Contenders: Story, Cast and Series Facts

Story and premise

In the late 1940s, along the banks of the Malacca River, Chinese immigrants banded together to survive and thrive. By struggling together and helping each other, they finally created the Shanhai Gang after going through setback. It gradually becomes the heart of the local Chinese community. The story follows Cheng Hui. The retired leader forces back into Xingzhou when rival gangs provoke him. After the murder of the Second Master, Liu Xiongwu, a power struggle erupts—filled with betrayal, turf wars, and ambitious newcomers. Now, the second generation fights to uphold their legacy, while the third generation rises with new ideals. But as colonial powers pull the strings from the shadows, the Shanhai Gang must decide: cling to tradition or forge a new path?

Series details

• Title: Contenders
• Format: Scripted
• Language: Chinese
• Genres: Drama
• Premiere date: 2025-04-30
• Status in TVmaze: Running
• Network listed by TVmaze: CCTV-8
• Web channel listed by TVmaze: Tencent QQ
• Network country: China
• Typical episode runtime: 23 minutes
• TVMaze ID: 75902

Seasons in the TVmaze catalogue

• Season 1: premiered 2025-04-30; final listed air date 2025-05-19; episode order: 49.

Source and licence

Adapted from Contenders on TVmaze. The synopsis is reproduced as plain text; catalogue facts, cast and season records are selected and reformatted. This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, following the TVmaze API licence. Network and web-channel credits identify the service listed in this source; they do not establish current streaming availability.