15 Best Chinese Dramas You Should Watch Now

• Genre: Romance, fantasy, xianxia
• Episodes: 58
• Original release: 2017

Having reached 50 billion views (as of August 2018), Eternal Love (三生三世十里桃花), also known as Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, is considered the most-watched television drama in China. The series is based on the xianxia novel written by Tang Qi. If you love stories about gods, goddesses, immortals, and demons, dive into this drama! Chances are, you'll be blown away—even if you think the fantasy/historical genre is not your cup of tea. The romance in this story is something everyone can enjoy.

The story is about a romance that lives for thousands of years, across several lifetimes. Once upon a time, a Fox spirit and the Crown Prince of the Heavens fall in love. However, bad luck befalls them, so they face many challenges before they find each other again in another lifetime, in another world. Are they destined to find each other again in three different lives, in three different worlds?

• Genre: Romance, comedy
• Episodes: 30
• Original release: 2016

If you are in the mood for a refreshing and light love story, Love O2O (微微一笑很倾城) is a breath of fresh air. This sweet story focuses on university life and online games. With a smile-inducing and unique plot, you will want to binge-watch the whole series!

The story centers on the most popular boy on campus, who happens to be a gaming expert, and a beautiful computer science major. He desperately falls in love with this gorgeous girl the first time he meets her at an internet cafe (where she was playing with another gamer). Soon she will learn that he is attracted to her not for her beauty, but for her gaming skills!

• Genre: Crime, suspense, romance
• Episodes: 24
• Original release: 2015

Adapted from Close Your Eyes, Stay Close to Me, by Ding Mo, Love Me If You Dare (他来了，请闭眼) will take you inside the heads of violent criminals. The male lead is a brilliant criminal psychologist. After working in America on a serial killer case, he returns to China to work in the police department as an analyst and advisor on the most problematic cases. With the help of his assistant, they delve into the criminal mind.

If you are interested in mystery/crime, Sherlock Holmes–type dramas, definitely watch this series. It also has a touch of romance and humor, so you won't be bored. However, if your main interest is romance, you likely won't be satisfied. There is some romance, but it's not what the series focuses on.

• Genre: Xianxia, fantasy, romance
• Episodes: 63
• Original release: 2019

The next C-drama on the list is quite a lengthy ride—but never fear, you won't be bored for a single second. Based on the novel Heavy Sweetness, Ash-like Frost, by Dian Xian, Ashes of Love (香蜜沉沉烬如霜) is set in ancient times and tells the love story of two prisoners: Flower Goddess's daughter and Heavenly Emperor’s son.

This series shows us how true love can be so strong that it can go against faith and overcome every obstacle, though sometimes a heavy price must be paid. Packed with epic battles, power struggles, friendship, family bonds, and loyalty, this show has everything you could wish for.

• Genre: Wuxia, historical, politics
• Episodes: 54
• Original release: 2015

Based on Hai Yan's novel of the same name, Nirvana in Fire (琅琊榜) tells the story of a betrayal that caused the deaths of 70,000 loyal army soldiers—and how one survivor returns to ensure that the traitors pay the price. The action takes place in one of the most chaotic periods in China's history, the era when the country was divided into Northern and Southern dynasties.

Don't be fooled into thinking this is just another typical revenge drama; it's much more than that. These characters seek revenge for something greater than themselves—they are trying to find out the truth.

If you are looking for an intense drama with a complicated, mind-blowing screenplay, beautiful cinematography, top-notch action, incredible characters, and much intrigue, look no further. This drama is often compared to Game of Thrones. You won't want to miss this magnificent series.

• Genre: Historical fiction, political, romance
• Episodes: 70
• Original release: 2018

Do you love seeing magnificent thrones, peacock feathers, and stunningly sumptuous costumes on screen? Well, The Rise of Phoenixes (天盛长歌) is a real feast for the eyes. Not only does it have beautiful cinematography, but its characters will immediately draw you in.

This historical romance is loosely based on the novel Huang Quan (Phoenix Rise), by Tianxia Guiyuan. Not all of its historical facts are perfectly accurate, but the story is still inspired by history. Here you will find everything a history buff enjoys: rebellion, corruption, assassinations, and much more.

The main story is about the illegitimate daughter of the Qiu family, who is falsely accused of a crime. Consequently, she is banished from her household. In order to survive, she pretends to be a man in order to attend a prestigious academy. She succeeds at the academy, and soon she enters the court as a royal scholar and politician. There, she is loyal and honest until she is manipulated into thinking that the current dynasty is built upon the corpses of her loved ones, those of a fallen kingdom. Will she seek revenge?

• Genre: Romance, youth, friendship
• Episodes: 46
• Original release: 2017

Love Till the End of Summer (夏至未至) is another Chinese drama that is based on a novel; it is adapted from Guo Jingming's novel of the same name. Spanning a period of 10 years, this series is about a set of young and ambitious school friends whose paths diverge after graduation. Everyone is pursuing their dreams, but each faces challenges: struggles, departures, imprisonments, betrayals or deaths of loved ones. Each friend is changing, and they begin to doubt the friendship of the others. 

This drama shows us what we know to be true: that life is not a bed of roses. It's not always smooth, and it's not always as easy as we would hope. Despite this, true friendships play an important role in our lives, as this series demonstrates.

• Genre: Romance, comedy, coming of age
• Episodes: 23
• Original release: 2017

The storyline of A Love So Beautiful (致我们单纯的小美好) centers on school classmates. A cheerful (but not so book-smart) girl likes the "perfect" guy, who is known for his good looks and high grades. The show focuses on their life in high school: adventures with their classmates, etc.

If sweet, simple stories are your cup of tea, don't miss this series! A Love So Beautiful is an innocent and light drama that takes place mainly during the high school life, though it moves on to adult life later. Cute and heartwarming!

• Genre: Fantasy, adventure, romance
• Episodes: 36
• Original release: 2018

Based on the novel of the same name, Bloody Romance (媚者无疆) follows a beautiful woman thrown into a chaotically cruel world—and who has no choice but learn how to survive.

The poor daughter of an herbalist, the woman was fooled and sold into a brothel. What's more, she learns that the person responsible for this arrangement is someone who was close to her. After escaping death, she becomes a cold-blooded assassin. In her new life, she encounters dangerous psychopaths and sociopaths, and she must summon great courage and intelligence to prevail.

If you like the fantasy/adventure/romance genre (e.g., Legend of Fuyao), then this series is a perfect choice for you. It's a beautiful tale of a female lead who struggles to overcome the obstacles in her path—and becomes stronger as a result.

• Genre: Romance, melodrama
• Episodes: 46
• Original release: 2018

Here to Heart (温暖的弦) is based on the novel The Warm Chord, written by An Ning. If you want to dive into a world full of love, hate, and revenge, give this drama a shot!

This is a story about a young love that is profound and eternal. A young couple has been separated due to a tragic accident. Even after a decade passes, their wounds haven't healed. They have each found new companions, but deep in their hearts they still feel lonely. Will one of them make the first move to rekindle their true love? Their love is like a war in which no side wants to surrender. The man announces he is marrying another woman. Is it because he wants revenge? Ten years ago his beloved suddenly disappeared saying a word, causing him deep pain.

• Genre: Fantasy, adventure, romance
• Episodes: 66
• Original release: 2018

If you're looking for a memorable and exciting Chinese drama to watch again and again, Legend of Fuyao (扶摇) is made for you! It contains many political plotlines, but it features engrossing relationships and emotional stories, too. The main character, Fu Yao, evolves from a young and stubborn slave girl to a powerful woman who finds her true strength and courage to make things right in the world.

Based on the novel Empress Fuyao, by Tianxia Guiyuan, Legend of Fuyao takes place in the universe of five kingdoms that are led by the Imperial City of Wuji. After some tragic events, Fu Yao, a slave girl in the Taiyuan Kingdom, embarks on a journey across all of the kingdoms to find a way to lift the curse that blights her life. On this quest, she gets to know the crown prince of Wuji, and she develops feelings for him. Expect a lot of action, court intrigue, adventures, and of course, an epic love story!

• Genre: Action, suspense, thriller, romance
• Episodes: 46
• Original release: 2018

If you like spy dramas, here's an interesting one for you. Lost in 1949 (脱身) takes place in Communist China. It tells the story of two people who meet by chance but fall in love. They both are ready to devote their lives to serve the country.

The plot revolves around a man who is suddenly freed from prison, and a woman, a Communist agent, who is ordered to get valuable information for the Party. Returning home to visit her husband's grave, she bumps into the newly freed prisoner and they mistakenly take each other's briefcases. While searching for her briefcase, which contains an important transmitter, the agent gets to know an intelligent, kind person.

• Genre: Romance, school, youth
• Episodes: 32
• Original release: 2017

The story of The Endless Love (路从今夜白之遇见青春) centers on a young man who is a talented painter. He suffers, however, from trauma-induced color blindness. At this difficult time in his life, he meets a cute girl who helps him heal his emotional wounds and fight for his dreams. 

This drama isn't particularly serious, but if you are in the mood for a good, light watch with likeable characters, The Endless Love is just the ticket!

• Genre: Historical fiction, romance, wuxia
• Episodes: 48
• Original release: 2017

Betrayal, love, revenge, intrigue, struggle . . . does this sound interesting to you? The King's Woman (秦时丽人明月心) contains all of these elements!

The story revolves around Gongsun Li, the disciple and granddaughter of a military commander. When chaos descends upon her home, she has no choice but to leave. She departs with her fellow disciple whom she has known since childhood. They become dependent on each other and eventually fall in love. One day he is injured, and Gongsun Li enters the palace and marries Ying Zheng in order to procure medicine. Here the story takes an even more interesting turn, because Gongsun Li must fight to live in a harem and gain respect among the others.

In essence, this is a love-triangle romance drama, but the background story is really about the first emperor of China. If you are looking for an engrossing historical drama with beautiful cinematography, well-developed and multidimensional characters, The King's Woman should be on your must-watch list. Even if you're not a big fan of palace politics, this drama is easy to follow since it focuses more on romance.

• Genre: Historical fiction
• Episodes: 54
• Original release: 2018

Based on the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this Chinese drama takes place in the late Han dynasty, when they had already ruled for 400 years. While the novel describes events that span more than a century, the TV drama covers only 20 years—from 200 CE until the very end of the Han Dynasty in 220 CE.

The Secret of the Three Kingdoms (三国机密之潜龙在渊) accurately depicts major historical events, though with some liberties. Even if you know the history, however, the drama will surprise you at every turn. If you are looking for a great story, give this series a try. However, if you prefer very emotional dramas, this one may not be the best choice for you.