Top 10 Chinese Dramas That Took the World by Storm

Ashes of Love is set in a mystical realm where Yang Zi plays the role of a peach blossom fairy named Jin Mi, who has been trapped in isolation for over 4000 years. The daughter of the Flower God, she is given a potion that suppresses her emotions, preventing her from experiencing love. Despite her celestial purity and enchanting appearance, Jin Mi is caught in a love triangle involving two powerful gods: Xu Feng, the God of Fire, and Runyu, the God of Night. Their complicated relationship faces numerous challenges as they navigate the trials of love and destiny. In 2018, Ashes of Love caused a huge stir across social media platforms.

Eternal Love is a Chinese historical fantasy drama adapted from the novel 'Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms' by Tang Qi Gong Zi. The 58-episode series stars Yang Mi, Zhao Youting, Dilraba Dilmurat, and Gao Weiguang, among others.

The story chronicles the love saga of Bai Qian, the Goddess of Qing Qiu, and Ye Hua, the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Realm, spanning three lifetimes. Bai Qian, who is the only daughter of the White Emperor, disguises herself as a man to study martial arts and eventually becomes a powerful deity. Throughout three lifetimes filled with hardships and separations, her heart remains devoted to Ye Hua, a man willing to sacrifice everything for her. In their first life, he is a lotus flower sleeping in a pond; in the second, he is a cursed black serpent; and in the third, he is a devoted father raising her child.

Go Go Squid! is a modern Chinese drama based on the urban romance novel of the same name by Mo Bao Fei Bao. The 41-episode series, produced by Shanghai Drama & Communication Culture Company, stars Yang Zi, Li Xian, Li Hongqi, and Li Zhefeng.

The story follows Dong Nian, a smart college student who is also a popular online singer with hundreds of thousands of fans under the name 'Squid.' Although she has a high IQ, her emotional intelligence is low. When she meets Han Shangyan, a determined and responsible eSports coach, she is drawn to his passion and the dreams he has for his team: to lead them to the top and bring glory to the country. United by a common goal, they become each other’s motivation to pursue their dreams. Throughout the journey, they maintain their belief in bringing honor to their team and country. Go Go Squid! is a sweet and light-hearted story that reminds us that 'love is simply like this.'

The Princess Weiyoung is a Chinese historical drama aired in 2016 on Beijing and Dragon TV, adapted from the romance novel 'The Poisonous Daughter of the Second House' by Qin Jian. The 54-episode series stars popular actors such as Tang Yan, La Tien, Mao Xiodong, and Ngô Kiến Hào.

The story revolves around Li Weiyoung, a princess of the Northern Liang kingdom, who is pursued by the royal family of the Northern Wei and forced to live under the guise of a second daughter in the household of the Chancellor. As she becomes entangled in the power struggles of the Northern Wei dynasty, Weiyoung also seeks to clear her family’s name and avenge the wrongs done to them.

Within 21 days of airing, the drama reached 12 billion views and garnered a rating of 2%. The three lead actors, Tang Yan, La Tien, and Mao Xiodong, all climbed to the top 5 media index rankings, with Tang Yan taking the top spot and La Tien in second place.

Come Eat, Sam Sam, also known as Sam Sam Is Here, is a Chinese romantic comedy drama based on the novel of the same name by Gu Man. The series premiered on BTV, Beijing Television, and consists of 33 episodes starring Zhang Han and Zhao Liying in the leading roles.

The story follows the sweet and humorous romance between the innocent office worker, Tie Sam Sam, and the cold, aloof CEO, Feng Teng. One night, Sam Sam receives an unexpected phone call to help a woman in labor who has a rare blood type similar to hers. Sam Sam, ever kind-hearted, agrees to help. The woman turns out to be Feng Yue, the younger sister of the CEO of the company where Sam Sam is interning. To show her gratitude, Feng Yue arranges for a daily serving of nourishing liver stew to be delivered to Sam Sam by her older brother, the handsome but distant Feng Teng. Over time, Feng Teng is drawn to Sam Sam's innocent charm, and the two gradually develop feelings for each other.

The Eternal Love is a popular Chinese drama that became a major hit, propelling actress Zhao Liying's career. The story follows the journey of Xiao Cang, a young girl who defies fate, and unfolds a tragic teacher-student romance.

He is a high-ranking immortal from Changliu, cold and aloof, with piercing eyes that are indifferent to the world. His life is governed by duty, having no interest in personal attachments. She, on the other hand, is the last divine being of her kind, destined to live a lonely life. Despite her otherworldly beauty, she is kind-hearted and strong-willed. Together, they form a powerful, yet doomed pair—Bai Zihua and Hua Tianshu.

The Story of Suki takes place during the Western Wei period. The protagonist, Suki, starts as a despised servant and rises to become a powerful general, helping to abolish the cruel system of slavery.

Zhao Liying brilliantly portrays Suki, a woman who, despite being trapped in the harsh life of a slave, dreams of freedom and a life of her own. Her romance with Wu Yan Yue (played by Lin Gengxin) also captures the audience's attention, becoming one of the most beloved storylines.

The Story of the Forbidden Palace is a historical drama set during the early years of Emperor Qianlong's reign. The plot follows a talented young woman, Wei Yingluo, who enters the imperial palace to investigate the mysterious death of her sister and to seek justice for her. However, her quest leads her into the perilous and blood-soaked struggles within the palace.

The series has a well-paced narrative with touches of romance, making it especially popular among younger audiences. Additionally, the film beautifully portrays the intricate palace life, such as embroidery, metalwork, and silk weaving, as well as featuring traditional Chinese opera music. The story is engaging, making it a highly entertaining drama.

The Imperial Harem: The Story of Ruyi is a drama based on the novel The Imperial Harem: The Story of Ruyi, often regarded as a sequel to The Legend of Zhen Huan. The cast includes popular actors like Wallace Huo, Zhao Wei, and others.

The story is set after the death of Emperor Yongzheng, when his successor, Emperor Qianlong, takes the throne. Ruyi, originally a daughter-in-law of Zhen Huan, eventually becomes his second empress. However, as more concubines enter the palace, Ruyi’s status fades, and she faces abandonment by the emperor. The history books tell of her downfall, as she loses all her titles and is left with only a few attendants until her death at the age of 48. The character of Empress Ruyi, portrayed by Zhao Wei, left a strong impression, becoming one of the most controversial and hated characters in the drama, alongside other characters like Consort Dong.

The Eastern Palace tells the story of a naive and pure princess from the Western Liang who falls into the love trap of a man from Central Plains, Guo Xiao Wu. Unbeknownst to her, Guo Xiao Wu is actually Li Chao Yun, the crown prince of the Central Plains—who is responsible for the destruction of her homeland and the loss of her family, which drives her to attempt suicide. However, fate takes a twist when Li Chao Yun also jumps into the river to die with her, and they both forget their past. Later, she marries him again and falls in love once more. The question remains, does he love her or his position of power more?

Perhaps the purest and most beautiful love in The Eastern Palace is when Guo Xiao Wu and Xiao Feng meet. However, such beauty rarely survives, and the final echo that resonates is Xiao Feng’s words: “In this life and the next, I will forever forget you!”