China’s hit spy drama The Secret Path gets real-life tips from top security agency

Guided by state security experts, the series shines glam spotlight on counter-espionage tactics amid national security education drive

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Zhang Luyi with Gao Yuanyuan, stars of the The Secret Path. The spy drama debuted on Chinese state-run television last month as part of Beijing’s national security education drive. Photo: Handout

Published: 2:00pm, 10 May 2025Updated: 6:53pm, 10 May 2025

What’s in a kiss? If it was delivered by one of the stars of China’s new hit television spy drama, the smooch may have come with a plot twist.

The tools of the trade in the world of espionage have taken centre stage in The Secret Path, which made its debut during prime time on China’s state-run CCTV on April 28, about two weeks after Beijing held its 10th annual National Security Education Day.

Like most spy dramas, the series about government agents tasked with protecting China’s nuclear secrets in the shadowy world of counter-espionage comes with plenty of hi-tech gadgets and a few deadly props: a handbag that transforms into a deadly weapon, drops of poison on a door handle, and a scanner powerful enough to steal content from a nearby computer.

Director Liu Jiang said that all of the details of “modern spy warfare” featured in his 28-episode series had been produced “under the guidance” of the Ministry of State Security (MSS), China’s top intelligence agency.

“The crew has rigorously recreated [details, including] the nuclear power plant security process, and hi-tech espionage methods,” Liu said in an interview with the official Beijing Daily published on Wednesday.

State security personnel were on site to check every shot to ensure the drama stayed as realistic as possible without revealing top secrets, according to Liu. They even oversaw seemingly minor production details, such as how a character would use a mobile phone – never during a confidential meeting, while only using personal phones when off duty.