# The Ferryman · Legends of Nanyang
**The Ferryman · Legends of Nanyang** (灵魂摆渡·南洋传说) is a 36-episode Mandarin-language supernatural drama series produced by iQiyi and G.H.Y Culture & Media, first streamed on iQiyi's international platform on 24 August 2021.[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/The_Ferryman%3A_Legends_of_Nanyang) • [2](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210730-1175551) It is a remake of iQiyi's 2014 Chinese web series *[Soul Ferry](https://www.edgepedia.org/soul-ferry)* (灵魂摆渡), with the setting moved from China to Southeast Asia, and it was the streaming service's first Southeast Asian original production.[3](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/lawrence-wong-qi-yuwu-ferryman-legends-nanyang-iqiyi-august-272766)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original title | 灵魂摆渡·南洋传说 (Ling Hun Bai Du Nan Yang Chuan Shuo)[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/The_Ferryman%3A_Legends_of_Nanyang) |
| Premiere | 24 August 2021 on iQiyi International and iQ.com, with four episodes released on the first day[2](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210730-1175551) |
| Format | 36 episodes; horror, mystery and supernatural genres; Mandarin with various subtitles[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/The_Ferryman%3A_Legends_of_Nanyang) • [4](https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang-review-supernatural-drama-remade-southeast-asian-073342303.html) |
| Main cast | Lawrence Wong (王冠逸) as Xia Dongqing, Qi Yuwu (戚玉武) as Zhao Li, Kate Kinney (金凯德) as Wang Xiaoya / "Olivia"[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/The_Ferryman%3A_Legends_of_Nanyang) • [5](https://www.moviefone.com/tv-shows/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang/Z0njp8jtzK6eeiK4CFfFN6/) |
| Key crew | Executive producer Guo Jingyu; scriptwriter Xiao Ji Xiang Tian; directors Guo Shi Min, Xie Min Yang and others[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/The_Ferryman%3A_Legends_of_Nanyang) |
| Filming | Shot in Singapore and Malaysia[3](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/lawrence-wong-qi-yuwu-ferryman-legends-nanyang-iqiyi-august-272766) |
| Status | Ended; the final episode was released 23 September 2021[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/61169/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
The story follows Xia Dongqing, a young convenience store worker who has "Yin Yang eyes": he can see and communicate with beings from another world, a secret that has brought him a great deal of trouble.[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/The_Ferryman%3A_Legends_of_Nanyang) Raised in an orphanage and preparing for postgraduate entrance examinations, he takes a part-time job at No. 444 Convenience Store, not knowing that the shop is a link between two realms, a "soul station".[2](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210730-1175551)
The store's manager, Zhao Li, is a civil officer of the underworld, the soul ferryman, who has kept the store alone for 500 years and guides ghosts to the world they should go to.[2](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210730-1175551) With Xia Dongqing's arrival he no longer carries the burden alone, and the two help wandering souls who remain in the mortal world because of unfinished business.[7](https://ghyculturemedia.com/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang/) A third member joins them after an accident: Olivia, a woman whose soul returned to her body with Xia Dongqing's help, who becomes a regular customer and confidante and joins their adventures.[7](https://ghyculturemedia.com/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang/)
The series unfolds as unit stories on parallel timelines, each episode bringing a new ghost drawn from folklore and mythology, including a ghost bride, a nine-tailed fox obsessed with beauty and power, and a two-horned devil played by Tay Ping Hui.[2](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210730-1175551) • [8](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/8days/trailer-watch-lawrence-wong-qi-yuwu-mingle-dead-iqiyi-supernatural-drama-ferryman-legends-nanyang-508216) According to iQiyi's synopsis, the story's end reveals that Zhao Li was an accomplished monk in a previous life who traded his soul and memory with the King of the underworld to become the ferryman, and that he stayed beside Xia Dongqing to suppress the awakening of an evil spirit sealed in his eyes; Xia Dongqing completes the ferrying of 81 souls to lift a curse, Zhao Li becomes his eyes and restores his sight, and Xia Dongqing and Olivia end up together.[9](https://www.iq.com/album/%E7%81%B5%E9%AD%82%E6%91%86%E6%B8%A1-%E5%8D%97%E6%B4%8B%E4%BC%A0%E8%AF%B4-2021-1rvprirr7d1?lang=zh_cn)
## Production and release
The series was a joint investment by iQiyi and G.H.Y Culture & Media (长信传媒), with Guo Jingyu as executive producer and Xiao Ji Xiang Tian, the original series' writer, as scriptwriter.[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/The_Ferryman%3A_Legends_of_Nanyang) • [10](https://www.shicheng.news/zh-hant/v/V0GNb) G.H.Y's prospectus records that the production schedule was delayed during the first half of 2020 because of workplace-closure measures in the COVID-19 pandemic.[11](https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/GHY%20Culture%20_%20Media%20Holding%20Co.%2C%20Limited%20-%20Prospectus%20dated%2011%20December%20....ashx?App=IPO&FileID=6248) Filming began in Malaysia at the end of July 2020 with a crew of two to three hundred, and the production used the company's "Nanyang Street" backlot set built at the Iskandar studio complex in Johor, which cost more than 20 million ringgit (about 6.55 million Singapore dollars).[10](https://www.shicheng.news/zh-hant/v/V0GNb) • [12](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/zentertainment/movies-and-tv/story20201013-1092301) The drama incorporated Nanyang regional elements such as Nonya culture and Teochew opera, and for one unit story a Malaysian village was refurbished as a period set with costumes modeled on the customs of Nanyang ethnic minorities.[13](https://bkso.baidu.com/item/%E7%81%B5%E9%AD%82%E6%91%86%E6%B8%A1%C2%B7%E5%8D%97%E6%B4%8B%E4%BC%A0%E8%AF%B4/24523629?fromModule=lemma_inlink)
It premiered on 24 August 2021 on iQiyi's international app and iQ.com, with four episodes on the first day and new episodes on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 pm.[2](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210730-1175551) The series was released in [Dolby Atmos](https://www.edgepedia.org/dolby-atmos) and [Dolby Vision](https://www.edgepedia.org/dolby-vision) as part of iQiyi's addition of those formats to the premium tiers of its international streaming platform in 191 countries across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North America.[14](https://www.contentasia.tv/eNewsletter/2021/ContentAsia_eNewsletter_20_Sept-3_Oct_2021.pdf) Actors told [The Straits Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-straits-times) that filming was physically taxing, with long hours in the make-up chair for the ghost characters.[15](https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/like-a-halloween-party-on-set)
## Remake approach and reception
As a remake, the series keeps the original's central trio and much of its story material while relocating it to Singapore and Malaysia and adding regional cultures such as Nonya and Indian traditions.[4](https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang-review-supernatural-drama-remade-southeast-asian-073342303.html) Reviewing the first eight episodes for Yahoo, Lim Yian Lu gave the show 3 out of 5 stars and called it a rather faithful remake: all of the first eight episodes except episode five retell stories from the original *The Ferryman*, and she found it disappointing that the early episodes used popular myths like the nine-tailed fox rather than more regional ghost stories.[4](https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang-review-supernatural-drama-remade-southeast-asian-073342303.html) She singled out episode three, "Ghost On The Bed", as the strongest of the eight, and noted that episode five, "Meeting", the first entirely new story, deals with the [Japanese occupation of Singapore](https://www.edgepedia.org/japanese-occupation-of-singapore).[4](https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang-review-supernatural-drama-remade-southeast-asian-073342303.html) Because the original ran 20 episodes while this version has 36, the review expected more regional stories in the later episodes.[4](https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang-review-supernatural-drama-remade-southeast-asian-073342303.html)
The same review found the early plot short of a strong hook, with mystery surrounding Xia Dong Qing but no ultimate goal or nemesis to hold the audience, and a vague relationship between Xia Dong Qing and Zhao Li, whose reasons for choosing him are left unclear.[4](https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang-review-supernatural-drama-remade-southeast-asian-073342303.html) Singapore press coverage of the premiere noted that Qi Yuwu's ferryman dominated the early episodes while [Lawrence Wong](https://www.edgepedia.org/lawrence-wong)'s Xia Dongqing acted largely as his assistant in the first four story units, "444 Convenience Store", "Ghost Detective", "Ghost On The Bed", and "Color Commandment".[16](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210825-1186133)
## Place in the Ferryman franchise
The series belongs to the *Soul Ferry* (灵魂摆渡) franchise that began with iQiyi's 2014 web drama; G.H.Y's investor materials list the original 2014–2016 series with a cumulative viewership of 6 billion in China, and position the Nanyang version for overseas distribution.[17](https://ghyculturemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/6M-2021-Presentation-Slides.pdf) The franchise later continued with *Soul Ferry · 10th Anniversary* (灵魂摆渡·十年), a 24-episode 2026 series on iQiyi starring [Yu Yi](https://www.edgepedia.org/yu-yi), Liu Zhiyang, and Xiao Yin, in which Xia Dongqing and Ya run the No. 444 Convenience Store and partner with a night watchman who resembles the missing Zhao Li.[18](https://www.iqiyi.com/a_1x7qmc799fx.html)
## References
1. [The Ferryman: Legends of Nanyang, DramaWiki](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/The_Ferryman%3A_Legends_of_Nanyang)
2. [《灵魂摆渡：南洋传说》 8月24日起爱奇艺首播, 联合早报 (30 July 2021)](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210730-1175551)
3. [Lawrence Wong, Qi Yuwu's supernatural drama coming to iQiyi in August, CNA Lifestyle (27 July 2021)](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/lawrence-wong-qi-yuwu-ferryman-legends-nanyang-iqiyi-august-272766)
4. [The Ferryman: Legends Of Nanyang review – Supernatural drama remade with Southeast Asian flavours, Yahoo (27 August 2021)](https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang-review-supernatural-drama-remade-southeast-asian-073342303.html)
5. [The Ferryman: Legends of Nanyang (2021–2022), Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/tv-shows/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang/Z0njp8jtzK6eeiK4CFfFN6/)
6. [The Ferryman: Legends of Nanyang, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/61169/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang)
7. [Drama – The Ferryman – Legends of Nanyang, G.H.Y Culture & Media](https://ghyculturemedia.com/the-ferryman-legends-of-nanyang/)
8. [Trailer Watch: Lawrence Wong, Qi Yuwu Mingle With The Dead In iQiYi Supernatural Drama, CNA Lifestyle/8days](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/8days/trailer-watch-lawrence-wong-qi-yuwu-mingle-dead-iqiyi-supernatural-drama-ferryman-legends-nanyang-508216)
9. [灵魂摆渡·南洋传说 (2021), iQ.com](https://www.iq.com/album/%E7%81%B5%E9%AD%82%E6%91%86%E6%B8%A1-%E5%8D%97%E6%B4%8B%E4%BC%A0%E8%AF%B4-2021-1rvprirr7d1?lang=zh_cn)
10. [料逾20獅城藝人參演 陸續來馬拍攝《靈魂擺渡》, 狮城新闻](https://www.shicheng.news/zh-hant/v/V0GNb)
11. [G.H.Y Culture & Media Holding Co., Limited – Prospectus (11 December 2020), SGX](https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/GHY%20Culture%20_%20Media%20Holding%20Co.%2C%20Limited%20-%20Prospectus%20dated%2011%20December%20....ashx?App=IPO&FileID=6248)
12. [长信传媒马国打造"街景" "南洋街"已完成90%, 联合早报 (13 October 2020)](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/zentertainment/movies-and-tv/story20201013-1092301)
13. [灵魂摆渡·南洋传说, 百度百科](https://bkso.baidu.com/item/%E7%81%B5%E9%AD%82%E6%91%86%E6%B8%A1%C2%B7%E5%8D%97%E6%B4%8B%E4%BC%A0%E8%AF%B4/24523629?fromModule=lemma_inlink)
14. [ContentAsia eNewsletter, 20 September – 3 October 2021](https://www.contentasia.tv/eNewsletter/2021/ContentAsia_eNewsletter_20_Sept-3_Oct_2021.pdf)
15. [Like a Halloween party on set, The Straits Times](https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/like-a-halloween-party-on-set)
16. [《灵魂摆渡·南洋传说》首播 戚玉武光芒力"压"王冠逸, 联合早报 (25 August 2021)](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210825-1186133)
17. [The Ferryman: Legends of Nanyang, G.H.Y Culture & Media 6M-2021 Presentation Slides](https://ghyculturemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/6M-2021-Presentation-Slides.pdf)
18. [灵魂摆渡·十年, iQiyi](https://www.iqiyi.com/a_1x7qmc799fx.html)
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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 Cr to In*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license