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| Divas Hit the Road 8 Director Says Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei Talks Are Real as Casting Rumours Heat Up. (Credits: Upmedia) |
Rumours around Divas Hit the Road Season 8 (花少8) are no longer living purely in fan fantasy. Director Li Chao has now publicly addressed growing talk that Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei could join the next season, confirming discussions are underway. Translation: the gossip had receipts this time.
Speaking through a recent social media exchange, Li Chao said the production team is still pushing to secure both stars, though no final cast decisions have been signed off yet.
It was careful wording, but clear enough to send viewers into instant overdrive. In entertainment language, “still working on it” usually means the door is very much open.
The timing is no surprise. Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei have seen demand soar after their chemistry in c-drama Pursuit of Jade.
Their pairing drew strong attention across domestic and overseas audiences, with many viewers already asking for a second collaboration before the first one had even cooled down. Some actors get praised, some pairings become events. This one became an event.
Li Chao also added that several online cast lists circulating recently are “partially accurate”, which is the sort of statement that keeps every rumour account employed for another month.
He confirmed names including Li Xian, Wang Xingyue, and Song Weilong are currently in talks with the programme team. So yes, casting season has officially become a spectator sport.
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| Divas Hit the Road Season 8 Targets Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei Reunion |
If confirmed, the addition of Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei would give Season 8 one of its most talked-about line-ups in years.
Travel variety shows live or die on chemistry, awkward airport moments, accidental chaos and who ends up carrying everyone’s luggage. A popular on-screen duo already arriving with built-in rapport is exactly the kind of formula producers love.
The programme itself is also changing course. Earlier plans for an Antarctica route have reportedly been dropped, with production now leaning towards a South America journey covering Peru, Mexico, and Argentina.
Filming is expected to run for around 24 days, with a stronger focus on culture, local experiences and genuine interactions rather than forced drama that viewers can spot from miles away.
That shift may be strategic. Recent audiences have become less patient with overly manufactured reality television and more interested in cast dynamics that feel natural.
In short: people would rather watch celebrities get lost looking for lunch than stage a fake argument in a hotel lobby.
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| Pursuit of Jade (Tencent Video) |
Supporters of the Pursuit of Jade duo say a travel show reunion would be “mandatory viewing” and believe the pair’s easy chemistry would carry the season. Others are already imagining airport photos, travel vlogs and chaotic food challenges before contracts are even signed. More cautious viewers, meanwhile, are urging fans not to celebrate too early, pointing out that “in talks” in television often means exactly that — talks.
There is also fresh chatter that the two stars may reunite again in a separate campus romance project reportedly titled Zhu Xia, adding even more fuel to the frenzy. Whether that happens or not, the market clearly understands one thing: audiences are willing to show up when these two share a screen.
For now, the final Divas Hit the Road 8 cast remains unannounced, with decisions expected between April and May, filming tipped for July and a likely premiere by late September. Until then, viewers will continue doing what they do best: refreshing updates, decoding every hint and acting like unpaid casting directors.
Would you watch Season 8 if Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei joined, or is there another dream line-up the show should chase instead?