My favorite collection of Chinese and/ or Taiwanese dramas that everyone should watch at least once in their life time.

Best Mandarin Dramas

Tencent

Xue Ling Qiao (Kim Tae Hwan), a 500-year-old mutant with supernatural powers, awakens from a century-long slumber after B-actress Tian Jing Zhi (Wu Qian) experiences a car accident. Using his extraordinary abilities, Ling Qiao heals Jing Zhi and unexpectedly moves into her apartment. As they navigate their tumultuous living arrangement and Jing Zhi's struggling acting career, they gradually develop an unlikely bond. Their relationship takes an intriguing turn when they discover a mysterious conspiracy that has mysteriously connected their destinies across centuries. This is a 2016 Chinese supernatural romantic comedy series directed by Deng Ke.

My Amazing Boyfriend

The Mutant Team

JSTV

A frost flower fairy who is unable to feel emotion is caught up in a love triangle with two warring deities.

Jin Mi (Yang Zi) is the daughter of the Flower Deity and Water Immortal. The deity learns that her daughter will suffer a great love trial, so she gives the baby girl a magical pill that prevents her from feeling any emotion or falling in love.

When Jin Mi mistakenly believes that her father died at the hands of the Fire Immortal, Xu Feng (Deng Lun), she kills him and ends up coughing up the magic pill in the process. Xu Feng comes back to life as the Demon Lord and challenges the Night Immortal, Run Yu (Luo Yun Xi), who took over the throne as the Heavenly Emperor. 

When Jin Mi becomes caught between the two warring lords, what will be her destiny?

“Ashes of Love” is a 2018 Chinese drama series directed by Chu Rui Bin. It is based on the novel Heavy Sweetness, Ash-like Frost by Dian Xian.

Ashes of Love

Gone with the Shirt Team 

Tencent TV

Seventeen-year-old high school friends and neighbors Chen Xiaoxi (Shen Yue) and Jiang Chen (Hu Yi Tian) have grown up together. Although they share a close bond, they’re very different: Xiao Xi is easygoing and doesn’t like to study much, while Jiang Chen is known as an A student and is well-liked because of his good looks. Despite their differences, Xiaoxi has a secret crush on her childhood friend, and Jiang Chen pretends he doesn’t notice or care, but his feelings for his neighbor aren’t entirely platonic either. As they begin the transition into adulthood, will they finally have the courage to take their relationship out of the friendzone? This 2017 Chinese drama series was based on the novel “To Our Pure Little Beauty” by Zhao Gang An and was directed by Yang Long.

A Love So Beautiful

Pure Love Team

In a world ravaged by war, the four great nations, Jin, Yan, Liang and Qin, are ceaseless in their pursuit of power and ultimate domination. In the midst of this endless conflict, the nations of Jin and Yan clash, and the great house of Jin falls. Forced to flee, the Jin prince, He Xia (Sun Yi Zhou), and his brilliant military strategist, Bai Ping Ting (Angelababy) escape death. But fate is not on their side.

Separated during their exodus, He Xia makes his way to the Kingdom of Bai Lan to pursue revenge against the Kingdom of Jin. Meanwhile Bai Ping Ting finds herself at the mercy of Chu Bei Jie (Wallace Chung), the Jin army’s greatest general and the nation’s most beloved prince. Immediately recognized by the prince, as the girl he fell in love with years ago, Bai Ping Ting soon finds herself the object of her greatest enemy’s desire. 

Eventually recognizing Chu Bei Jie as the boy she once loved, Bai Ping Ting gives into the desires of her heart, setting into motion a complicated romance that pits the desires of the heart against the loyalties both have for their kingdoms. 

Directed by Ju Jue Liang, "General and I" is a 2017 romance drama based on the novel, "A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to Be Appreciated" by Feng Nong.

General and I

The Lovebirds Team

Hunan TV

Can a young man find his mother’s killer and return peace to the martial arts world?

Xiao Yan (Leo Wu) is a helpless 9-year-old when his mother is killed by evil enemies. Despite his best efforts, Xiao Yan’s martial arts abilities are not developing as his family had hoped. But all that changes when he accidentally summons the Medicine Lord, Yao Chen (Baron Chen), with his mother’s ring when he is 15. With the help of Yao Chen, Xiao Yan becomes a great martial artist who is intent on bringing his mother’s killer to justice. 

With the loyal Xiao Xun'er (Lin Yun) by his side, can Xiao Yan defeat the evil forces and restore peace to the land?

“Fights Break Sphere” is a 2018 Chinese drama series directed by Yu Rong Guang. It is based on the novel Doupo Cangqiong by Tian Can Tu Dou, the author who also wrote the novel that the 2018 drama series “Martial Universe” is based on.

Fights Break Sphere

The Heaven's fighters' Team

Ruyi (Zhou Xun), a cunning consort in the imperial court, skillfully navigates the dangerous political landscape to rise through the ranks and become Empress. Despite her strategic prowess, her relationship with Emperor Qianlong (Wallace Huo) becomes increasingly strained as she faces numerous conspiracies and challenges within the palace. Battling against powerful rivals and personal setbacks, Ruyi must use all her intelligence and resilience to maintain her precarious position as Empress. This is a 2018 Chinese historical drama adapted from the novel Hou Gong Ru Yi Zhuan and serves as a sequel to the 2011 series "Empresses in the Palace."

Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

Qing Hair and Those Who Dare

In the tumultuous era of the Northern Wei, innocent citizens are kidnapped and enslaved, including Chu Qiao (Zhao Li Ying), who is cast into a forest to be hunted for sport by wealthy lords. Just as hope seems lost, she is rescued by Yan Xun (Dou Xiao), the Prince of Northern Yan, forging a powerful bond between them. However, her life takes another turn when she catches the eye of the influential Yuwen Yue (Lin Geng Xin) from the formidable Yuwen family. As tensions rise and loyalties are tested, Chu Qiao finds herself caught in a web of power struggles, forcing her to choose between her growing affection for Yan Xun and the allure of Yuwen Yue’s world. With her freedom and heart at stake, will she fight for love or succumb to the demands of her new reality? This 2017 Chinese drama series was directed by Wu Jin Yuan, based on the novel “Division 11's Princess Agent” written by Xiao Xiang Dong Er.

Princess Agents

The Dancing Fingers

They are both chosen in their own ways to protect their people and the country.
 
Ning Que (Chen Fei Yu) is the only survivor of General Lin Guang Yuan’s regime, which came under a calculated and brutal attack of another dangerous general. Ning Que manages to escape to Du City with his maid, Sang Sang (Song Yi Ren), and joins the best martial arts academy there.

When Sang Sang becomes ill with a mysterious illness, Ning Que takes her to a doctor, only to discover that Sang Sang is the reincarnation of Yong Ye, a mysterious and powerful being that is prophesied to bring about chaos.

With evil forces now trying to get their hands on Sang Sang to channel her power, Ning Que must put his life on the line to save Sang Sang and his people.

“Ever Night” is a 2018-2019 Chinese drama series directed by Yang Yang. It is based on the novel Jiang Ye by Mao Ni.

Ever Night

The Ever Night Team

Youku

Qi Xue (Li Yi Tong), a 16-year-old beauty, suffers a devastating fate when her father sells her to a brothel, enduring unimaginable abuse. Transformed into Wan Mei, she emerges from her trauma by training as an assassin in a mysterious city during the Tang Dynasty. Now wielding her beauty as a powerful weapon, Wan Mei is no longer a victim. The enigmatic Chang An (Qu Chu Xiao) silently watches over her dangerous missions, as she becomes entangled in a deadly conspiracy that threatens her survival. This 2018 Chinese web drama series was directed by Yi Jun and adapted from a novel by Ban Ming Ban Mei.

Bloody Romance

The Bloody Romantics

iQiyi

A young woman who enters the royal palace with an agenda encounters kindness and opportunity.

Wei Ying Luo (Wu Jin Yan) enters the royal court of Hong Li, Qianlong Emperor (Nie Yuan), to uncover the truth behind her sister’s tragic death. She suspects the imperial guard Fucha Fu Heng (Xu Kai) and tries to get close to his sister, Empress Fucha Rong Yin (Qin Lan). Ying Luo manages to transfer to Changchun Palace to work as a maid. There, Ying Luo is mentored by the kind Rong Yin, who teaches Ying Luo to read and write, and she also falls in love with Fu Heng.

Through a series of events, Ying Luo becomes the Emperor’s concubine, Consort Ling. Alongside other concubines like Consort Xian (Charmaine Sheh), can Ying Luo put her personal agenda aside to serve the Emperor?

“Story of Yanxi Palace” is a 2018 Chinese drama series directed by Hui Kai Dong and Wen De Guang. Based on the novel Yan Xi Gong Lüe by Zhou Mo, the drama won Best Television Series at the 5th Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China.

Story of Yanxi Palace

The gentle Empress Team

ZJTV

Only she can restore peace to the land. Meng Fuyao (Yang Mi) is a young woman who was born out of a divine lotus petal. She masters an invincible fighting technique at the age of 16 and then embarks on a journey to collect the secret talismen from five kingdoms that will gain her entry into a sacred land called the Firmament. On her journey, Fuyao falls in love with the Crown Prince Zhangsun Wuji (Ethan Juan), who helps her to to fight the powerful political forces along the way.

Can Fuyao, with the help of her friends, unravel the dangerous conspiracy originating from the heavens and restore peace to the land?

“Legend of Fuyao” is a 2018 Chinese drama series directed by Yang Wen Jun. It is based on the novel Empress Fuyao by Tianxia Guiyuan.

Legend of Fuyao

Fuyao's Court 

Zhejiang TV

During the Warring States Era, Gong Sun Li (Dilraba Dilmurat), granddaughter of a powerful military commander, finds herself caught between two powerful men. When Qin troops attack, her first love Jing Ke (Liu Chang) is poisoned while protecting her. To save Jing Ke's life, Li agrees to marry Ying Zheng (Zhang Bin Bin), the King of Qin, despite being pregnant with Jing Ke's child. Ying Zheng, who has long loved Li, accepts the child as his own and gradually reveals a gentler side that draws Li closer to him. As their relationship deepens, tension builds when Jing Ke arrives at the palace with plans to assassinate Ying Zheng, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation. This is a 2017 Chinese historical romance drama adapted from the novel "The Legend of Qin: Li Ji Story" by Wen Shiren.

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