From epic fantasies to tear-jerking dramas, heart-stopping thrillers to side-splitting comedies, 2022 brought with it a never-ending supply of fantastic Chinese dramas. With so many amazing titles to choose from, it was hard to put together a collection of the best of the best but we did it anyway and are excited to share it with you!

BEST CHINESE DRAMAS of 2022

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A powerful and talented demon master, Ji Yun He (Dilraba Dilmurat) has been blessed with a truly unique gift. Able to tame any demon, Yun He should have spent her life traveling the world, helping those who might be in need of her services. Alas, the strict laws laid down by imperial decree have confined her to the borders of Demon Valley.&nbsp;

Unable to break free from the deep, dark secrets which keep her confined to the Valley, Yun He finds herself in a truly unexpected situation when she comes face to face with Chang Yi (Ren Jia Lun), a merman brought to the Valley by the cruel Princess Shunde (Guo Xiao Ting). Demanding that Yun He grant Chang Yi the ability to speak human words, grow human legs, and pledge undying loyalty, Princess Shunde expects Yun He to follow her orders without question. But to follow the princess’s orders, Yun He would have to enlist the aid of her adopted brother and sworn enemy, Lin Hao Qing (Xiao Shun Yao), something she is loath to do.&nbsp;

Forced together by an unusual fate, Yun He and Chang Yi draw inevitably closer. Realizing she has come to love him, Yun He refuses to bend Chang Yi’s will to that of the Princess, but in giving him his freedom, will she be forced to sacrifice her own?

Adapted from the novel “The Story of the Shark” by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang, “The Blue Whisper” is a 2022 Chinese fantasy romance drama directed by Chu Yui Bun.

The Blue Whisper

☙Careless Whisper❧

Tencent Video

Cheng Shao Shang (Zhao Lu Si) has grown up alone in a town devastated by a bloody war. When the powerful and influential general Ling Bu Yi (Leo Wu) visits the town, he falls in love with Shao Shang at first sight. Shao Shang warns him that she’s stubborn, slow to trust others, and independent – and may not fit the usual profile of a general’s “obedient” wife. Little does she know, however, that Bu Yi has his own secrets – many of which he is keen to learn more about. Together, could this duo discover the truth about Bu Yi’s mysterious past? And will they find love in the process? This 2022 Chinese drama series was directed by Fei Zhen Xiang.

Love Like the Galaxy

֍♡ Spiral Love ♡֍

The fearsome Lord Devil, Dong Fang Qing Cang (Dylan Wang) once wrought utter chaos in the realm of gods, defeating entire clans and vanquishing all of his foes at the head of his fearsome demon army. One of the young women from the defeated army is reborn as a fairy named Xiao Lan Hua (Esther Yu) many thousands of years later. Lord Devil has long since been cursed and imprisoned in a magical tower – and has remained there for thousands of years.

But when, due to a mishap, Xiao Lan Hua unwittingly sets him free, he thinks he is able to escape. He believes that all he needs to do is sacrifice Xiao Lan Hua and he will be free to unleash chaos again and conquer the known world. There is a twist, however. In the process of setting him free, some bizarre magic appears to have taken place – and the two have “swapped” bodies. Suddenly, the fearsome Lord Devil is trapped inside the body of a puny female fair. And Xiao Lan Hua finds herself in possession of superhuman strength! If anyone learns of what has happened, he assures her, they will both be done for. But as they search for a way to undo the spell, love begins to cast its own magic spell!

“Love Between Fairy and Devil” is a 2022 Chinese drama series that was directed by Yi Zheng.

Love Between Fairy and Devil

Tencent

Lin Zhi Xiao (Yang Zi) is a budding young cellist looking to start her career as she prepares to graduate from university. She has a handsome, loving boyfriend and even has a promising job lined up for when she completes her studies. Then her world falls apart…

Just before she graduates, her father is suddenly taken ill and needs to be hospitalized. She is forced to attend to his ailing health and all of a sudden is forced to say goodbye to the job she was hoping to take. To compound the misery, she also splits up with her boyfriend.

But when she is really starting to feel sorry for herself, she meets Gu Wei (Xiao Zhan), the doctor charged with treating her father. Gu Wei has also had a rough time of life of late, but the duo slowly starts to form a mutual understanding.

But could love follow for this pair – and might they one day be able to reverse their bad luck?

This drama was based on a hit novel written by Bolin Shi Jiang.

“The Oath of Love” is a 2022 Chinese drama series that was directed by Lu Ying.

The Oath of Love

🩺 Therapy Plays Your Heart 🎻

Nan Xing (Shen Yue) is a young woman who likes to write in her free time. She has written a novel based in the distant past, whose antagonist is named Xiao Wu Di (Chen Zhe Yuan). The latter is a fierce fighter, and is as cunning and manipulative as they come. One day, in a spurt of desperation, Nan Xing makes a wish for Xiao Wu Di to come to life and help her. But the old warning “be careful what you wish for” rings true after Xiao Wu Di suddenly appears before her!

To her amazement, Xiao Wu Di resolves to stay in the real world, and even insists on becoming her neighbor. He also vows to help her whenever she needs assistance – even when that involves matters of the heart. In fact, Nan Xing wants nothing more than to find love with the man of her dreams. But when Xiao Wu Di begins to fall for her, things threaten to get very messy indeed. Can a man who began as a villainous figment of her imagination become her Romeo? Or will “Mr. Bad” live up to his name?

“Mr. Bad” is a 2022 Chinese drama series that was directed by Lee Ching Jung.

Mr. Bad

📖My Mr BADass📖 Team

For as long as she can remember, Ning Meng (Tan Song Yun) has dreamt of becoming an investment director, but since graduation, she seems to be drifting farther and farther from that dream. Currently working at an investment firm under Lu Ji Ming (Lin Geng Xin), Ning Meng has never once been given a chance to advance in her career. Believing Ning Meng doesn’t have what it takes to become a qualified investor, Lu Ji Ming keeps her stuck in a dead-end job.

Finally fed up with a position that’s going nowhere, Ning Meng decides the time has come to seek employment elsewhere. Applying for countless jobs, Ning Meng finds the search for a new position to be difficult at best, but despite the setbacks, she refuses to give up. Finally landing a job at a new investment firm, Ning Meng takes the lessons she learned while working under Lu Ji Ming, and applies them in her new position.

Secretly helping Ning Meng from the sidelines, Lu Ji Ming learns a few lessons of his own while watching Ning Meng grow into a talented professional. Both influenced by the other, will these two unique inventors use what they’ve learned to become the best version of themselves?

An unexpectedly sweet office romance, “Master of My Own” is a 2022 Chinese romantic comedy drama directed by Yao Ting Ting.

Master of My Own

⌨️ Investing in Love 💘

Zhao Jiang Yue (Jin Chen) is the somewhat tyrannical head of a tech firm. She is known for her no-nonsense approach to business – and her employees. The firm releases a dating app that promises to match users with a partner in the space of just three months. She is also somewhat clueless in affairs of the heart herself. But things start to get uncomfortable at work when the family who won the company makes arrangements for Gu Jia Xin (Wang Zi Yi), the heir to the business group that owns the company, to join as Zhao Jiang Yue’s temporary assistant.

Gu Jia Xin’s mother wants him to take charge of the business, but he has other ideas. He is a successful pro racing driver and is wildly popular with his female fans, and would rather compete on the motorcycle track than spend time in the boardroom. At first, the duo gets off on the wrong foot: Zhao Jiang Yue tries to intimidate him, and Gu Jia Xin’s bumbling causes problems. But when she enlists Gu Jia Xin’s help to try to capture Xu Ning Yuan (Liang Da Wei)’s heart, he suddenly starts to realize that he is developing feelings for her, and that the feeling just might be mutual…

“Why Women Love” is a 2022 Chinese drama series that was directed by Gao Cong Kai and Chen Rong Hui.

Why Women Love

The Why Why Love Team

Ying Yuan (Cheng Yi) is the Sovereign Lord and protector of a fantastic heavenly realm inhabited by deities and spirits who live long, peaceful lives above the clouds, thanks to a peace deal struck between a number of rival kingdoms. One day, however, that peace is at risk of shattering when an elder of the demon world attempts to steal a powerful treasure that has remarkable healing powers, the Four-Leafed Lotus. A fierce struggle breaks out and Ying Yuan intervenes to thwart the attempted theft. But in doing so, the treasure becomes personified in human-like form – as two sisters. Ying Yuan is given the honor of naming them, and names the older sister Zhi Xi (Zoey Meng)&nbsp;and the younger Yan Dan (Yang Zi). The latter appears to fall for the dashing and heroic Sovereign Lord.

But fate separates the two for many years, until Ying Yuan (now Tang Zhou, and no longer aware of who he used to be) comes upon Yan Dan again by chance in the mortal realm. He has become a demon hunter. But neither he nor she recalls who they once were and what they may have once felt for each other. Yan Dan is now accompanied by her close male friend Yu Mo (Zhang Rui). Together, this duo has already traveled together and experienced no shortage of adventures. Tang Zhou joins them on the quest to find ancient, powerful artifacts. But will he and Yan Dan ever recall who they used to be?

“Immortal Samsara” is a 2022 Chinese drama series that was directed by Guo Hu and Ren Hai Tao.

Immortal Samsara

  Turtle-Flipping Deity Team

For as long as she can remember, Yin Yi Ke (Angelababy) has done everything in her power to take care of those around her. Whether at home or the office, she’s always there to lend a helping hand. While she never tires of helping those in need, she often neglects to take care of herself. As such, her inner fire has dwindled, leaving her heart deceptively cold. At least until the day Xu Guang Xi (Lai Kuanlin) walks back into her life.

Once nothing more than a freeloading young boy who used to show up at her house on occasion to mooch food, Yi Ke is surprised to find Guang Xi has grown into a handsome young man. Having recently returned from his studies abroad, Guang Xi is excited when fate brings Yi Ke back into his life. It doesn’t take long for his former feelings of dependence to transform into something entirely different. Realizing that to successfully pursue Yi Ke, he’ll have to first prove himself as a man who is more than capable of taking care of his love, he sets out to do just that.&nbsp;

Though his will is strong, Guang Xi is often overwhelmed by the harsher realities of life but Yi Ke always seems to be there to help him through. Realizing they have each overcome countless challenges to be where they are today, the two find themselves drawing closer together. Given enough time, will they each come to realize that this mutual respect that has started to grow between them is actually the blossom of true love?

A story of love and its ability to bring out the best in us, “Love The Way You Are” is a 2022 Chinese romance drama directed by Yu Chung Chung.

Love the Way You Are

Blossom of True Love Team

Wang Yu Xi (Kele Sun) may be an incredibly handsome and wildly popular superstar but beneath that shining exterior lies a deeply buried secret. While the world believes Yu Xi to be practically perfect in every way, the truth of the matter is that he has never really received a quality education. As such, he spends his days living uncomfortably close to the borders of illiteracy.&nbsp;

While Yu Xi is usually able to hide his shortcomings, there are times when he fails miserably; the most recent being his botched interview for an important role in an upcoming project. With his need for a tutor now glaringly obvious, his company has no choice but to find him one, but the search is proving to be more difficult than anyone originally imagined. Working as a tutor at a local agency, Wei Chi Yao (Lu Yang Yang) has always dreamed of becoming a teacher but the challenges of turning that dream into reality have been difficult to overcome. When asked to take on the role of a superstar’s teacher, Chi Yao can’t seem to find a way to refuse. But having a severe phobia of crowds makes working with Yu Xi incredibly difficult.

Despite their differences and difficulties, Chi Yao and Yu Xi find themselves slowly coming to understand each other. But will this newfound respect be enough to get them both out of their current predicaments?

Adapted from the novel, “King Assistant” by Zhun Si Jia Qi, “Assistant of Superstar” is a 2022 romantic comedy drama directed by Li Wen Hao.

Assistant of Superstar

In the early 11th Century, the future of the Empire is in doubt after a damning painting of the Empress’ past life goes missing – threatening to undermine the Imperial family. Gu Qian Fan (Chen Xiao), the commander of an elite military unit, is dispatched to find the picture before it falls into the wrong hands. Meanwhile, Zhao Pan Er (Liu Yi Fei), a young woman who is on the trail of her missing fiancé, has also come to the Imperial capital in search of answers.

She has joined forces with two women whom she has saved from the jaws of despair: Song Yinzhang (Lin Yun) and Sun San Niang (Liu Yan). The latter was abandoned by her husband and barred from seeing her child, while the former was being abused by her philandering husband. The three women open a small tea house, which soon becomes the talk of the town, due to their diverse culinary, tea-making, and musical talents. Eventually, Zhao Pan Er and Gu Qian Fan’s paths cross. Although they initially mistrust one another, they start to realize that a closer relationship could be of mutual benefit. What will happen, however, when the romance begins to spark between them?

“A Dream of Splendor” is a 2022 Chinese drama series that was directed by Yang Yang.

A Dream of Splendor

The Teahouse of Dreams

As a successful attorney with a thriving career, the last thing on Qin Shi’s (Yang Mi) mind is marriage. Her parents, however, can think of nothing else. Determined to see their daughter married, Qin Shi’s parents have been trying to force her into marriage for ages, but to no avail. Determined to land a position at Cheng and Hui, one of the top law firms in the country, Qin Shi is focused solely on advancing her career. Little does she know that one of the requirements for working at Cheng and Hui is being married.

Aware of the law firm’s hiring requirements, Qin Shi changes the marital status on her resume to “married”. With such an impressive resume and her brother’s little tweak, it doesn’t take long for Qin Shi to land the job. However, things get more than a little complicated when her "husband" Yang Hua (Xu Kai) appears on the scene. Hoping to clarify the situation, Qin Shi tries to approach her boss but can't seem to find the right moment. With his parents forcing him into a blind date with Qin Shi’s biggest rival, Yang Hua decides the best way to help them both out of their current predicament is to marry Qin Shi. Acknowledging that the plan is mutually beneficial, the two head straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage.

Though her sudden marriage solves one set of problems, another quickly arises as both Qin Shi and Yang Hua’s parents suspect the two are up to something. Between dodging their parents' questions and Qin Shi’s ex suddenly coming back into her life, this newlywed couple has a lot to deal with. Will their rash decision to marry come back to haunt them or will it eventually lead them toward a brighter future?

A delightful tale of finding love in unexpected places, “She & Her Perfect Husband” is a 2022 Chinese romance drama directed by Lin Yan.

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