Best Chinese Dramas to Watch (in 2026) 📺 24 Of The Very Best + New Hits

24 of The Best Chinese Dramas to Learn Chinese (PLUS Bonus Shows)

The best Chinese dramas, or C-dramas as fans call them, range from palace epics and fantasy romances to sharp modern stories set in Shanghai and Beijing. If you only have time for ten, start with these.

Brand new to C-dramas? Start with Hidden Love or Meteor Garden. Both are easy to binge, you don’t need any history background to follow them, and the everyday dialogue makes great listening practice.

Trying to find good Chinese dramas to help you learn Chinese can be pretty tough, there are just so many of them! If you want to turn binge-watching into real progress, our guide to learning Mandarin through TV shows you how.

That’s why we’ve done the work for you, so that you can spend less time trying to find the right Chinese drama for you and more time practising your Chinese.

Follow the guide, click on the links to read our complete reviews, let us know in the comments 👇 the best Chinese dramas you ever watched, and enjoy!

Chinese Dramas || Watch Chinese dramas with English subtitles

Chinese Dramas || Chinese drama genres explained

Chinese Dramas || Best modern Chinese dramas

Chinese Dramas || Best romantic Chinese dramas

Chinese Dramas || Best historical and fantasy Chinese dramas

Chinese Dramas || Best Chinese crime and thriller dramas

Chinese Dramas || Best Taiwanese dramas

Chinese Dramas || Newer Chinese dramas and must-see classics to add to your list

Chinese Dramas || Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where can you watch Chinese dramas with English subtitles in the US?

Most of the dramas on this list stream with English subtitles on Netflix, Rakuten Viki, iQIYI (its international app is iQ.com) and WeTV, the international app of Tencent Video. Some classics also turn up on Amazon Prime Video or on the official YouTube channels of Chinese studios.

Catalogs change from country to country and over time, so check your app before you settle in for a 40-episode binge.

Key: 💻 = has streamed on Netflix (check that it’s in your US catalog)

Chinese drama genres explained

Chinese fans sort dramas by a handful of genre labels. Learn these and you’ll find your next show much faster on any streaming app.

The quick way to tell the two fantasy labels apart: 武侠 (wǔxiá) heroes are human fighters with extraordinary martial skills, while 仙侠 (xiānxiá) characters cultivate their way to immortality and magic.

Best modern Chinese dramas

All is Well

The Chinese drama All is Well ( 都挺好 dōu tǐng hǎo) centres on a Chinese family.

All is Well is a great show to learn about Chinese family traditions and values.

The drama shows the struggles faced by the Su ( 苏 sū) family as three adult siblings are faced with having to care for their elderly father after their mother dies.

Read our full review of All is Well

Meteor Garden 💻

Meteor Garden ( 流星花园  liú xīng huā yuán) is a Chinese drama that was really successful internationally, and is available to watch on Netflix.

The show tells the story of Dong Shancai ( 董杉菜 dǒng shāncài), a student from a modest family who gets into a top university.

But, at university, she encounters the F4, the four most popular guys at school who are all rich and spoiled.

Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster if you watch this drama, it is full of ups and downs which are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Read our full review of Meteor Garden

Ode to Joy

Hailed as the Chinese version of Sex and the City, Ode to Joy ( 欢乐颂 huānlè sòng) was huge hit in China when it first aired in 2016.

The show centres on five women in their 20s and early 30s.

They all live on the same floor of an apartment complex in Shanghai.

The women are all from varying economic backgrounds, making it a really good drama to learn about the different obstacles faced by women in modern China.

Ode to Joy is one of the best Chinese dramas for learning about dating in modern China, as well as Chinese attitudes to love and relationships.

Read our full review of Ode to Joy

The First Half of My Life

The First Half of My Life ( 我的前半生 wǒ de qián bànshēng) is a great drama to learn about guanxi ( 关系 guānxì) and the Chinese workplace.

Guanxi is the Chinese idea of personal connections and relationships that help people get things done, especially at work.

The main character in this drama is Luo Zijun ( 罗子君 Luó Zǐjūn).

She’s a 33-year-old housewife whose husband leaves her for another woman after eight years of marriage.

This forces Luo Zijun back into the workplace so she can support herself and her son. Add a love triangle to the mix and you can expect plenty of drama.

Read our full review of The First Half of My Life

Shi Cha Hai

Anyone familiar with Beijing will recognise the name of the drama Shi Cha Hai ( 什刹海 shíchàhǎi) as it is also a famous scenic spot in Beijing.

If you want to experience Beijing’s daily life from the comfort of your sofa, then this is the series for you!

The show focuses on three generations of the Zhuang family who live in a Shicha Hai Hutong in central Beijing.

The patriarch of the family is Mr Zhuang who was previously a famous chef. However, his peaceful life is disturbed as Shicha Hai starts to become a lively attraction.

Read our full review of Shi Cha Hai

Get Married or Not

Get Married or Not is one of the best Chinese dramas to learn about modern-day marriage concepts in China.

The Chinese name of the show is  谁说我结不了婚 shuíshuō wǒ jiébùliǎo hūn, literally: “who said I can’t get married” in English.

At the centre of this drama are three independent, successful career women in their 30s. But because they’re unmarried, the people around them see them as failing in life.

The main protagonist Cheng Lu ( 程璐 chéng lù) has always said that she isn’t married because she doesn’t want to be, not because she can’t.

But, will all this change when she meets psychologist Professor Wei Shu ( 魏书 wèi shū)?

Read our full review of Get Married or Not

Get Married or Not 💒 Get to Know the Popular Concepts of Marriage in China

Get Married or Not drama is a Chinese TV show released in 2020. The Chinese name is called 谁说我结不了婚 shuíshuō wǒ jiébùliǎo hūn – find out more about it here.

Nothing But Thirty

Nothing But Thirty ( 三十而已 sānshí éryǐ) was one of the hit Chinese dramas of 2020.

Nothing But Thirty tells the story of three women who have reached their 30s and the pressure they now face.

All three women come from different backgrounds with different personalities. The women also show the three states of: unmarried and childless, married and childless, and married and childbearing.

There is strong-willed Gu Jia ( 顾佳 gùjiā) who is both a wife and a businesswomen. Independent and single Wang Manni 王漫妮 wáng mànnī who works as a senior salesperson in a luxury designer store called Mishil.

And finally, there is Zhong Xiaoqin 钟晓芹 zhōngxiǎoqín whose ordinary life is turned upside down when she is offered a publishing deal.

Read our full review of Nothing But Thirty

Best romantic Chinese dramas

Go Go Squid

Go Go Squid ( 亲爱的，热爱的 qīn’ài de, rè’ài de) is a popular Chinese romantic drama.

At the heart of this romantic show is the computer science genius Tong Nian ( 佟年 tóng nián), who has a really high IQ, oh and she’s also a popular internet singer, talk about talented!

Tong Nian falls for e-sport champion Han Shangyan ( 韩商言 hánshāngyán), who happens to also be another computer genius.

This is a great show for learning some Chinese internet slang.

Read our full review of Go Go Squid

Hot Mom!

Hot Mom! ( 辣妈正传 là mā zhèng zhuàn) is a 2013 Chinese romantic comedy drama.

The show follows the story of Xia Bing ( 夏冰 xià bīng) a 26-year-old woman whose life motto is

“No marriage or kids until the age of 30.”

However, things take an unexpected turn when she accidentally gets pregnant and must now face the prospect of marrying her boyfriend and raising a child while also juggling her career and social life.

Love O2O 💻

Love O2O ( 微微一笑很倾城 wēiwēi yīxiào hěn qīngchéng) is one of the most watched Chinese modern dramas, with a staggering 25 billion views online!

The star of this drama is Bei Weiwei ( 贝微微 bèi wéiwéi) a computer science major who is amazing at playing the online role-playing game A Chinese Ghost Story.

However, she is dumped by her in-game husband.

Things take a turn though… she is soon approached by the top player Xiao Nai ( 肖奈 xiào nài) who wants them to enter competitions together.

What happens? Tune in to find out!

Read our full review of Love O2O

Well Intended Love 💻

Well-Intended Love ( 奈何老板要娶我  nàihé lǎobǎn yào qǔ wǒ) is a romantic comedy-drama series which was released in 2019.

The premise of the show is that Xia Lin ( 夏林 xià lín), a struggling actress, is diagnosed with leukaemia. She needs a bone marrow transplant but the only donor match is Ling Yizhou ( 凌异洲 líng yìzhōu), a rich arrogant man who doesn’t want to help her.

However, Ling is under pressure from his family to marry, so a deal between the two is made.

Unsurprisingly, things don’t go as smoothly as planned. Expect lots of plot twists and revelations you won’t see coming!

Read our full review of Well Intended Love

Well-Intended Love Review (2019) – An Honest Review for Chinese Learners

Well-Intended Love (2019) – Everything Chinese Learners Need To Know Bored doing exercises from a school book? Sick of writing lines of characters in a notebook over and over again? I’ve definitely felt like that. I love learning new languages…

Best historical and fantasy Chinese dramas

Empresses in the Palace 💻

As you may have guessed by the name, Empresses in the Palace ( 后宫甄嬛传 hòugōng zhēnhuán zhuàn) is a Chinese period drama set during the Qing Dynasty.

The main protagonist is concubine Zhen Huan ( 甄嬛 zhēnhuán) who becomes a favourite of the emperor Yong Zheng ( 雍正 yōngzhèng).

However, this makes the Empress jealous so she plots for a way to get rid of Zhen Huan.

Read our full review of Empresses in the Palace

The Untamed 💻

The Untamed ( 陈情令 chén qíng lìng) is a Chinese fantasy drama. It was a huge hit, accumulating a total of 6.8 billion views on Tencent by the end of 2019!

This drama is based in an Ancient Chinese martial arts world, where the land is ruled by five sects.

Our two heroes are Wei Wuxian ( 魏无羡 wèi wúxiàn) and Lan Wangji ( 蓝忘机 lán wàngjī).

Despite being from different sects the two soon become close friends. They travel around together solving mysteries and trying to make the world a better place.

The Untamed has also streamed on Netflix, which is handy if you already have a subscription. Catalogs change, though, so check that it’s in yours before you start.

Read our full review of The Untamed

Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures 💻

Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures ( 金枝玉叶 jīnzhīyùyè) is another Chinese period drama set during the Qing Dynasty.

At the centre of this series is Princess Zhaohua ( 昭华公主 zhāo huá gōngzhǔ).

The strong-willed seventh daughter of Emperor Qianlong.

Princess Zhaohua must face many obstacles in her life in the palace, including a vendetta against her family, romantic affairs and wedding alliances just to name a few.

This Chinese drama is a spin-off from The Story of Yanxi Palace ( 延禧攻略 yánxǐ gōnglüè), but you don’t need to have watched the original series. It has streamed on Netflix, so check that it’s in your catalog before you start.

Read our full review of Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures

Wu Zetian (1995)

The only female empress of China, Wu Zetian ( 武则天 wǔzétiān) has been the subject of many books, films and TV shows.

This TV drama is the one released in 1995, starring Liu Xiaoqing ( 刘晓庆 liú xiǎoqìng) as Wu Zetian.

Not to be confused with the drama The Empress of China ( 武媚娘传奇 wǔ mèiniáng chuánqí) which stars famous Chinese actress Fan Bingbing as Wu.

The 1995 TV series follows Wu Zetian’s rise to power, beginning with when she entered Emperor Taizong’s harem when she was 13. What follows is lots of palace intrigue, plots, betrayals and much more.

Read our full review of Wu Zetian

Da Zhai Men

Da Zhai Men is a drama for anyone who has an interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Da Zhai Men ( 大宅门 dàzháimén) is based on the real life of Le Jingyu ( 乐镜宇 lè jìng yǔ) renamed Bai jingqi ( 白景琦 báijǐngqí) in the show. He owns the pharmacy Tongrentang ( 同仁堂 tóngréntáng), renamed “Pharmacy Herbs Hall” ( 百草厅 bǎi cǎo tīng) in the series.

The show follows the life of the family and their business running their pharmacy starting near the end of the Qing dynasty and going through the tumultuous 20th century.

The director and the screenwriter of the drama is Guo Baochang ( 郭宝昌 guōbǎochāng) who is Le Jingyu’s adopted son. It took him 40 years to finish the script!

Read our full review of Da Zhai Men

New Legend of Madame White Snake

New Legend of Madame White Snake ( 新白娘子传奇 xīn bái niángzǐ chuánqí) tells the story of the famed Chinese legend: The Legend of the White Snake.

There have been numerous TV series and films about this legend.

This TV series production is the 1992 version, although there is also a 2019 remake called The Legend of White Snake ( 新白娘子传奇 xīn bái niángzǐ chuánqí), which has streamed on Netflix.

The legend is about Bai Suzhen 白素贞 báisùzhēn who was a white snake but managed to transform herself into a human. She is searching for her true love and has been told to go to West Lake in Hangzhou to meet him.

There on the Broken Bridge she meets Xu Xian (许仙 xǔxiān) and it’s love at first sight. But what will happen when he learns she was once a snake?

Read our full review of New Legend of Madame White Snake

Best Chinese crime and thriller dramas

The Bad Kids

The Bad Kids ( 隐秘的角落 yǐnmì de jiǎoluò) made some seriously big waves in the land of Chinese TV when it landed in June 2020.

It has received rave reviews from both China and abroad with many critics saying that it takes Chinese dramas to a whole new level.

Sometimes The Bad Kids is also referred to as Hidden Corners which is the English translation of the Chinese name.

The series follows the story of three children who inadvertently film a murder scene. The kids become involved with the murder suspect and what follows is a dark and complicated story about life and morality in modern China.

This is definitely one of the best Chinese TV series to come out of 2020. It is the perfect show for anyone who is looking for an alternative to your usual upbeat, romantic Chinese drama.

Read our full review of The Bad Kids

Kidnapping Game

Another one of iQIYI’s hit 2020 web series, Kidnapping Game ( 十日游戏 shí rì yóuxì) is adapted from Keigo Higashino’s detective thriller The Name of the Game is a Kidnapping.

Kidnapping Game takes place over the series of just 10 days. As you might guess from the name at the centre of this TV show is a kidnapping. But with a 4 million ransom paid and the victim then turning up dead what is the heart to this mystery?

As the series unfolds it seems that there is much more to this kidnapping than it seems with an even greater danger looming in the background.

In the Name of the People

In the Name of the People ( 人民的名义 rénmín de míngyì) is a 2017 Chinese political drama about China’s anti-corruption ( 反腐败 fǎn fǔbài) campaign in a modern day fictional Chinese town.

Many people have called the show the Chinese version of House of Cards.

It was a huge hit when it aired on Hunan TV in 2017, with reports of more than 20 billion views across online platforms, including iQIYI. It also holds an 8.5 on Douban, China’s go-to rating site.

The program’s main protagonist is handsome detective Hou Liangping ( 侯亮平 hóu liàngpíng).

Hou Liangping’s investigation pulls him into a tangled web of cases in the fictional city of Jingzhou, and every episode raises the stakes.

This is definitely one of the most serious Chinese dramas on our list.

When a Snail Falls in Love

When a Snail Falls in Love ( 如果蜗牛有爱情 rú guǒ wō niú yǒu ài qíng) is a Chinese crime drama.

When it was released in 2016 it was so popular that it got 200 million online hits in the first week!

The show is about Detective Ji Bai ( 季白 jì bái) who has to train a new recruit, the criminal profiler Xu Xu ( 许诩 xǔ xǔ).

The pair have to try and solve a series of crimes that seem to be mysteriously connected. Xu Xu proves to be talented at her job all in except one detail, she runs as slowly as a snail!

Best Taiwanese dramas

Iron Ladies 💻

Iron Ladies ( 姊的時代 jiě de shí dài) is a modern Taiwanese drama set in Taipei.

Iron Ladies focuses on three successful career women who seem to have it all.

However, things are never that simple, with each woman having personal struggles that may not appear on the surface.

Added into this mix is the young and naive Su Can ( 蘇燦 sū càn), a young barista and artist who has recently moved to Taipei to try and find himself a career.

Read our full review of Iron Ladies

Devil Beside You

Devil Beside You ( 惡魔在身邊 èmó zài shēnbiān) is a classic college Taiwanese drama. Released in 2005 it is still a firm fan favourite and very popular.

At the centre of this drama is the sweet and innocent  Qi Yue ( 齐悦 qí yuè). She has a crush on the basketball team captain Shang Yuan Yi (尚源伊 shàng yuányī) and decides to tell him with a letter.

However, the letter actually ends up in the hands of the college troublemaker Jiang Meng ( 江猛 jiāng měng).

Soon a love triangle develops and there is plenty of drama and plot twists that will keep you hooked.

Read our full review of Devil Beside You

Life Plan A and B 💻

The Taiwanese drama mini-series Life Plan A and B ( 荼蘼 tú mí) has an unusual twist: it follows two parallel storylines.

Life Plan A and B is all about the “What ifs…” in life, everyone has probably wondered what might have happened if they made a different decision in their life.

Well Life Plan A and B does exactly that, showing the two possible lives of Zheng Ruwei ( 郑汝为 zhèng rǔwèi).

In the Plan A storyline Zheng Ruwei moves to Shanghai to pursue her career, leaving behind her boyfriend Tang Youyan ( 汤有彦 tāng yǒuyàn).

In Plan B Zheng Ruwei decides to stay in Taiwan and help Tang Youyan instead.

Read our full review of Life Plan A and B

Newer Chinese dramas and must-see classics to add to your list

The 24 picks above are our long-time favourites for learning. These are the 2025 and 2026 hits everyone’s talking about right now, plus a few modern classics that belong on any best Chinese dramas list.

Pursuit of Jade (2026) 💻

Pursuit of Jade (逐玉 zhú yù) is the breakout C-drama of 2026. A butcher’s daughter, Fan Changyu (Tian Xiwei), and a fallen noble, Xie Zheng (Zhang Linghe), enter a marriage of convenience that gets tangled up in revenge and war over 40 episodes.

It premiered on March 6, 2026 on Tencent Video, iQIYI and Netflix, and debuted at No. 6 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 for non-English TV for the week of March 9 to 15, with 1.9 million views. It’s reported as the first mainland Chinese drama to make Netflix’s weekly global chart, and it opened at 9.0 on MyDramaList before rising to 9.1.

The Legend of Zang Hai (2025)

The Legend of Zang Hai (藏海传 cáng hǎi zhuàn) is a historical revenge thriller starring Xiao Zhan. A young man whose family was destroyed works his way into the circles of the powerful men responsible, using brains rather than swords. Pick this one if you want clever plotting with romance kept in the background.

Hidden Love (2023)

Hidden Love (偷偷藏不住 tōutōu cáng bù zhù) follows Sang Zhi (Zhao Lusi), who has had a crush on her older brother’s friend Duan Jiaxu (Chen Zheyuan) since her school days. It slowly grows into a warm, grown-up relationship. The Chinese title means something like “can’t keep it hidden”.

When I Fly Towards You (2023)

When I Fly Towards You (当我飞奔向你 dāng wǒ fēibēn xiàng nǐ) is a feel-good high school drama about a cheerful girl who falls for the quiet top student. Expect friendship, exam stress and plenty of classroom vocabulary.

You Are My Glory (2021)

You Are My Glory (你是我的荣耀 nǐ shì wǒ de róngyào) reunites a famous actress (Dilraba Dilmurat) with her school crush (Yang Yang), now an aerospace engineer, through a mobile game they both play. It’s a mature, supportive romance and a natural next watch after Go Go Squid.

Meet Yourself (2023)

Meet Yourself (去有风的地方 qù yǒu fēng de dìfang) stars Liu Yifei as a woman who leaves city life after a loss and finds her feet in a village near Dali in Yunnan. It’s a gentle, healing slice-of-life drama with a slow-burn romance and gorgeous scenery.

Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022)

Love Between Fairy and Devil (苍兰诀 cāng lán jué) is a xianxia romance in which a low-ranking fairy (Esther Yu) becomes bound to a feared demon lord (Dylan Wang). It’s funny and emotional, and fans often call it the most beautiful C-drama for its costumes and dreamlike sets.

Till the End of the Moon (2023)

Till the End of the Moon (长月烬明 cháng yuè jìn míng) sends its heroine (Bai Lu) back in time to stop a future demon lord (Luo Yunxi) before he rises. It’s darker and more tragic than most fantasy romances, and its visuals are just as lavish.

Nirvana in Fire (2015)

Nirvana in Fire (琅琊榜 lángyá bǎng) is the drama most fans and critics call the all-time C-drama masterpiece. Hu Ge plays Mei Changsu, a frail strategist who returns to the capital under a false identity to clear his family’s name.

It holds a 9.4 on Douban, China’s main film and TV rating site, and it won six titles at China’s top TV awards.

The Story of Minglan (2018)

The Story of Minglan (知否知否应是绿肥红瘦 zhī fǒu zhī fǒu yīng shì lǜ féi hóng shòu) follows an overlooked daughter (Zhao Liying) who uses patience and quiet intelligence to get through the rivalries of a big household. The long title comes from a poem by Li Qingzhao (李清照 lǐ qīngzhào), so it’s a fun one to look up.

Story of Kunning Palace (2023)

Story of Kunning Palace (宁安如梦 níng ān rú mèng) gives Jiang Xuening (Bai Lu) a second chance at life after her first life ends in the palace. This time she tries to steer clear of the court and its schemes, which is easier said than done. Zhang Linghe, later the lead of Pursuit of Jade, co-stars.

Love Like the Galaxy (2022)

Love Like the Galaxy (星汉灿烂 xīng hàn càn làn) pairs sharp-witted Cheng Shaoshang (Zhao Lusi) with a formidable general (Wu Lei). It’s a slow-burn historical romance with lots of family drama, and a great follow-up if you loved Zhao Lusi in Hidden Love.

The Knockout (2023)

The Knockout (狂飙 kuáng biāo) is a crime epic spanning about 20 years. It follows an honest police officer (Zhang Yi) and a fishmonger (Zhang Songwen) who rises to become a crime boss, and it was one of the biggest Chinese TV hits of 2023.

Reset (2022)

Reset (开端 kāi duān) traps a college student and a game designer in a time loop on a bus that keeps exploding. With just 15 episodes, it’s a great pick if 40-episode dramas feel like too big a commitment.

Not sure you’re ready to commit to watching a whole series?

Check out our list of best Chinese movies to learn Chinese instead.

Or are you hoping for even more TV shows to binge on? We’ve got your back: here are more Chinese TV show picks to keep you going.

Bonus: Korean dramas, Japanese TV and Vietnamese movies

Chinese dramas aren’t the only Asian shows with a big following in the US.

In fact, it’s probably accurate to say Korean Dramas are even more popular worldwide than Chinese dramas.

So why not come and discover the whacky world of K Dramas also?

We have created a mammoth list of 28 of the best Korean Dramas to get your teeth stuck into here.

And that’s not all…

To go even further, we’ve dug into the wonderful worlds of Japan, Korea and Vietnam!

We’ve prepared extensive articles on our favourite Japanese TV shows, the best Korean shows on Netflix and the top Vietnamese movies to watch.

Why not drop us a comment below and tell us your favourites. Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean or maybe even Japanese?!

Ready to follow the dialogue without leaning on subtitles? Try a live class free with a native Mandarin teacher and bring along a scene from the drama you’re watching.

Chinese Dramas || FAQs

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