Brotherhood of Blades 2 to release on July 19

Poster of Brotherhood of Blades 2 [Photo: Baidu]

If you're a fan of China's martial arts, then you shouldn't miss the upcoming Brotherhood of Blades movie.

The action-packed sequel of 2014's Brotherhood of Blades (绣春刀) stars Chang Chen and actress Yang Mi, and is set for release in China on July 19.

Technically, it's actually a prequel that places the heroes back into the conflict-ridden Ming Dynasty.

The story follows Shen Lian, an imperial guard, as he searches for the truth behind a conspiracy that framed him and his colleagues.

Before an official release, screenings have taken places in dozens of Chinese cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Dalian over the past weekend.

The movie also had a screening in June during the Shanghai Movie Festival.

Reviews on Weibo.com have been mostly positive, and some movie goers have praised Chang Chen, calling him the most appealing character.

Poster of Brotherhood of Blades 2 [Photo: Baidu]