The Return of the Condor Heroes (2006 TV series)

The Return of the Condor Heroes
TV series' intertitle
Also known as	1. Condor Hero 2. The Saviour of the Soul 3. Condor Heroes 4. Love of the Condor Heroes
Genre	Wuxia
Written by	Louis Cha (original story)
Directed by	Yu Min
Starring	Huang Xiaoming Liu Yifei
Opening theme	Tianxia Wushuang (天下無雙) performed by Jane Zhang
Ending theme	Jianghu Xiao (江湖笑) performed by Wakin Chau, Zhang Jizhong, Huang Xiaoming, Hu Jun and Xiaochong
Composer(s)	Xiaochong
Country of origin	China
Language(s)	Mandarin
No. of episodes	41
Production
Producer(s)	Zhang Jizhong Ma Zhongjun Pu Shulin Chi Chenxi Tie Fo
Location(s)	China
Cinematography	Yu Min
Running time	45 minutes per episode
Production company(s)	Ciwen Film & TV Production Co. Ltd.
Broadcast
Original channel	CCTV
Original airing	2006
Chronology
Preceded by	The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2003)
Followed by	The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (2009)
External links
Website

The Return of the Condor Heroes
DVD Cover
Traditional Chinese	神鵰俠侶
Simplified Chinese	神雕侠侣
Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Shén Diāo Xiá Lǚ

The Return of the Condor Heroes is a Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. It is the second installment of a trilogy produced by Zhang Jizhong, preceded by The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2003) and followed by The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (2009). It was first broadcast on 17 March 2006 in China and subsequently broadcast in other Asian countries such as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.

Cast

• Huang Xiaoming as Yang Guo
  • Dingdang as young Yang Guo
• Liu Yifei as Xiaolongnü
• Wang Luoyong as Guo Jing
• Kong Lin as Huang Rong
• Jessey Meng as Li Mochou
• Yang Mi as Guo Xiang
• Kenny Bee as Gongsun Zhi
• Chen Zihan as Guo Fu
  • Chen Anni as young Guo Fu
• Wang Ning as Wu Dunru
  • Chen Yalun as young Wu Dunru
• Zhao Jintao as Wu Xiuwen
  • Ye Qile as young Wu Xiuwen
• Huang Xiaolei as Shagu
• Chen Jiming as Qiu Chuji
• Liu Naiyi as Zhao Zhijing
• Jiang Yi as Ke Zhen'e
• Li Yu as Qiu Qianren
• Yang Rui as Lu Wushuang
  • Ge Shimin as young Lu Wushuang
• Wang Jia as Cheng Ying
  • Wang Jiayi as young Cheng Ying
• Zhao Liang as Zhou Botong
• Di Naishe as Ouyang Feng
• Yu Chenghui as Huang Yaoshi
• Dali as Hong Qigong
• Ba Yin as Jinlun Guoshi
• Gao Hu as Huodu
• Cheng Haofeng as Yin Zhiping
• Wang Weiguo as Yideng
• Fu Miao as Gongsun Lü'e
• Sun Lihua as Wanyan Ping
• Zhao Hongfei as Yelü Qi
• Tian Zhong as Lu Qingdu
• Li Mingqi as Granny Sun
• Liang Li as Yinggu
• Xiu Ge as Yin Kexi
• Zhang Hengping as Lu Youjiao
• Zhang Jizhong as Yelü Chucai
• Li Ming as Qiu Qianchi
• Yuan Yuan as Kublai Khan
• Liu Kui as Möngke Khan
• Su Mao as Wang Chuyi
• Guo Jun as Wang Chongyang
• Zhou Haodong as Lu Liding
• Heizi as Feng Mofeng

Production

Shooting began in October 2004 and ended in May 2005. Locations include Zhejiang, Chongqing, Shandong, Guangdong, Liaoning, Beijing and Sichuan Jiuzhaigou Valley.

Scenes from The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2003) were featured as flashbacks including the scene depicting Yang Kang's death. Zhou Jie makes a cameo appearance as Yang Kang.

International broadcasts

Country	Television network	Series premiere	Alternative English title
China	CCTV	17 March 2006	Condor Heroes
Philippines	GMA-7	1 May 2006	Love of the Condor Heroes
Hong Kong	TVB	10 July 2006	The Saviour of the Soul
Taiwan	CTV	12 July 2006	Condor Heroes
Canada	Omni.2	9 September 2006	Condor Hero
Japan	MAXAM
Thailand	TV3	17 March 2007
Singapore	Channel U	28 April 2007	Condor Hero
Indonesia	Indosiar	30 January 2012

Music

The music for the series was taken from motion picture scores of films such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, Van Helsing, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Harry Potter (film series) and Batman Begins.

The chorus from Iwasaki Taku's Shades of Revolution, a Rurouni Kenshin OVA musical score, was used in a minor fight scene between Yang Guo and Li Mochou (episode 30).

The melody of the song Dearest by Ayumi Hamasaki, famous for being in InuYasha, can be heard in the background on episode 15 during the scene where Gongsun Zhi is talking to Xiaolongnü at the Passionless Valley.

Soundtrack

The Return of the Condor Heroes - Original Television Drama Soundtrack (神鵰俠侶 - 電視主題曲原聲大戲)
Soundtrack album Audio CD/Digital downloads by Various artists
Released	May 13, 2006
Length	1:10:23
Label	Rock Records Co., LTD (滾石國際音樂股份有限公司)

The original soundtrack was released on 13 May 2006 from Rock Records Co., LTD (滾石國際音樂股份有限公司). There are two versions of the soundtrack. The mainland Chinese release contains a total of 15 tracks while the Taiwanese release includes two bonus tracks. The original score was composed by Chen Huanchang (Xiaochong).

#	Track title	Running time	More information
1	Shuangfei (雙飛; Flying Together)	5:01	performed by Huang Xiaoming and Dingdang
2	Tianxia Wushuang (天下無雙; Unrivaled)	5:13	The opening theme song of the TV series - performed by Jane Zhang
3	Fuyun (浮雲; Drifting Clouds)	0:48	composed by Xiaochong
4	Jianghu Xiao (江湖笑; Jianghu Laugh)	4:44	The ending theme song of the TV series - performed by Wakin Chau, Hu Jun, Huang Xiaoming, Zhang Jizhong and Xiaochong
5	Longnü Zhi Sheng (龍女之聲; Voice of the Dragon Maiden)	2:58	vocal performed by Fan Zhuqing
6	Luohua (落花; Falling Flowers)	5:58	performed by Pan Yueyun
7	Hen Cangtian (恨蒼天; Affection)	4:56	performed by Xiaochong
8	Lutu (路途; Road)	4:48	composed by Xiaochong
9	Wen Shijian (問世間; Ask the World)	4:24	performed by Zhang Xin
10	Yilian Youmeng (一簾幽夢; A Curtain of Nether Dream)	2:39	performed by Chen Xiuzhou and Xiao Manxuan
11	Shuizhong Yue (水中月; Moon in the Water)	4:10	composed by Xiaochong
12	Gufeng Canying (孤風殘影; Solitary Wind Blur)	4:56	composed by Xiaochong
13	Biyi Shuangfei (比翼雙飛; Connubial)	5:14	composed by Xiaochong
14	Xingguang (星光; Starlight)	4:25	composed by Xiaochong
15	Zhanwu (戰舞; War Dance)	2:02	composed by Xiaochong
16	Lianzhe Duo Xihuan (戀著多喜歡; Loving Love)	3:53	Bonus track - performed by Fish Leong
17	Ni Hai Jide Wo Ma (你還記得我嗎; Do You Still Remember Me?)	3:54	Bonus track - performed by Fish Leong

External links

• Shen diao xia lu at the Internet Movie Database
• (Chinese) The Return of the Condor Heroes on Sina.com
• (Chinese) The Return of the Condor Heroes official page on CTV website
• (Chinese) The Return of the Condor Heroes official page on TVB website
• (Chinese) The Return of the Condor Heroes official page on Ciwen website
• (Japanese) The Return of the Condor Heroes official page on MAXAM website