# Royal Feast (尚食)
**Royal Feast** (尚食) is a 2022 Chinese costume drama about a young woman, Yao Zijin (姚子衿), who enters the [Ming dynasty](https://www.edgepedia.org/ming-dynasty) palace's Shangshi Bureau (尚食局), the imperial dietary office, in the Yongle era and rises as a cook while her romance develops with the imperial grandson Zhu Zhanji (朱瞻基)[1](http://www.huanyuent.com/work/355.html). Produced by Mango TV's parent Hunan Happy Sunshine Interactive Entertainment together with Dongyang Huanyu Film & [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television) and Dongyang Zhihe Film & Television, it stars [Xu Kai](https://www.edgepedia.org/xu-kai) (许凯) and Wu Jinyan (吴谨言), the leads of the 2018 hit *Story of Yanxi Palace*, and premiered on Mango TV on February 22, 2022 in 40 episodes[1](http://www.huanyuent.com/work/355.html) • [2](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/164551742614645.html) • [3](https://mydramalist.com/51215-shang-shi).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Native title / genre | 《尚食》, a costume inspirational food drama (古装励志美食剧)[1](http://www.huanyuent.com/work/355.html) |
| Premiere | February 22, 2022, 20:00, streaming on Mango TV[2](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/164551742614645.html) |
| Episodes | 40 (Chinese original, aired to March 26, 2022); 48 in the Japanese BS11 subtitled cut[3](https://mydramalist.com/51215-shang-shi) • [4](https://vod.bs11.jp/programs/shoshoku) |
| Leads | Xu Kai as Zhu Zhanji, Wu Jinyan as Yao Zijin; Yu Rongguang as Zhu Di, Hong Jiantao as crown prince Zhu Gaochi[2](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/164551742614645.html) • [5](https://fashion.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202202/22/WS6214b027a3107be497a0757c.html) |
| Food production | Over 1,000 dishes cooked fresh on set, more than 200 named on screen, 15 resident chefs[6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17159412) |
| Reach | Aired in over 90 countries and regions; 1.894 billion cumulative views by March 22, 2022[7](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1253021.shtml) • [8](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398) |
| Ratings | Douban 5.5 and IMDb 7.6 (as of January 31, 2024); MyDramaList 7.8 from 3,449 users[8](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398) • [3](https://mydramalist.com/51215-shang-shi) |
## Spoilers
### Synopsis and premise
The story is set in the Yongle era of the Ming dynasty (大明永乐年间). Yao Zijin is selected into the palace as a maid of the Shangshi Bureau and persists in her pursuit of Chinese culinary craft, competing for the position of 尚食 to change her own destiny, while her relationship with the imperial grandson Zhu Zhanji develops[1](http://www.huanyuent.com/work/355.html) • [5](https://fashion.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202202/22/WS6214b027a3107be497a0757c.html). IMDb's summary frames the same premise: Yao Zijin wants to advance through the ranks of the Imperial Food Bureau while Zhu Zhanji takes his role seriously as the Imperial Grandson, with palace politics intertwining with their romance[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11285768/).
The historical frame spans three real reigns. Zhu Di (the [Yongle Emperor](https://www.edgepedia.org/yongle-emperor), played by Yu Rongguang as a hidden extreme food lover), his crown prince Zhu Gaochi (the Hongxi Emperor, played by Hong Jiantao), and Zhu Zhanji (the future [Xuande Emperor](https://www.edgepedia.org/xuande-emperor)) are the emperors the drama's bureau story runs through[5](https://fashion.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202202/22/WS6214b027a3107be497a0757c.html) • [10](https://en.chinaculture.org/a/202203/18/WS6233cd45a310fd2b29e51a2b_4.html). The Japanese broadcaster's materials state the two leads are modeled on the real Xuande Emperor and Empress Xiaogongzhang (孝恭章皇后) in their youth, blending history and fiction[4](https://vod.bs11.jp/programs/shoshoku).
## Production and cast
The official production page credits the directors as [Wang Wei](https://www.edgepedia.org/wang-wei) (王威) and Bai Yunmo (白云默) and the screenwriter as Zhou Mo (周末), with Yang Le (杨乐) as producer, chief producer, and chief distributor[1](http://www.huanyuent.com/work/355.html). Xu Kai, Wu Jinyan, Wang Churan (王楚然), Wang Yizhe, Zhang Nan, He Fengtian, and [Liu Min](https://www.edgepedia.org/liu-min) lead the cast, with [He Ruixian](https://www.edgepedia.org/he-ruixian), Wang Yan, and Lian Lian in special starring roles[1](http://www.huanyuent.com/work/355.html). Wang Churan plays Su Yuehua[5](https://fashion.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202202/22/WS6214b027a3107be497a0757c.html).
## Release and distribution
The Beijing News reported the series began exclusive streaming on Mango TV (芒果TV全网独播) at 20:00 on February 22, 2022, and MyDramaList records the run as February 22 to March 26, 2022, with 45-minute episodes[2](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/164551742614645.html) • [3](https://mydramalist.com/51215-shang-shi). Baidu Baike's entry lists Migu Video as an additional premiere platform alongside Mango TV[8](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398).
Internationally, the show aired in over 90 countries and regions after its Chinese debut[7](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1253021.shtml). In Japan it has been distributed on BS11 under the title 「尚食（しょうしょく）～美味なる恋は紫禁城で～」 with Japanese subtitles, in a 48-episode cut[4](https://vod.bs11.jp/programs/shoshoku).
## The Shangshi Bureau and historical accuracy
Director Wang Wei said the drama aims to bring to life the shangshiju, an ancient bureau established to recruit talented women to cook for the ruler during the reigns of Zhu Di, Zhu Gaochi, and Zhu Zhanji of the early Ming dynasty. He added that excellent female cooks were appointed as officials, but the all-female staff system was gradually altered as women were eventually replaced by men in later centuries, citing his research of historical archives[10](https://en.chinaculture.org/a/202203/18/WS6233cd45a310fd2b29e51a2b_4.html).
The production took stated measures toward accuracy. All dishes shown had to use ingredients recorded as existing in the Ming dynasty, and the court institutions, political structure, and the three-generation Zhu family relationships were vetted by professional historians[6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17159412). Wang Wei said the early-Ming setting was chosen because Ming-era craft and commodity economy produced a mature urban food culture, and because Zhu Di's move of the capital from Nanjing to Beijing meant court cuisine covered both southern and northern cuisines[6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17159412).
Critics nonetheless documented inaccuracies. In Ming times, the Imperial Food Service's sole duty was tasting food to guard against poisoning rather than preparing it; the idea of the "Four Major Cuisines" arose only in the early Qing era and that of the "Eight Major Cuisines" later still, yet the series has its Ming-era female cooks exclaiming "Eight Major Cuisines"; the Ming court held Lu cuisine in high esteem; and the orange carrot came from the Netherlands[8](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398).
## Food and set production
**The cooking is real.** More than 200 named dishes appear on screen, and counting unshown dishes on nobles' tables the series served over 1,000 dishes, all required to be freshly cooked by chefs and brought to camera while hot[6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17159412). A cuisine consultant told [Global Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/global-times) the menu contains more than 1,000 dishes, around 100 desserts, nearly 300 fried dishes, and over 100 staple-food recipes, covering nearly all dishes mentioned in historical records of the early Ming dynasty (1368–1644)[7](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1253021.shtml).
The production maintained 15 resident chefs, including one food consultant and a teacher leading five chefs, all at chef-de-cuisine level, plus culinary students as hand doubles; the 《辋川图》 dish used a national-banquet carving master who is an intangible cultural heritage inheritor[6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17159412). The most complicated piece, a food sculpture of a painting by [Tang dynasty](https://www.edgepedia.org/tang-dynasty) poet Wang Wei, took six artists working more than 10 hours a day for over seven days to finish; for one cold-platter dish, six carving artists spent seven days[7](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1253021.shtml) • [2](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/164551742614645.html).
The Japanese release materials add that tableware was custom-ordered from [Jingdezhen](https://www.edgepedia.org/jingdezhen) and Shanxi workshops, costumes were handmade by over 80 staff, and the [Forbidden City](https://www.edgepedia.org/forbidden-city) set walls were repainted over three months[4](https://vod.bs11.jp/programs/shoshoku). Director Wang Wei said the team received the script in February 2019, read extensive historical materials and palace paintings, spent nearly three months on drawings, and another three months repainting all walls of the Ming-Qing palace sets at Hengdian[6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17159412).
## Reception and ratings
The series reportedly hit more than 400 million views within five days of its debut[11](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/royal-feast-story-yanxi-palace-xu-kai-wu-jinyan-304976), and by March 22, 2022, its cumulative viewership reached 1.894 billion[8](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398). At the time of a director interview it ranked fourth on the Guduo drama popularity chart, described as caught between popularity and a breakout hit[6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17159412).
Scores diverged sharply by market. As of January 31, 2024 the series held a Douban rating of 5.5 and an IMDb rating of 7.6[8](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398), while MyDramaList users scored it 7.8 based on 3,449 users[3](https://mydramalist.com/51215-shang-shi). In September 2022 it received the Excellent Television Series Award at the 32nd Zhejiang Television "Peony Award", and in March 2023 it was named on the Fingertip List 2022 Annual Influential Web Series[8](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398).
Domestic criticism targeted the romance framing. Professor Mao Jian of East China Normal University criticized the trope of emperors as romantics, saying emperors in such works frequently say things like "I won't be emperor anymore" or "I'll wander the world with you"[8](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398).
## By the numbers
The production's scale is measurable in its food: 40 episodes (48 in Japan), over 1,000 dishes of which more than 200 are named on screen, 15 resident chefs, and a single sculpture consuming six artists for over seven days[3](https://mydramalist.com/51215-shang-shi) • [4](https://vod.bs11.jp/programs/shoshoku) • [6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17159412) • [7](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1253021.shtml). Its reach is measurable in views: 400 million in five days, 1.894 billion by March 22, 2022, and distribution in over 90 countries[11](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/royal-feast-story-yanxi-palace-xu-kai-wu-jinyan-304976) • [8](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398) • [7](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1253021.shtml). The clearest gap is in scores: Douban 5.5 at home against MyDramaList 7.8 and IMDb 7.6 abroad, roughly a two-point domestic gap on a ten-point scale[8](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398) • [3](https://mydramalist.com/51215-shang-shi).
## Comparison with other palace dramas
Royal Feast reunites leads Xu Kai and [Wu Jinyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/wu-jinyan), who played star-crossed lovers in the 2018 drama *Story of Yanxi Palace*, with that drama's screenwriter Zhou Mo; Xu plays Zhu Zhanji and Wu plays Yao Zijin, who becomes head chef of the imperial palace[11](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/royal-feast-story-yanxi-palace-xu-kai-wu-jinyan-304976). The Japanese release materials likewise note the reunion of producer Yu Zheng (于正), screenwriter Zhou Mo, and the art and costume team from *Story of Yanxi Palace*[4](https://vod.bs11.jp/programs/shoshoku).
Royal Feast is built around food: its female lead's advancement runs through culinary competition for the 尚食 position, and the production's stated centerpiece is the recreation of early-Ming court cuisine[5](https://fashion.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202202/22/WS6214b027a3107be497a0757c.html) • [6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17159412). Director Wang Wei said the drama restored cuisine from Chinese history to introduce aspects of Chinese food culture to audiences[11](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/royal-feast-story-yanxi-palace-xu-kai-wu-jinyan-304976).
## References
1. [《尚食》 – 东阳欢娱影视文化有限公司 (official production page)](http://www.huanyuent.com/work/355.html)
2. [《尚食》今日开播 – 新京报 (The Beijing News)](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/164551742614645.html)
3. [Royal Feast (2022) – MyDramaList](https://mydramalist.com/51215-shang-shi)
4. [中国時代劇「尚食（しょうしょく）～美味なる恋は紫禁城で～」 – BS11+](https://vod.bs11.jp/programs/shoshoku)
5. [许凯吴谨言《尚食》开播 聚焦中华美食文化 – 中国日报网 (China Daily)](https://fashion.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202202/22/WS6214b027a3107be497a0757c.html)
6. [《尚食》，用心又"拧巴"丨专访导演王威 – 澎湃新闻 (The Paper)](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17159412)
7. [New Chinese historical TV drama presents mouthwatering delicacies – Global Times](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1253021.shtml)
8. [Royal Feast – Baidu Baike (English)](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Royal%20Feast/997398)
9. [Royal Feast (TV Series 2022– ) – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11285768/)
10. [Art in the best possible taste – chinaculture.org](https://en.chinaculture.org/a/202203/18/WS6233cd45a310fd2b29e51a2b_4.html)
11. [Yanxi Palace stars, lots of food: Why Royal Feast is the hottest Chinese historical drama right now – CNA Lifestyle](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/royal-feast-story-yanxi-palace-xu-kai-wu-jinyan-304976)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › East Asian web and streaming serials › Titles My to So*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license