# Empresses in the Palace (2011) — Celluloid TV fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/shows/empresses-in-the-palace/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-31

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 85% |
| Celluloid Editorial Rating | 88/100 |
| Audience Snapshot | 92% |
| Metascore | 78/100 |
| IMDb | 8.3/10 |
| Fan Score | 92% |
| Creator | Zheng Xiaolong |
| Platform | Viki |
| Genres | Drama, History, Romance |
| Seasons | 1 (76 episodes) |
| Language | Mandarin |
| Country | China |

## Quick answer

Empresses in the Palace (2011) is a Drama, History, Romance series created by Zheng Xiaolong, streaming on Viki. It holds a 85% Celluloid Score — Recommended — from Celluloid editorial (88%), Metascore (78/100), IMDb (8.3/10), TMDB fan (92%) across 1 season. Audience snapshot (not in the composite): 92%.

## Celluloid verdict

The definitive Chinese palace drama — epic, intricate and unsparing, its portrait of a woman's transformation under court intrigue remains a genre-defining benchmark.

## Synopsis

A naive young noblewoman enters the Qing emperor's harem and, over years of betrayal and loss, hardens into its most formidable operator — a sweeping, richly detailed palace epic considered a landmark of the genre and a touchstone of modern Chinese television.

## Cast

Sun Li, Chen Jianbin, Ada Choi, Jiang Xin

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Most searched questions

**Is Empresses in the Palace worth watching?**
Yes — Empresses in the Palace earns a 85% Celluloid Score (Recommended), from editorial 88%, Metascore 78/100, IMDb 8.3/10, TMDB fan 92%. Audience snapshot is separate (92%). The definitive Chinese palace drama — epic, intricate and unsparing, its portrait of a woman's transformation under court intrigue remains a genre-defining benchmark.

**Why is Empresses in the Palace so highly rated?**
Empresses in the Palace scores 85% from four inputs: Celluloid editorial 88/100, Metacritic 78/100, IMDb 8.3/10 and TMDB fan rating 92%. The separate audience snapshot is 92%. The definitive Chinese palace drama — epic, intricate and unsparing, its portrait of a woman's transformation under court intrigue remains a genre-defining benchmark. See the full breakdown on the Empresses in the Palace series page.

**Is Empresses in the Palace on Netflix?**
No — Empresses in the Palace is not on Netflix. It streams on Viki, and on Celluloid it is catalogued under Viki. Streaming rights rotate by country, so confirm in your region before subscribing.

**Is Empresses in the Palace on Viki?**
Yes — Empresses in the Palace is available on Viki in many regions (catalogued under Viki on Celluloid). Rights differ by country; confirm in the Viki app or the where-to-watch notes.

**What year did Empresses in the Palace come out?**
Empresses in the Palace first aired in 2011 (2011). Created by Zheng Xiaolong; it streams on Viki today.

**How many seasons of Empresses in the Palace are there?**
Empresses in the Palace has 1 season across 76 episodes (2011). Status: ended / complete.

**How long does it take to watch Empresses in the Palace?**
At roughly 40–50 minutes per episode, Empresses in the Palace’s 76 episodes take roughly 57 hours of runtime (plus credits). Binge pace depends on season breaks.

**Where can I watch Empresses in the Palace?**
Empresses in the Palace streams on Viki in supported regions. On Celluloid it is catalogued under Viki. Rights rotate — confirm in your country on the platform app.

**Who is in the cast of Empresses in the Palace?**
Empresses in the Palace stars Sun Li, Chen Jianbin, Ada Choi, Jiang Xin. Created by Zheng Xiaolong.

**How many episodes are in Empresses in the Palace?**
Empresses in the Palace has 76 episodes across 1 season (2011).

**What is Empresses in the Palace about?**
A naive young noblewoman enters the Qing emperor's harem and, over years of betrayal and loss, hardens into its most formidable operator — a sweeping, richly detailed palace epic considered a landmark of the genre and a touchstone of modern Chinese television.

**Who created Empresses in the Palace?**
Empresses in the Palace was created by Zheng Xiaolong. It is a drama, history, romance series from China, primarily in Mandarin.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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