40 Chinese Drama Masterpieces that Deserve Your Time (Updated) (2024)

In the 20th century, the western entertainment industry started flourishing all across the globe and in this century theAsian entertainment industry is gaining fans all over.

China is one of the front runners in this race. More and more people are liking Chinese Dramas and enjoying their cultural beauty.

In this post, I’ll be mentioning the40 All-time best Chinese Dramasthat have made a fan following of their own across the world.

Based on a historic novelMo Dao Zu Shi(Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation)byMo Xiang Tong Xiu,The Untamedis one of themost highly rated Chinese Dramathat tracks the adventure of two intrepid men on a mission to banish the evil enduring in the kingdom.

Wei Wuxian who once decided to fight against the ruling Wen sect goes missing and returns after 16 years and joined hands with the righteous Lan Wangji to unveil the real culprits behind prolonged murder mysteries.

Full-fledged 50 episode season one is available on Netflix.

A total of3.3 Billioninternet views on iQiyi. Yes, the numbers are enough to highlight the exquisite of this Chinese Drama.

The consequences of the war between the Northern Wei dynasty and Southern Liang dynasties left19-year-old Lin Shu incapacitatedand his father General Lin Xie marked as atraitor. 12 Years later Lin Shu returns as thechief of thepugilistic worldintending to restore his family’s innocence.

If you are someone you like to watch strategicalmind gamesTV series over intense war and action, Nirvana in Fire will be a perfect watch for you.

A compelling storyline, charming characters, a strong protagonist and brilliant cinematography will keep you hooked through this 50 episode CDrama.

All English dubbed episodes are available onViki, DVD copies are also available onamazon.

Adapted from the first part of the novel by the same name, thisHistorical Chinese Dramaorbits around the life of Fan Xian, the only royal survivor left after the fall of the Eastern Jin dynasty 18 years ago.

Adopted by the imperial minister Fan Jian, Fan Xian isnot destined to be a commonerbut an honorable man who will grow big and hold a strong position in the empire.

With an intensepolitical intrigue, the show is backed with pleasanthumor, martial arts, and melodious theme songs.

The first season contains a total of 46 episodes and the English dubbed version can be streamed online onViki.

Love O2O was the first Chinese drama that I watched and that’s why it is really dear to me. But that’s not the only reason it’s on this list. This drama is a true gem and deserves a spot here.

Xiao Naiis a smart, handsome and most popular gay in the college. On top of that, he is the leader of a game developing company.

One day while playing an online game he comes across a strong female player. They soon form a team together and decides to meet. The female gamer is no other thatBei Wei Weiwho is also a student at Xiao’s college and thus a romantic story begins.

You can watch all the 30 episodes of ‘Love O2O’ onNetflix and Viki.

Regarded as one of the most popular romantic drama of 2019, ‘Put your head on my Shoulder’ is a show that you didn’t know you needed in your life.

Si Tu Mois a cheerful girl who is nearing her graduation and has no clue about what to do next. At the same time,Gu Wei Yienters her life who is a pretty famous and smart guy in the school.

Both of their paths cross sometimes creating a little spark between them but thing changes completely when they accidentally become each other’s roommates.

You can watch ‘Put Your Head on My Shoulder’ and all of its 24 episodes onNetflix, Viki, and YouTube.

Eternal Love is a Romantic Chinese Drama better justified by its alternate English titleThree Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossomsand is based on the novelTo The Sky KingdombyTang Qi Gong Zi.

From the blossoming heavenly world of theimmortalsto the regular world of mortals this show traces thesaga of two love birdswho play different roles in different lives yet manages to meet each other and sustain the Eternal love.

If you haven’t already had a taste of mystical Chinese Drama, this show will be an exciting watch for you.

Recently Netflix purchased the rights of Eternal Love and all seasons are available there. A low-quality English dubbed version is also available on Viki for free but you can also opt for a high-quality subscription.

Inspired by a famous Japanese Light Novel of the same name, ‘The King’s Avatar’ is a Live action drama focused on gaming, friendship, and glory. It got100 million views just after 4 hoursof its release, so you can imagine its popularity.

The story revolves aroundYe Xiu, who is the all-time best player of an online game called ‘Glory’. Due to some circ*mstances, he has to give up his gaming account and leave professional gaming.

He then starts working as a manager in an internet cafe. But when he hears that ‘Glory’ is starting a new server, he decides to jump in and start playing again. With 10 years of gaming experience, he is ready to claim what was taken away from him.

You can watch ‘The King’s Avatar’ and all of its 41 episodes onNetflix.

Qiao Jing Jingis a famous celebrity and the brand ambassador of a very popular online game. But she is bad at gaming herself and this secret gets out to the public.

To save her sponsorship deal, she decides to learn to game and take part in an online gaming contest to show her skill. She requests the help of her very intelligent school crush,Yu Tu. He agrees, and the two form an unusual partnership.

Available onWeTV.

Based on a novelGuardian by Priest,this Mystery Chinese drama will introduce you to a completely new world where humans co-exist with 2 other mysterious species.

The peaceful coexistence between Humans Yashou and Dixing that existed for 10000 long years faces a threat as the Dixings who are known to live underground have started causing troubles on the surface.

Zhao Yunlan and Shen Weare tasked to investigate the situation and in the process, they form a strong bond of friendship to transcend both past and present lifetimes.

Stay away if you aren’t fond of watching bromance but still a different approach from mainstream Chinese Drama makes it a great show on its own.

Standard Quality episodes with subtitles available in 6 plus languages are available for free onViki. You can upgrade to premium membership to watch in HD.

Bai Feng Jiu, is a nine-tailed fox. One day, she is attacked by a savage beast in the mountains and is saved by the first emperor of Heaven,Dong Hua.

To repay the gratitude she decides to fight alongside Dong Hua against the Demon Lord. Over time she falls in love with him but Dong Hua is cold-hearted and Feng Jiu is not ready to give up.

Watch it onWeTV.

Also popularly known as the ‘Ashes of Love‘, it is one of the most loved Chinese Drama around the world and the best part is that it will have a second season this year.

So the story basically revolves around two heavenly beingsXu FengandJin Mi. Xu Feng rescued Jin Mi and they stayed together for hundred years after which Xu Feng finally fell in love with her.

But the problem is that Jin Mi was given an unfeeling pill when she was a child, that’s why she didn’t have any feelings towards Xu Feng. On top of that, Xu Feng’s rival brother also starts having feelings for Jin Mi.

You can watch ‘Heavy Sweetness’ and all of its 63 episodes onViki and Netflix.

Watch it onViki

Written by Xiao Xiang Dong (author ofPrincess Agents) Arsenal military academy is a unique Chinese drama set in the historic plot of WWI.

The story revolves around the life of an enthusiastic sister who pledges to fulfill the last wish of her dead brother.Xie Xiang disguises herself as a manand joins the Arsenal Military Academy in her brother’s stead. This TV series is an account of the hurdles she faces in a men training center andher connection with her mates there.

Besides the story, the chemistry between the male characters and the main leads makes this show an interesting watch.

ZGDX is the most loved all-male online gaming team in the country with a great fan following. One of its members gets injured and theLu Si Cheng, the Capitan of the team is forced to look for a replacement.

Tong Yao, is a funky, cheerful girl who is exceptional at gaming. Upon pressure from the management, Si Cheng is forced to allow Tong Yao in ZGDX and thus begins a new chapter in their life.

The full series is available onViki.

One of my most favorite Chinese drama that I’ve watched. I’d recommend anyone who’s looking for a sweet, short and funny drama to watch ‘Accidentally in Love’.

Chen Qing Qingis a rich girl who is tired of her lifestyle. So she runs away from her home and enrolls in school with fake identity to live her life on her terms. There she meets a student who is a very popular singer,Si Tu Fang. After a series of conflicts between them, they eventually start having feelings for each other.

You can watch ‘Accidentally in Love’ and all of its 30 episodes onNetflix.

ACriminal Psychothriller Chinese Drama, based on the novel “love me if you dare”. Simon, Bo Jinyan is a Police advisor and works on special criminal cases.

He has a specialability to understand the mindsetof violent and dangerous criminals. Though he is very brilliant in his work he lacks emotional clarity. His assistant, daughter of a Police inspector develops emotional attachment towards him.

The drama continues as she tries to bring some emotional clarity in his mind. There is always a huge expectation for a crime drama and this drama series will definitely not disappoint you at all.

English-subtitled versions are available onViki.

Streaming onViki.

Inspired by aJapanese Manga series Hana Yori Dango, this story has already been made into drama 5-6 times and Meteor Garden is one of them.

Shan Caiis a hard-working girl and comes from a poor family. She gets a scholarship at a prestigious school for the wealthy.

There she finds that the whole school is feared by four notorious rich boys called F4, who like to bully other kids in the school. Shan Cai’s days at school were bad as she couldn’t get well with other students of higher status but later becomes worse when she becomes the new bullying target of the F4.

‘Meteor Garden’ is one of the classic Chinese dramas with a big fan following. The drama shows everything, it has comedy, it has friendship, romance, drama, and youthful energy.

You can watch Meteor Garden and all of its 50 episodes onNetflix and Viu.

A Chinese drama based on theBattle of Changshathat took place in 1939 during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

The story depicts an ordinary family that lives in Changsha, China. It shows the struggle and difficulties that people had to face due to the Anti-Japanese war.

A romantic relationship between Xiangxiang and Gu Qingmingsurvives the chaosthat surrounds them. Though there were bloodshed all-around little moments of happiness gave the people strength to bear the hardship.

The acting, storyline, and characters make the drama feel so real. It also shows therich Chinese heritageand culture that makes it a treat for eyes.

Need not go far. Easily watch the full season onYouTube

Are you looking for some sweet, short, and light-hearted romance to put you in a good mood? My Little Happiness is the show for you. It offers exactly what the title says.

The show follows a realistic approach and advances through the unpredictable lives of the main heroes. It is a fun-to-watch-show and doesn’t take much stress on your brain; therefore, I suggest you must give this one a try.

Vikiis the place to go for to watch My Little Happiness.

‘A love so beautiful’ is a story based on a Novel called ‘Our Pure Little Beauty’. A sweet romantic comedy with tonnes of cute moments filled in it.

The story starts withXiao Xi, a cheerful girl who has a major crush onJiang Chen, who is the popular guy in the school.

She proposes to him but he rejects. Xiao Xi remains committed to making Jiang Chen hers, which she ultimately succeeds in doing. As they get older, the couple along with their friends tries to find happiness in every situation.

You can watch all the 24 episodes of ‘A love so beautiful’ onNetflix and Viki.

Princess Agent is a story based on a novel called ‘Chu Te Gong Huang Fei’. It is a unique drama where we see the rise of a woman coming from nothing to becoming a great warrior.

The story starts in the Northern Wei Province which is devastated by conflicts. In the middle of all of this isChu Qiao, a slave girl who is saved by the Prince of Northern Yan,Yan Xun. They both form a strong bond together.

But later as her life takes a different turn, she meetsYu Wen Yuewho decides to teach her to be a warrior. As the story progresses Chu Qiao has to decide where her loyalties lie, as both the men mean so much in her life.

You can watch all the 58 episodes of ‘Princess Agent’ onViki.

The full series is available onWeTV.

Adapted from the novel based on real-life stories,‘Don’t Like This World, I Only Like You’Lo Coup de Foudre(Love at First Sight) is a heartwarming story of two love birds who struggled to keep up with the promises.

Zhao Qiao Yi and Yan Mo once shared a strong bond and talked about going to new places after high school but fate had decided an entirely different route to unite them as lovers.

This Romantic Drama will make you laugh, cry and learn about relationships. I recommend you binge-watch this with the love of your life.

You can watch each and every episode of this drama onHotpot TVandViki

Not every drama needs to have complicated storylines, people do love simple stories and ‘Boss and Me’ is thatlight-hearted dramawe all need to watch.

Xue Shan Shan, a young office lady works for a guy calledFeng Teng. One day, Shan Shan is asked to give a blood transfusion to Feng Teng’s sister. To thank her, Feng Teng decides to buy her lunch every day.

This small gesture brings both of them closer and ultimately they fall in love.

You can watch all the 33 episodes of ‘Boss and Me’ onYouTube.

Shot intwo time framesScarlet heart is possibly theoldest Chinese Drama in this list. The drama was once commercial hit all over Asia on TV screens and even today it receives great appreciation from the west.

It is a depiction of the novelBu Bu Jing XinbyTong Huain which a girl named Zhang Xiao travels back in time to her previous life form as nobility in the Qing Dynasty.

Season one and two both are available onVikiwith multilingual Subtitles.

If shows like Untamed weren’t enough to feed your love for Chinese BL dramas, you might need to watch this BL masterpiece.

At first, I was skeptical about the show, but it exceeded the limits of my expectations. Realistic same-sex relationships, intriguing political scenarios, hardcore sword fighting, and mesmerizing chemistry between the main leads bring this show to life on screen.

Zhou Zhu,a prominent assassin, decides to quit his organization and live his life in peace. Quitting is never easy when you hold a top position in an organization, and therefore, Zhou had to endure drastic methods to leave.

After leaving, he roams around like a homeless drunk until he meetsWen Kexing,who is on a pursuit to avenge the death of his parents. Both hunt for their redemption and, in the process, become soulmates.

Available onNetflix.

Inspired by a novel called ‘Empress Fu Yao’, the story isfilled with fantasyand adventure which as we all know is a deadly combo.

The story starts withFu Yaowho is a slave girl in the Taiyuan Kingdom. After suffering through a lot of tragedies, she is saved by thePrince Zhang Sun Wu Ji.

Together they decide to go a journey to find the origin of Fu Yao birth and to dispel the curse that is imposed on her.

You can watch all the 66 episodes of ‘Legend of Fu Yao’ onViki.

While most college dramas focus on the same melodramatic fluff, Skate into Love beautifully incorporates the sports genre into the scene to present a unique concept for drama viewers.

I was fascinated to see how this show manages to keep the romantic chemistry intact while bringing out an inspirational story of the athletes.

During their elementary school,Tang Xueused to bully her teammateLi Yu.Little did she know that her naive and timid teammate would rise to become a prominent ice hockey player in University.

When both meet after years in University, Tang Xue decides to avenge his school days by making Li Yu his assistant.

Watch onYoutube.

Adapted from the novelDo you know? Do you know? If the green is still plump and the red still lean?byGuanxin Zeluanthis Chinese Drama sets its plot in the Northern Song Dynasty.

A journey of a concubine born, Ming Lan, a talented and capable girl who is deprived and mistreated in the kingdom.

She seeks revenge for the death of her biological mother by hiding her skills and joining hands with Gu Ting Ye, the 2nd son of the Gu Family who is treated the same in his family.

If you are impressed by the ‘rise from the ashes’ type of stories then you’ll definitely have a great time in this 73 episodes long watch.

Initially, the show aired on Hunan TV and now can be streamed online onViki.

When this Chinese Drama aired in 2017, it became the most-watched Chinese series ever at that time with over27 Billion viewsacross all platforms.

Chen Chang Shengwas abandoned when he was a child. He is suffering from a deadly disease that won’t let him live for more than 20 years. In reality, he is the fourth Prince of a Kingdom and there lies a great mystery of his abandonment.

To find a cure he decides to move in the main capital where a lot of surprises wait for him.

You can watch ‘Fighter of the Destiny’ and all of its 52 episodes onViki and Amazon Prime Videos.

Story of atennis prodigyLu Xia who has inherited some serious talents and strengths from his father.

Living abroad, he was trapped by his father’s guidance and was merely used as a tool towin tournaments and prizes. In the process, Lu Xia lost all his interest in the game and his life too.

Lately, he joined a high school tennis team in China and came across people who made him realize hisidentity as a playerand the need for attachment and love in life.

The show is surely not a typical C Drama it does have a taste of western cinema but all in all, it is filled withexciting tennis matcheswith numerouslife lessonsabout finding one’s identity in the real world and the value of friendship.

The animated version is available onHuluand you can buy the original version fromamazon.

Chinese drama fandom is well aware that only a few dramas have been able to perform internationally. It clearly doesn’t mean that these dramas lack quality but factors like a repetitive story, overly stretched plot, and substandard romantic scenes have curbed the Cdrama audience.

It is only because of shows like The Romance of Tiger and Rose that Chinese content can sustain viewers like us.

It is a tragic story of a TV series scriptwriter namedChen Xiao Qianwho gets trapped inside her own script. Inside her own story, she becomes the Third princessChen Qian Qian,a side character who is penned to die in just the third episode.

Knowing the story, Chen Xiao tries her best to survive as princess Chen Qian. As the story unfolds, many other episodes require her to use this knowledge to stay and find a way back to the real world.

You can watch it onViki.

Jiang Junis an intelligent, independent woman who belongs to a high-class family. After the sudden demise of her father, she had no option left but to fulfill her father’s last wish of working in an investment firm.

This unfortunate incident changed her life forever. She discovers that her childhood friendYuan Shuaiis now a big investment tycoon and has a reputation as a bully.

Inspired by a novel called ‘ Stewed Squid with Honey’, Go Go Squid has been amassive hit in the year 2019. A cute love story between a cold guy and a sweet girl.

Tong Nianis a sweet and confident girl but when she’s in front ofHan Shang Yan,she becomes totally numb. She met Han Shang Yan in an internet cafe and instantly fell in love with him.

Shang Yan is a cold and unfriendly type of a guy who’s only focused on his career of professional gaming. But Tong Nian is committed to making a place for herself in his heart.

You can watch ‘Go Go Squid’ and all of its 41 episodes onViki.

A Mystery Chinese drama adapted from the famous novelJiang Yeby Mao Ni, which first aired in October 2018.

The story revolves around a young boy who somehow managed toescape the deadly massacre by an evil general. His abilities and intelligence helped him to survive the hardship of life.

Later hejoined the military, which was followed by many adventurous missions. The story follows some of the mysterious miracles that you will enjoy only when you will watch it.

The characters are at it best, the fight scenes are a treat for eyes and most importantly if you like twists and turns, this is the show for you.

Like most of the shows on this list, Ever Night is also available onViki.