While Japan has its anime and South Korean thrillers and romantic dramas, China has become known for a certain kind of genre: the historical drama. Whether set in the throes of the ancient Tang Dynasty or embroiled in a government conflict, Chinese television dramas have become very famous worldwide and have cemented a growing market for consumers in China and beyond. Many of the biggest actresses and actors have graced the small screen and streaming platforms in historical series, which span many episodes, and some actors, such as veteran actress Fan Bingbing, found their fame skyrocketed after appearing in these types of shows. Historical dramas have also been very popular in Korea, indicating an international demand for this type of content.
In the field of cinema, both 90s and contemporary directors have delved into recent and ancient Chinese history, inspired by age-old conflicts and legends to create a unique national cinema. But on television, many Chinese dramas look specifically at the era when China was ruled by the dynasties for narrative arcs and inspiration, incorporating elements of romance, fantasy, and action to tell a unique story. With elaborate set designs and costumes, these shows often go the extra mile to appear as authentic as possible. That said, these are the best Chinese historical dramas.
6/6 Princess Wei Young
Tiffany Tang and Luo Jin Shine in 2016 Princess Wei Young, which received mixed reviews when it initially came out, but grew quite a devoted fan base. This series is set during the era of the Northern and Southern Dynasties in Chinese history, and a princess named Feng Xin’er (Tang) escapes a royal family massacre. Forced to live in exile, she takes on the identity of a woman who helped her, Li Wei Young, and tries to start life over again. It doesn’t come easy, and she attracts the attention of another prince (Luo) in the region.
5/6 Empress of China
Fan Bingbing leads the historical drama Empress of China. Released in 2014, the show was one of the most expensive Chinese television series ever produced, costing nearly the equivalent of $50 million, and it shows in the footage. Empress of China tells the epic story of Wu Ruyi (Fan), a 14-year-old who enters the palace with a dream of serving the emperor as a consort. She eventually works her way up to Empress of China, but not without a fight. In a palace filled with conspiracies, betrayals, and accusations, there’s enough drama to withstand the highs and lows of Wu’s life.
4/6 Eternal love
2017’s Eternal love is based on a xianxia novel, a high fantasy genre influenced by Taoism, Chinese mythology and cultural elements indigenous to the region. Zhe Yan (Ken Chang) takes Bai Qian (Yang Mi) to the sacred Kunlun Mountain in Chinese mythology, and Bai Qian becomes the god of war. Life as a god isn’t perfect, and while she’s training to become the ideal warrior, another jealous deity kidnaps Bai Qian. This is the beginning of an epic journey full of romance and deception, eventually becoming an online hit with both Chinese and foreign audiences.
3/6 scarlet heart
scarlet heartwhen it was released in 2011, it became so popular that it spawned a korean remake starring the singer IU. A woman of the present day is accidentally sent back in time to the Qing dynasty. She assumes the identity of her incarnate and must now become involved in the daily court life of the Emperor and his sons. As she tries to adapt to this new era and way of life, she falls in love with one of the Emperor’s sons, which complicates matters even more, especially when she has to go back to her original timeline.
2/6 the untamed
After 50 episodes, the untamed ends strongly in the genre of historical dramas in China. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are complete opposites, but it turns out they are soul mates. There’s a pretty quick twist to this story, though: Wei Wuxian is killed before the events of the series, so when he finds himself resurrected, the question remains as to why he was killed to begin with. the untamed is a classic tale of good versus bad magic, but unfortunately was forced to erase the LGBTQ+ elements from the source material in order to pass the censorship.
1/6 Nirvana on fire
Nirvana on firelike many other historical dramas on this list, it was adapted from a novel titled Lang Ya Bang. Lin Shu, the son of a prominent general during the Southern Liang Dynasty, finds himself in a predicament: his entire family is executed. They have been framed by political rivals and the Emperor has ordered their executions. Lin Shu survives, but not without permanent damage. He now has the resolve to clear his family’s name, and so he enters the political arena to overthrow the current monarchy and create something entirely new. Nirvana on fire receive over 13 billion views by December 2016, a testament to its tall tales and popularity at the time of release.