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| Pursuit of Jade Joins Elite 40% Club, A Record Only Seven Chinese Dramas Have Achieved Since 2017. (Credits: Tencent Video) |
Chinese historical romance Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) has erupted into one of the most talked-about dramas of 2026, setting multiple platform records within days of its premiere and quickly establishing itself as one of the year’s most dominant streaming titles.
Data released by WeTV and Yunhe Data shows the series, led by Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, surged past a Heat Index of 29,000 within just three days of release, while also entering an exclusive list of dramas that have crossed the 40 per cent daily market share threshold across all Chinese streaming platforms.
The milestone places the drama among only seven productions to achieve the feat since Yunhe Data began tracking industry viewership in 2017 — a statistic widely viewed as one of the clearest indicators of genuine nationwide attention.
The momentum behind Pursuit of Jade was visible long before the first episode aired.
According to figures shared in a WeTV Malaysia press statement, the drama gathered roughly 75,000 reservations on the WeTV Global app ahead of its premiere. That early anticipation quickly translated into viewing traffic once the series launched.
Within approximately 15 minutes of its debut, the drama’s Heat Index had already crossed 24,000 — a level many shows take days to reach.
The growth continued at pace. By 8 March 2026, the score had climbed past 29,000, marking one of the fastest rises seen on the platform in recent years. WeTV said the drama is now the fastest-growing series on the service since 2025.
As of today, the drama has reached a Heat Index of 30,000..
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| 30000 Heat Index (12 March 2026) |
Industry observers note that such rapid engagement often reflects a strong combination of audience curiosity, social discussion, and sustained viewing rather than one-off promotional traffic.
The bigger headline arrived days later.
Analytics platform Yunhe Data reported that Pursuit of Jade reached a daily market share of 41.1 per cent across all online streaming platforms — a number rarely seen in China’s highly competitive drama market.
The figure represents the proportion of total drama viewing occupied by a single show on a given day. In simple terms, when a series reaches that level it means nearly half of all drama viewers online were watching the same title.
Since Yunhe Data launched in 2017, only six other dramas have crossed the same benchmark.
Those titles include:
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The Knockout (狂飙) – 67.9%
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Joy of Life 2 (庆余年2) – 55%
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This Thriving Land (胜万物) – 46.1%
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My Heroic Husband (赘婿) – 41.8%
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Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼) – 41.7%
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The Legend of Zang Hai (藏海传) – 40.1%
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Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) – 41.1%
By joining the list, Pursuit of Jade becomes the seventh drama in nine years to break the 40 per cent ceiling — a level widely considered the peak of mainstream attention in China’s online television landscape.
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Records Broken by Pursuit of Jade
The drama has already compiled a series of notable achievements:
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Fastest WeTV drama since 2025 to exceed a 29,000 Heat Index
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Heat Index surpassing 24,000 within 15 minutes of premiere
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Over 75,000 reservations on WeTV Global before release
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Achieved 41.1% daily market share across all platforms
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Entered the top seven dramas to surpass 40% market share since 2017
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Viewership growth reportedly outpacing The Knockout’s early release figures
Together, these figures underline the scale of attention surrounding the series in its opening week.
Part of the drama’s draw lies in its narrative.
Pursuit of Jade follows Fan Changyu, a determined butcher navigating a turbulent era, and Xie Zheng, a once-privileged nobleman whose life has been overturned by shifting political forces.
Their marriage begins as a practical arrangement but gradually evolves into a deeper emotional bond as the pair confront social pressures, survival challenges, and shifting loyalties.
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Viewers have noted that the story takes a more grounded approach compared with many recent costume romances. Rather than relying heavily on exaggerated tropes, the relationship between the leads unfolds through strategy, trust, and gradual emotional development.
The on-screen dynamic between Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei has been widely credited for sustaining that momentum, blending romantic tension with moments of conflict that keep audiences invested.
Many viewers praised the drama’s character writing and chemistry between the two leads, with fans saying the pairing feels natural rather than manufactured.
Others highlighted the drama’s pacing in its opening arc, arguing that the narrative builds steadily without rushing major plot turns. Several viewers also noted that the drama’s grounded tone offers a refreshing contrast to more formulaic historical romances.
At the same time, not every response has been entirely enthusiastic.
Some netizens questioned later episodes for slowing down the narrative momentum, while others debated the accuracy and interpretation of viewing statistics — a discussion that often accompanies large-scale streaming hits in China.
Despite those debates, the scale of the audience response remains difficult to dispute.
Yunhe Data calculates market share based on effective view counts across all platforms while filtering out invalid clicks and manipulated traffic.
That methodology means crossing the 40 per cent threshold typically indicates genuine national-level attention rather than short-term promotional spikes.
In practical terms, a drama reaching that figure is effectively dominating the online viewing landscape on that particular day. Industry watchers say Pursuit of Jade also signals renewed momentum for the historical romance genre.
In recent years, major hits across Chinese streaming platforms have often leaned toward crime thrillers or political dramas. Yet the success of Pursuit of Jade suggests audiences remain highly responsive to well-crafted historical storytelling when character depth and narrative consistency are prioritised.
What do you think about the rise of Pursuit of Jade and the chemistry between Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei? Share your thoughts and predictions — is this drama on track to become the biggest Chinese series of 2026?