The Lament of Autumn Plot: What Is the Story About?
The Lament of Autumn (original title: 玉簟秋) is set in Western Hunan during China’s Republican era, in the restless 1920s. Ye Pingjun is a student with an urgent problem: her mother needs medical treatment, and the bills are piling up. To earn money, she takes a job at a local meeting house.
That job puts her in the wrong place at the worst possible moment. Someone tries to assassinate Yu Changxuan, the fifth son of the influential Yu family, and Pingjun is caught in the chaos. Suspicion soon falls on her, even though she had no part in the attack.
Pingjun refuses to accept the blame quietly. She proposes a deal to Changxuan: he has ten days to find out who was really behind the attempt, and if he fails, he must clear her name. As the two work through the investigation, their partnership slowly turns into a romance. Changxuan, however, is hiding secrets of his own, and the threat of war hangs over the region. These pressures make their growing bond far from simple.

What Makes The Lament of Autumn Notable
Lead cast: Cheng Lei plays Yu Changxuan, and Xu Ruohan plays Ye Pingjun. Both leads appear across all 40 episodes.
Supporting cast:
- Dai Yunfan as Gu Ruitong
- Guo Yuxin as Tao Ziyi
- Chang Long as Li Boren
- Xu Fan as Zhao Baoru
- Lv Xiaoyu as Yu Qixuan
- Zhang Fengyi as Yu Zhongquan
- Liu Dongqin as Jiang Xueting
- Julia Ye as Yu Jinxuan
Behind the camera: Wang Hui and Kuk Kok-Leung direct the series, and Ye Yang wrote the screenplay.
Source material: The drama is based on a novel.
Broadcaster: In China, the series airs on Hunan Television and streams on Mango TV.
Format: There is one season of 40 episodes. Each episode runs about 49 minutes.
Genre: This is a period romance drama set against the backdrop of the 1920s Chinese Republican era.
If you are looking for a review of The Lament of Autumn, this guide focuses on what to expect from the series. It does not offer a verdict. The mix of a murder-attempt mystery, a ticking ten-day deadline and a slow-building romance gives the story a clear hook from the start.
Who Will Enjoy The Lament of Autumn
- Fans of Chinese period dramas set in the Republican era
- Viewers who like romance that grows out of an uneasy alliance
- Anyone drawn to stories with mystery, hidden secrets and family power struggles
- Readers who enjoy screen adaptations of novels
- Followers of Cheng Lei, Xu Ruohan or veteran actors Zhang Fengyi and Xu Fan
Where to Watch The Lament of Autumn in the Philippines
The Lament of Autumn is not yet listed on any official streaming platform in the Philippines. In China, it is broadcast on Hunan Television and streamed on Mango TV. Philippine viewers should watch for announcements from official platforms about a local release. Please choose legal services so the creators and cast are supported.
Trailer
Cast
Cheng Leias Yu Changxuan40 episodes
Xu Ruohanas Ye Pingjun40 episodes
Dai Yunfanas Gu Ruitong16 episodes
Guo Yuxinas Tao Ziyi15 episodes
Chang Longas Li Boren14 episodes
Xu Fanas Zhao Baoru12 episodes
Lv Xiaoyuas Yu Qixuan11 episodes- Zhang Fengyias Yu Zhongquan11 episodes
Photo: TMDB
Episode guide
| Season | Episode | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Aired | |
| 1 | 2 | Aired | |
| 1 | 3 | Aired | |
| 1 | 4 | Aired | |
| 1 | 5 | Aired | |
| 1 | 6 | Aired | |
| 1 | 7 | Aired | |
| 1 | 8 | Aired | |
| 1 | 9 | Aired | |
| 1 | 10 | Aired | |
| 1 | 11 | Aired | |
| 1 | 12 | Aired | |
| 1 | 13 | Aired | |
| 1 | 14 | Aired | |
| 1 | 15 | Aired | |
| 1 | 16 | Aired | |
| 1 | 17 | Aired | |
| 1 | 18 | Aired | |
| 1 | 19 | Aired | |
| 1 | 20 | Aired | |
| 1 | 21 | Aired | |
| 1 | 22 | Aired | |
| 1 | 23 | Aired | |
| 1 | 24 | Aired | |
| 1 | 25 | Aired | |
| 1 | 26 | Aired | |
| 1 | 27 | Aired | |
| 1 | 28 | Aired | |
| 1 | 29 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 30 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 31 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 32 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 33 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 34 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 35 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 36 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 37 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 38 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 39 | Upcoming | |
| 1 | 40 | Upcoming |
Dates are original broadcast dates in the country of origin (Korea/China). Official streaming platforms in your country may add episodes the same day or later.
FAQ
- How many episodes does The Lament of Autumn have?
- The Lament of Autumn has 40 episodes in its first season. Each episode runs about 49 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Lament of Autumn legally in the Philippines?
- The series is not yet listed on official streaming platforms in the Philippines. In China, it airs on Hunan Television and Mango TV.
- What is the release date of The Lament of Autumn in the Philippines?
- The drama premiered in China on October 12, 2026. A Philippine release date has not been announced on official platforms yet.
- Who is in the cast of The Lament of Autumn?
- Cheng Lei stars as Yu Changxuan and Xu Ruohan as Ye Pingjun. The supporting cast includes Dai Yunfan, Guo Yuxin, Chang Long, Xu Fan, Zhang Fengyi, Lv Xiaoyu, Liu Dongqin and Julia Ye.
- What genre is The Lament of Autumn?
- It is a Chinese period romance drama based on a novel. The story is set in the 1920s during the Republican era.

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