranquility feels like a modern echo of that fearless approach to roles, just in a very different media landscape.
With 80 bite-sized episodes released on the Hongguo platform, Splendid Tranquility (锦绣安然) is more than a short drama about embroidery and revenge.
It has become a talking point about age, casting norms, and how far audiences are willing to go with suspended disbelief.
What’s your take on this casting choice, and do you think short dramas should play it safe or keep pushing boundaries?