Ice Fantasy () is a Chinese epic fantasy television drama based on Guo Jingming's bestselling novel, City of Fantasy. The drama was produced by Shanghai Youhug Media, directed by Ju Jue Liang, and stars Feng Shaofeng, Victoria Song, Ma Tianyu, Zhang Meng and Madina Memet. It was broadcast on Hunan Satellite Television Diamond independent broadcast theater starting 24 July to 10 November 2016 for 62 episodes.
A 16-episode modern sequel, titled Ice Fantasy Destiny (幻城凡世) starring Feng Shaofeng, Zhang Yuqi, and Zhang Meng, started airing on Tencent Video on 8 March 2017.
The release of the last episodes were delayed because of censorship reviews.
Synopsis When the second prince of the fire tribe, Xin Jue (Jiang Chao), was mysteriously killed during his visit to the Ice Tribe for Ka Suo's coming-of-age ceremony, the Fire King Huo Yi (Hu Bing) uses this as an excuse to start a second war between the Fire Tribe and Ice Tribe. With their parents captured and older siblings killed, the two remaining Ice Princes Ka Suo (Feng Shaofeng) and Ying Kong Shi (Ma Tianyu) escape to the mortal world and seek help from realm guardian Li Luo (Victoria Song) to help obtain ice crystals from six tribes in order to restore the Ice Wall, so that the Ice Tribe can be saved.
After the Fire Tribe was defeated with the Deicide Sword, Ka Suo reluctantly battles his brother for the throne, but he wants nothing more than the freedom to be with his lover Li Luo. Ying Kong Shi does everything in his power to take the throne away from Ka Suo, to ensure that Ka Suo has his freedom, while Yan Da (Zhang Meng), the Fire Princess, is willing to give up everything for Shi. Then, Ka Suo's loved ones all die off one by one under the conspiracies of Yuan Ji (Yan Yikuan) and Lian Ji (Kim Hee-sun), and he is determined to find the legendary "veiled lotus". A war between the Ice and Fire Tribe commences again, with Li Tian Jin joining the Fire Tribe to get his revenge on Ka Suo.
Cast
Main Actor Character Introduction Feng Shaofeng Ka Suo (卡索) As the kindest and most powerful of the ice princes, Ka Suo was his father's presumed successor. However after falling in love with his first love Li Luo, he longs for freedom, but is bound by his responsibility to his kingdom. He is forced to assume the throne to oversee reconstruction efforts for the Ice Tribe after the war.
Later his brother, crowned as King, ordered Ka Suo to marry Li Luo. But the marriage was short lived when she was stabbed by Lan Shang on her wedding night. Ka Suo then goes on a journey with his friends to look for the veiled lotus to try to bring his loved ones back to life.
Feng also plays Ka Suo's ancestor She Mi (舍弥), the first Ice King and founder of the Ice Tribe. Victoria SongJi Zihan (young) Li Luo (梨落)Li Jing (离镜) Li Luo is born with lowly civilian status, but with her brave and resolute attitude, she quickly becomes a powerful warrior and envoy for the mortal guards. She meets Ka Suo and the two fall in love. On her wedding, she was accidentally stabbed with the Deicide sword by Lan Shang while saving Ying Kong Shi. She was sealed in ice and placed at the bottom of the Infinity Ocean. She is later brought back to life by the veiled lotus, bearing Lan Shang's appearance.Li Jing is Lan Shang's incarnation and looks just like Li Luo, so she has Lan Shang's soul and Li Luo's looks. She was granted immortality and crowned the Queen of Ice Tribe by Ka Suo. It is later revealed that Li Luo and Lan Shang's souls have switched bodies. Ma TianyuBian Cheng (young) Ying Kong Shi (樱空释) Sword Spirit Shi (剑灵释)Li Tian Jin (罹天燼)Ying Kong Shi is the younger half-brother of Ka Suo, who wants to replace him as king of the Ice Tribe to set his brother free. He is silent, cold and mysterious in nature.
Sword Spirit Shi is the last piece of soul left of Shi, when he was killed with the Deicide sword. He entered the Holy Snow Shrine with Ka Suo and also befriended Yan Da.
Li Tian Jin is the reincarnation of Ying Kong Shi and is also the Fire Tribe's new ally who wants to get revenge on Ka Suo. Zhang MengZhao Meiting (young) Yan Da (艳炟) Yan Da is the only current princess of the Fire Tribe. She is known for her unruly ways, stubbornness, and strong nature, even though her training as a warrior is unremarkable among immortals. She is much more kindhearted than she or her father would like to admit, and she develops a very strong bond with Ying Kong Shi. Madina Memet Lan Shang (岚裳)Lan Shang is the noble mermaid princess who is known for her beauty and loved by many. However, she only has eyes for Ka Suo. After a series of tragic events, she committed suicide by jumping into the ocean, as a mermaid who lost her virginity to a foreign tribe cannot have a tail ever again and cannot breathe underwater. She incarnates by the veiled lotus and bears Li Luo's looks and her memories as Li Luo remains. It is later revealed that Li Luo and Lan Shang's souls have switched bodies.
Supporting Immortals Ice Tribe Shao Bing as Lin Chao (凛弨), the Ice King (冰王) Gong Beibi as Chen Tong (晨浵) the Ice Queen (冰后) Cheng Peipei as Feng Tian (封天) Lin Chao's mother and the Ice Tribe's most powerful illusionist. Huang Shengchi as Shang Lie (熵裂), Crown prince Zhang Ziwen as Zhu Gong (铸弓), Eldest Prince Li Sheng as Qian Ying (千影), Princess Consort He Xiang as Li Guang (靂光), Second prince Wang Yitong as Nan Xing (南星), Third princess Ou Xianru as Xue Mi (雪宓), Fourth princess Dan Sihan as Xuan Ta (泫榻) Leader of the Seven Saints charged with safeguarding the Ice Tribe. Wang Yu as Ji Quan (笈筌) Warrior of the Ice Tribe. Ka Suo's childhood friend. Mou Xing as Hua Xiao (花效) Lu Yong as Old Ice King (老冰王) Feng Tian's husband, Lin Chao's father, and Ka Suo's grandfather. Yin Jian as Du Yin (阇印) The Demon Guest. Fallen immortal of the Ice Tribe.
Immortal Beings of the Holy Snow Shrine Yan Yikuan as Yuan Ji (淵祭) An invincible and supreme being of Ice Flame Tribe (冰焰族). He created the chaos that ensue in the immortal world, including the assassination of Prince Xin Jue and the conflict between Ka Suo and Ying Kong Shi. He is also Ying Kong Shi's biological father and the last descendant of the Ice Flame Tribe. Zhang Xinyi as Lotus Spirit (隐莲精灵) Gong Zhengnan as Qing Ren (倾刃) Western protector of the Holy Shrine, later Eastern protector. Sun Zujun as Qing Long (青龍) Eastern protector of the Holy Shrine. Deng Sha as Xing Zhou (星昼) Northern protector of the Holy Shrine. Jurat as Phoenix (凤凰) Assassin of the Holy Shrine. Zhang Zimu as Yan Huang (言謊)
Fire Tribe Hu Bing as Huo Yi (火燚) The Fire King. A power-hungry and cruel man who aims to become the ruler of the three realms. Shu Yaxin as Shuo Gang (烁罡), Crown prince Jiang Chao as Xin Jue (炘绝), Second prince
Mermaid Tribe Shen Hairong as Mermaid Saint (人鱼圣尊) Queen of the Mermaid Tribe. Lan Shang's adoptive grandmother and Lian Ji's adoptive mother. She is an opportunistic woman who is willing to sacrifice her children's happiness to achieve peace for her tribe. Kim Hee-sun as Lian Ji (莲姬) Michelle Bai as young Lian Ji Ying Kong Shi's mother and Lan Shang's adoptive aunt. She was an adoptive child of the royal mermaid family and was in love with the Fire King, but was forced by the Mermaid Saint to marry the Ice King. Acting as a spy for the Fire Tribe, the Ice Tribe collapsed under her betrayal.
Spirits Spiritual Tribe Chen Xinyu as Chao Ya (潮涯) Current Queen of the Spiritual Tribe. A kind and noble woman who is willing to make sacrifices to protect her tribe. She is engaged to Liao Jian, but was formerly in love with Pian Feng. Wu You as Die Che (蝶澈) The most powerful musician in the Spiritual Tribe. She serves Yuan Ji as the Holy Shrine's Southern protector. Fan Shiqi as Chi Mo (迟墨) A musician. Die Che's lover who is actually the Fire Tribe's descendant. Wang Yidan as Chi Lian (傺楝) Former Queen of the Tribe, Chao ya's mother. She left the tribe many years ago in search for the Sighing Wall.
Eagle Tribe Zhang Yujian as Pian Feng (片风) A chivalrous and capable guard who serves Chao Ya and was once in love with her.
Bear Tribe Liu Dongqin as Liao Jian (辽溅) King of the Tribe, and a fierce warrior. He is engaged to Chao Ya. Wang Tianye as Hei Feng (黑風) A tyrannical warrior that kidnapped Liao Jian and took over the Bear Tribe for awhile.
Humans Guardians of the Realms Huang Haibing as Ke Tuo (克托) Leader of the guardians who preserve peace in the three kingdoms. He took Li Luo under his care when she was a child. Huang Deyi as Qin Chu (秦楚) Li Luo's admirer and best friend. Qin Yong as Lü Zhao (绿昭) Choenyi Tsering (曲尼次仁) as Yang Dan (阳丹)
Others Ding Xiaoying as Jia Yi (迦凌) Du Yin's lover.
Dream Tribe Xu Ke as Xing Jiu (星旧) The Head Dreamer. One of the Seven Saints charged with safeguarding the Ice Tribe. A loyal and kind man who faithfully executes his duty to safeguard dreamers everywhere. He cares deeply for his sister. Xu Jiao as Xing Gui (星轨) Princess of the Dream Tribe and Xing Jiu's sister. She was meant to die on her 100th birthday, but survived and later becomes a Western protector of the Holy Shrine. Tie Zheng as Xun Hao (蕁昊) Chief administrator of the Dream Clan. Gao Yuqing as Old Astrologer King (老夢主) Father of Xing Jiu and Xing Gui.
Healer Tribe Wang Duo as Huang Tuo (皇柝) Current King of the Healers and the best healer in the three kingdoms. He is in love with Yue Shen. Lu Zizhen as Yue Shen (月神) A powerful healer who can exorcise spirits and poison mortals. Peng Yang as Yue Zhao (月照) / Yue Leng (月冷) Yue Shen's sister. She was engaged to Huang Tuo. Li Haohan as Huang Mao (皇昂) Former King of the Healers. Huang Tuo's father.
Others Wang Yizhe as Rabbit Demon (兔妖) Bian Jiacheng as Rat Demon (鼠妖) Sun Qingsan as Deer Spirit (鹿精) Qu Gan as Tree Demon (樹妖) Lu Xue as Tiger Demon (虎妖) Zhu Chunqiao as Zhu Hao (筍昊) Xu Tianhao as Zhan Xing (沽星) He Fei as Liu Yue (流月) Yang Anqi as Zhen (針) Vivi Miao as Ming Le (明乐) Wang Jiawei as Ya Zhao (伢照) Wang Haixiang as Crow (烏鴉) Yang Liu as Zhao Ye (朝夜) Guo Xin as Qiu Tian Nian (裘天年) Chen Dacheng as Sun Tian (蓀田) Yang Changqing as Sun Tian's subordinate (蓀田手下) Hu Jingming as Nan He (南禾) Wang Xiangwen as Xiang Wen (湘聞) Wang Wensi as Lai Si (來思) Xue Yue as Xiao Xue (小雪) Lee Youlin as Businessman (珍奇商人) Gao Huayang as Cheater (人間騙子)
Production Guo Jingming's novel City of Fantasy sold over 1.5 million copies and ranked second in the bestseller's list. Since City of Fantasy's release in 2003, there have been plenty of early attempts to produce a movie adaption. However, the attempts failed as many felt that the novel's fictional universe was too complicated and massive to condense into a movie. The idea of a possible drama adaption of City of Fantasy had been formed since November 2014.
During Ice Fantasy's drama press conference held in August 2015, Hong Kong screenwriter Shen Zhining stated that the plot of the drama would have more stories, conflicts and background information compared to its book counterpart. The history of the tribes and their world's creation had been incorporated into the plot. The Fire Tribe's role in the story would also be expanded. On June 10, 2015, the creation of the script and preparations for filming were finished.