A still showing mainland actor Lu Yi in director Zhao Baogang's TV drama "Harbin under the Curtain of Night". [QQ.com]

Chinese director Zhao Baogang's thirty-three episode TV drama "Harbin under the Curtain of Night" starring mainland actors Lu Yi and Li Xiaoran has become a smash hit and will soon be broadcast by four local TV stations, the QQ.com reported on Saturday.

The viewing rates for this TV drama have far exceeded previous estimates, after it was first shown on China Central Television (CCTV1) Channel 1 on August 26th. As the play came to an end on CCTV 1, the audience's interest kept growing. CCTV 8 started broadcasting this drama in early September.

This hot TV drama is set to expand its audience base as four local TV stations in Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Shandong and Zhejiang have agreed to broadcast the series in the near future.

Handsome mainland actor Lu Yi stars as a rugged underground worker in the series.

His selection in the role initially triggered some controversy as many doubted Lu Yi's suitability, given his good looks, to portray such a tough role.

However, statistics gathered by CCTV show the audience approval rating has continued to rise since it was first broadcast.

The drama, based on a popular novel from the 1980s, centers on a Chinese underground group that battles the Japanese army during the war from 1937 to 1945.