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The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017) movie poster

Timeline

The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 45 mins · Chinese
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Starring
Michael Miu Kiu-Wai, Chen Xingxu, Yang Xuwen, Meng Ziyi, Li Yitong

Set against the backdrop of the Jin-Song Wars, the story follows two women who flee with their unborn children after their husbands are killed. The sons, Guo Jing and Yang Kang, are raised apart, developing contrasting personalities: Guo Jing is honest and loyal but not particularly bright, while Yang Kang is cunning and deceitful. Their paths eventually cross, along with their respective loves, Huang Rong and Mu Nianci. The narrative centers on Guo Jing and Huang Rong's journey and their challenges against powerful adversaries known as the Five Greats.

Drama Action Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

The Legend of the Condor Heroes Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Sworn brothers' pre-birth pledge

    Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian vow that their unborn children will become sworn siblings if they are the same sex, or a married couple if opposite. This pledge binds the destinies of two families across generations. The promise quietly guides the relationships and choices of their children as war looms on the borders of Jin and Song.

    When
    pre-war era in the borderlands
    Where
    Yang family village

  2. Bao Xiruo saves the wounded Jin prince

    Bao Xiruo tends to a wounded stranger she finds near their village, not knowing his true identity. The man is Wanyan Honglie, the Jin prince whose future will clash with Bao's family. This act of mercy quietly entwines their fates with political consequences far beyond the village.

    When
    early in the Jin–Song wars
    Where
    Yang family village

  3. Attack on the village and the father's disappearance

    Wanyan Honglie attacks Yang Tiexin's village to assert Jin power, leaving chaos in his wake. Guo Xiaotian is killed, and Yang Tiexin goes missing, presumed dead or lost to the war. Bao Xiruo's world collapses as her family is torn apart by the conflict.

    When
    during the Jin attack
    Where
    Yang family village

  4. Guo Jing is born and raised in Mongolia

    Li Ping wanders into Mongolia and gives birth to Guo Jing, who grows up under the care of Genghis Khan's circle. He trains with the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, Ma Yu, and learns archery from Jebe, shaping his sense of justice and loyalty. This cross-cultural upbringing anchors his later steadfastness.

    When
    years after the village attack
    Where
    Mongolia

  5. Bao Xiruo's capture and Yang Kang's birth

    Bao Xiruo is captured by Wanyan Honglie and agrees to marry him, believing her husband is dead. She gives birth to Yang Kang, who is raised as a Jurchen nobleman at the Jin court. He is mentored by Qiu Chuji but secretly learns the Nine Yin White Bone Claw from Mei Chaofeng.

    When
    after Bao's capture
    Where
    Jin Empire / Wanyan's court

  6. Yang Kang grows up and chooses loyalty to Jin

    Yang Kang becomes clever and ambitious, yet torn by his Han heritage. He aligns with the Jin and plots to conquer his ancestral homeland, revealing his treacherous nature in feuds with Guo Jing and Huang Rong. His choices deepen the rift between the two generations of heroes.

    When
    during his youth
    Where
    Jin territories and contested borders

  7. Guo Jing and Huang Rong meet and begin their adventures

    Guo Jing, honest and steadfast, meets Huang Rong and the pair embark on a series of adventures through the wulin. They encounter the Five Greats, learning from the era's strongest martial artists and shaping their skills and philosophies. Their bond stands in contrast to Yang Kang's deceitful path.

    When
    early in their travels
    Where
    various locations across wulin

  8. Guo Jing uncovers the truth about his father's death

    As their journeys continue, Guo Jing learns who was behind his father's death and the true forces shaping his lineage. The revelation strengthens his resolve to uphold righteousness and defend his people. This truth propels him to confront powerful enemies in the years ahead.

    When
    mid-journey
    Where
    various locations

  9. Mongols conquer Jin; Guo Jing turns toward Song

    With Guo Jing's help, the Mongols defeat the Jin Empire and shift their attention toward the Song. Guo Jing refuses to aid the invaders in attacking his homeland, choosing loyalty to the Han people instead. He eventually withdraws from the Mongol cause to return and defend the Song realm.

    When
    late in the war
    Where
    Jin capital and Song borders

  10. Yang Kang's demise and the birth of Yang Guo

    Yang Kang dies from poisoning after attempting to kill Huang Rong with a palm strike, but ends up striking her spiked armor, causing the toxin to stain it. He leaves behind Mu Nianci and their unborn son, whom Guo Jing names Yang Guo. His death brings a bitter cost to the conflicts of the era.

    When
    final battles
    Where
    battlefront / frontier

  11. Yang Guo’s legacy begins

    Mu Nianci and Guo Jing's naming of Yang Guo foreshadows a new generation shaped by the fallout of Yang Kang's treachery. The boy embodies the lingering tension between the two bloodlines and the unresolved ambitions of their fathers. His existence promises future adventures for the wulin.

    When
    after Yang Kang's death
    Where
    Song/Jin frontier

  12. Genghis Khan's death pauses the Mongol invasion

    The Mongol invasion of the Song Empire is temporarily halted when Genghis Khan dies, changing the momentum of the conflict. The pause reshapes strategic plans for Jin, Song, and Mongol forces and prolongs the struggle in the region. The pause allows time for new alliances and trials to unfold.

    When
    after Khan's death
    Where
    Mongol front

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:05

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Timeline questions answered

The Legend of the Condor Heroes Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Bao Xiruo save the wounded Jurchen warrior?

Bao Xiruo saves the wounded stranger out of compassion, not knowing he is Wanyan Honglie, the Jin prince. Her act of mercy unknowingly ties her family to the political conflict between Jin and Song, as Honglie later returns to attack her village, leading to her husband's disappearance and her forced marriage to him.

  • bao xiruo
  • wanyan honglie
  • jurchen
  • mercy
  • village attack
Q2

Why did Yang Kang become evil despite being Guo Jing's sworn brother?

Yang Kang was raised as a Jurchen nobleman at the Jin court after his mother Bao Xiruo was captured. Though mentored by Qiu Chuji in righteous Quanzhen teachings, he secretly learned the dark Nine Yin White Bone Claw from Mei Chaofeng. His Han heritage conflicted with his Jurchen upbringing, and his hunger for wealth, fame, and power drove him to ally with the Jin to conquer his ancestral homeland.

  • yang kang
  • jurchen
  • nine yin white bone claw
  • treason
  • han heritage
Q3

Why does Guo Jing refuse to help the Mongols attack the Song Empire?

After helping the Mongols defeat the Jin Empire, Guo Jing refuses to aid them in invading his homeland, the Song Empire. Despite his upbringing among the Mongols and gratitude to Genghis Khan, his loyalty to his Han people and sense of righteousness compels him to return to the Song to defend against the Mongol invasion.

  • guo jing
  • mongols
  • song empire
  • loyalty
  • invasion
Q4

How does Yang Kang die from poisoning?

Yang Kang dies after attempting to kill Huang Rong with a palm strike. However, his attack strikes the spiked armor she is wearing, which causes the poison on his palm to transfer back onto himself. The toxin contaminates his own system and kills him, making his treachery turn against him.

Foreshadowing: Huang Rong's spiked armor was foreshadowed earlier as a protective measure during her travels with Guo Jing.

  • yang kang
  • poisoning
  • huang rong
  • death
  • palm strike
Q5

How do Guo Jing and Huang Rong meet?

Guo Jing meets Huang Rong during his travels through the wulin (martial arts world). Their meeting marks the beginning of a series of adventures where they encounter the Five Greats, learn from renowned martial arts masters, and develop their skills together. Their bond contrasts sharply with Yang Kang's deceitful path.

  • guo jing
  • huang rong
  • meeting
  • wulin
  • adventures
Q6

Who killed Guo Jing's father and how does Guo Jing find out?

Guo Jing's father Guo Xiaotian is killed during Wanyan Honglie's attack on the village. As Guo Jing's journey progresses, he uncovers the truth behind his father's death and learns it was part of Honglie's campaign to assert Jin power over the borderlands.

  • guo jing
  • father death
  • guo xiaotian
  • wanyan honglie
  • truth
Q7

What is the significance of the sworn brothers' pre-birth pledge?

Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian vow that their unborn children will become sworn siblings if of the same sex, or a married couple if opposite. This pledge binds the destinies of Guo Jing and Yang Kang across generations, shaping their entire lives despite being raised in completely different environments and following opposite moral paths.

Foreshadowing: The pledge established in the opening scenes echoes throughout the story, driving the fundamental conflict between the two protagonists.

  • sworn brothers
  • yang tiexin
  • guo xiaotian
  • pledge
  • destiny
Q8

What happens to Yang Kang's son after his death?

Yang Kang dies leaving behind Mu Nianci and their unborn son. Guo Jing names the newborn Yang Guo, fulfilling the original pledge between the two fathers. Yang Guo goes on to become a significant figure in subsequent stories, carrying the legacy and tension between the two bloodlines.

  • yang guo
  • mu nianci
  • yang kang
  • naming
  • legacy
Q9

Why does Genghis Khan's death temporarily halt the Mongol invasion?

Genghis Khan's death creates a power vacuum and pauses the Mongol military campaign against the Song Empire. This event changes the strategic momentum for Jin, Song, and Mongol forces, temporarily relieving the pressure on the Song and reshaping the political landscape of the war.

  • genghis khan
  • death
  • mongol invasion
  • song
  • pause
Q10

What is the Nine Yin White Bone Claw and why is it dangerous?

The Nine Yin White Bone Claw is a deadly martial arts technique that Yang Kang secretly learns from Mei Chaofeng. It is considered dangerous because it requires learning dark, corrosive martial arts that corrupt the practitioner's morality and health. Despite learning righteous techniques from Qiu Chuji, Yang Kang chooses this sinister path.

  • nine yin white bone claw
  • mei chaofeng
  • yang kang
  • dangerous technique
Q11

How does Guo Jing's upbringing in Mongolia shape his character?

Guo Jing grows up under the care of Genghis Khan's circle in Mongolia, training with the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, Ma Yu of the Quanzhen School, and learning archery from Jebe. This cross-cultural upbringing instills in him a strong sense of justice, loyalty, and martial skill that defines his heroic journey.

  • guo jing
  • mongolia
  • seven fools
  • ma yu
  • education
Q12

Who are the Five Greats that Guo Jing and Huang Rong encounter?

The Five Greats are the most powerful martial arts figures of the era that Guo Jing and Huang Rong encounter on their adventures. Through encounters with these masters, Guo Jing and Huang Rong learn advanced techniques and shape their martial arts philosophies, significantly advancing their skills.

  • five greats
  • wulin
  • masters
  • martial arts
  • encounters

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Legend of the Condor Heroes, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Legend of the Condor Heroes tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with fated brothers rivalry like The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Stories of brothers or allies destined for rivalry by their contrasting natures and loyalties. If you enjoyed the dramatic tension between Guo Jing and Yang Kang in The Legend of the Condor Heroes, you'll find similar stories here. This thread gathers movies about sworn brothers or close allies whose divergent paths lead to heartbreaking conflict, exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, and legacy.

  • tragic
  • fated
  • loyal
  • treacherous
  • epic
  • dramatic
  • Tone: bittersweet, tragic, heavy
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: This narrative pattern follows characters, often linked by a sworn bond or shared upbringing, whose lives diverge due to conflicting values. The story builds steadily toward a climactic confrontation, forcing a final, tragic choice between their bond and their principles.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a core dramatic engine: the emotional weight of a profound relationship torn apart by ideological difference. The experience is defined by a heavy, bittersweet tone and a steady pacing that allows the rift to develop organically.

Shinobi: Heart Under Blade movie poster

Shinobi: Heart Under Blade

2005
My Bromance movie poster

My Bromance

2014
Battle Cry movie poster

Battle Cry

1955
DragonHeart movie poster

DragonHeart

1996
Love and Honor movie poster

Love and Honor

2006
Knightriders movie poster

Knightriders

1981
Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield movie poster

Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield

2003
Cowboy Up movie poster

Cowboy Up

2002

Epic wuxia journey movies like The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Grand-scale martial arts epics where heroes grapple with inherited duty and love. For viewers who loved the grand scale of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, this thread features epic wuxia films. Discover movies with vast martial arts worlds where heroes come of age while navigating the tensions between personal desire and greater duty.

  • epic
  • heroic
  • historic
  • martial arts
  • patriotic
  • romantic
  • Tone: hopeful, heroic, heavy
  • Pacing: steady, epic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories often follow a coming-of-age arc within a sprawling, politically charged martial arts world. The protagonist's personal growth and romantic pursuits are interwoven with larger conflicts, requiring them to balance their heart's desires with the weighty responsibilities inherited from their family or nation.

Why they belong together: This thread unites films that deliver a specific experience: the immersive feeling of a heroic, large-scale adventure through a storied martial arts landscape. They share a hopeful tone underpinned by heavy emotional stakes, complex plotting, and a steady narrative drive.

Hero movie poster

Hero

2004
The Legend of the Condor Heroes movie poster

The Legend of the Condor Heroes

2017
House of Flying Daggers movie poster

House of Flying Daggers

2004
Jiang Ziya movie poster

Jiang Ziya

2020
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The Legend of Bruce Lee

2009
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2019
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The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity

2020
Ode to Gallantry movie poster

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1982

Every angle

The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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