Soul Ferry (灵魂摆渡)

Adapted from the original script written by Xiao Jixiang Tian, Soul Ferry is China‘s first supernatural web series. Xia Dongqing, a recent university graduate who grew up in an orphanage and is currently job hunting, has a secret — he was born with the ability to see ghosts. When he is hired for the night shift at the mysteriously numbered 444 convenience store, he meets Zhao Li, the store owner who is actually a centuries-old "soul ferryman" tasked with guiding lingering spirits to the afterlife, and Wang Xiaoya, an eccentric university student who later reveals herself as a celestial being. Together, the three become entangled in a series of extraordinary ghostly encounters, each case revealing deeper conspiracies that span across Heaven, the Underworld, and the Mortal Realm. As Dongqing navigates the blurred line between the living and the dead, he uncovers the hidden truth about his own identity and the ancient war among gods and humans that has shaped the fate of all three worlds.

The original series consists of 3 seasons (52 episodes plus a stand-alone spin-off special), with each season structured as self-contained or multi-episode stories. The episodes are approximately 20–40 minutes each. A fourth commemorative season titled Soul Ferry: Tenth Anniversary (24 episodes) was released on iQIYI on June 2, 2026.

• Season 1 (2014) — The World‘s Weirdest Night Shift (Episodes 1–20): The season opens with Xia Dongqing, a socially awkward college graduate burdened with the ability to see ghosts, starting his night shift at the 444 convenience store. There he meets Zhao Li, the enigmatic owner who reveals himself as a soul ferryman tasked with guiding restless spirits to the other side. The season unfolds as a series of standalone supernatural cases — from a ghostly police informant to a builder who fell from a skyscraper — blending horror with heartwarming and philosophical moments. As Dongqing helps Zhao Li ferry 81 souls, he also encounters Wang Xiaoya, a girl with a mysterious connection to the celestial realm. The season follows an episodic "case-of-the-week" format before culminating in the revelation that Dongqing is actually the human vessel of the ancient demon lord Chi You, setting the stage for a much larger mythos. Key episodes dive into themes of karma, love, loss, and the true nature of ghosts. Each episode begins with the famous incantation: "The eyes of the flesh are dim and unclear, seeing near but not far, seeing front but not back, seeing light but not darkness... what the eyes see is not necessarily the truth."
• Season 2 (2015) — Hidden Truths & Celestial Conspiracies (Episodes 1–19 + 1 Special): One year after the events of Season 1, the trio reunites by the sea and once again finds themselves drawn back to the 444 convenience store, where new cases await. The season delves deeper into the overarching mythology, introducing the celestial realm of Kunlun and the ancient war between the Original Humans (Yuánrén) and the Celestials (Tiānrén). Wang Xiaoya is revealed to be a celestial being named Ya, a Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, who was sent to the mortal realm to awaken Chi You‘s vessel. Dongqing becomes Zhao Li‘s "Qìrén" (contracted human), destined to help him ferry 81 souls. Simultaneously, Ya, who once betrayed Chi You during the ancient war, begins to develop genuine human feelings for Dongqing, placing her in direct conflict with her heavenly mission. The season balances self-contained ghost stories with deepening character arcs and political intrigue among the Three Realms. A particularly notable arc follows a reporter who writes bestsellers by consuming dangerous drugs and a young woman’s obsessive search for her past-life soulmate.
• Season 3 (2016) — The Final Ferry (Episodes 1–13): The concluding season of the original trilogy brings all the lingering mysteries to a resolution. The central conflict shifts to Zhao Li‘s personal tragedy — the centuries-old soul ferryman has no soul of his own, having long ago traded it away in exchange for saving a ghostly lover. Unable to feel genuine emotion, his greatest pain is his inability to experience life the way Dongqing does. Meanwhile, Ya‘s growing love for Dongqing forces her to confront her celestial duties, and the ancient war between humans and gods from millennia past resurfaces with devastating consequences. The penultimate arc sees Dongqing‘s complete awakening as the vessel of Chi You, forcing Zhao Li and Ya to make impossible choices about loyalty, sacrifice, and redemption. The season ends with Zhao Li‘s heroic sacrifice — destroying his own spirit to destroy Chi You‘s essence, becoming a ghost that Dongqing must now ferry. Their separation is made bearable when Dongqing discovers he has absorbed Zhao Li‘s memories, carrying his friend with him forever. A post-credits scene confirms their friendship remains unbroken across any realm.
• Season 4: Soul Ferry: Tenth Anniversary (2026) — Legacy & New Beginnings (Episodes 1–24): Released as a commemorative fourth season for the 10th anniversary of the franchise. The season continues the supernatural legacy of the original series, revisiting unresolved threads from the first three seasons while introducing new cases and deeper explorations of the Underworld’s political structure. Most significantly, it resolves Zhao Li‘s tragic fate from the Season 3 finale, as the soul ferryman who sacrificed his own spirit returns through unexpected means. The season premiered on June 2, 2026, exclusively on iQIYI. Original cast members Yu Yi (Zhao Li), Liu Zhiyang (Xia Dongqing), and Xiao Yin (Wang Xiaoya/Ya) reprise their iconic roles, fulfilling the “filling the hole” (填坑) promise to long-time fans who waited a decade for closure.