The Legend of Zhen Huan, a Chinese TV drama which depicts the power struggle between the concubines of an emperor, has already been a success in Asian countries. Now, it’s about to land in the US, a positive sign that Chinese TV is increasingly ready to move into the international arena.

The desperate housewives are about to get some competition from the "desperate concubines".

As the most popular Chinese TV series of 2012, the Legend of Zhen Huan has charmed both domestic and foreign viewers.

The costume drama centres around Zhen Huan and her rise to prominence in the scheme-filled palaces of the Qing Dynasty.

The 76 episode show will be cut down to six episodes, each lasting from 90 minutes to two hours.

Before marching into the States, the drama has already become a hit in Japan. Here’s some comments from viewers there.

One viewer said, "I like how the show recreates that era. Maybe I’ll watch the Dreams of Red Mansions series."

Another said, "It’s a great show, but some of the Chinese idioms are really hard to absorb."

The "Legend of Zhen Huan", a Chinese TV drama which depicts the power struggle between the concubines of an emperor, has already been a success in Asian countries.

Why this huge success? For Li Xingwen, a senior commentator at Beijing Youth Daily, it’s both the form and the content.

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