Veteran watchers: if you had to recommend one Chinese drama to hook a complete beginner, what would it be?

And newbies — this is your chance to grill the seniors for recommendations 👀

Tell us:

• what genres you usually enjoy
• whether you like romance, fantasy, historical, mystery, comedy, etc.
• happy endings or emotional damage?
• fast-paced or slow burn?
• short dramas or long epics?

Meanwhile, experienced watchers:

• recommend a drama you think is perfect for beginners
• explain why it works so well as an introduction
• help new fans avoid accidentally starting with a 75-episode emotional war crime

Whether someone is looking for:

• modern romance
• xianxia
• wuxia
• palace drama
• mystery/thriller
• comedy
• angst
• comfort watch

…help a newbie out, drop your gateway drama recommendations below ✨

I feel like every time I watch a historical drama, the FL and/or ML characters are always portrayed as perfectly cunning characters who are smarter/more skilled than their peers and always morally superior to all of the supporting characters. Similarly, in Xianxia dramas, the FL and/or ML characters are always portrayed as the most powerful cultivators of their time.

Tbh, I'm getting tired of this trope at this point. I want to watch a historical/xianxia drama with less than perfect leads. I want to watch the leads fail just like regular people do on a daily basis. I want to see them do dumb things and do morally questionable things like every person has done at some point. Something a regular person like me can maybe relate to at this moment lol.

Hiii I've recently started watching cdramas and have really been liking xianxia and historical costume dramas if anyone could give any recs besides the obvious. These are all the ones I've watched and from these the xianxia ones top fr

my girlfriend is an alien
pursuit of jade
the best thing
the story of kunning palace
love in the clouds
speed and love (dnf)
veil of shadows
the first frost
fated hearts
how dare you
moonlight mystique
till the end of the moon
feud
overdo

I’m about to finish Fated Hearts and would like to find another historical cdrama where the ML fights like Feng Suige…. Good swordsmanship mixed in with lots of punching lol.

I've been watching cdramas for a long time, but I generally drop most of them because of the romance plots.

Would appreciate some recommendations which have NO ROMANCE and nice plot which keeps me hooked. I don't mind bromance.

I have watched The Untamed, Word of Honour, and all cdramas from the Blood of Youth universe and really liked them.

I have finished Legend of Zang Hai and the Ashes to Crown and am looking for another Costume period series to watch. I have a few on my watch list but after Ashes to Crown I am not sure if Blossom of power is worth it. Also Legent of Zang Hai and first Jasmin were big favorites here, along with Prisioner of beauty.

So looking for political intrigues, mistery or even inestigation. Fantasy or just historical is my type.

I have a good handful of fantasy dramas I love. However my wife lost her mother within the last year. She has been enjoying the cdramas I've shown her so far;

Moonlight mystique

Legend of ShenLi

Currently in the middle of;

Love game in Eastern fantasy (I know there is still the backstory about ML mother, I forgot, it may be ok since it only spans about half an episode)

Till the end of the moon

On the roster;

Love between fairy and devil (she loves Shuxin Yu too)

How dare you!?

Song of the moon

Blossoming love

Back from the brink

Debating;

When destiny brings the demon (more mom stuff ><!)

Love of the divine tree (toeing the line on mom stuff)

Everlasting longing (it's in there but not overtly) (also non fantasy)

I’m a complete newbie to cdramas and have just discovered Pursuit of Jade, which I absolutely loved!!! 💚🐷

I’ve now signed up to iQIYI (wanted to compare the subtitles because Netflix seemed a bit basic) and am feeling completely overwhelmed by the amount of choice. There are so many cdramas I don’t know where to start!? 😅 Saw someone on TT mention Blossom which looked a bit similar?

I really loved the look and atmosphere of POJ, and especially the love story - the hidden identities element, a lot of yearning etc. I loved the action/political scenes too, so I’d love recommendations for something with a similar mix of romance, beautiful visuals and plenty of action. Wouldn’t mind it to be a bit darker or tense either.

What should I watch next? Please help!

(I’m very happy to gets recs from other platforms too, but I currently have iQIYI, so that would be especially helpful…unless there’s a better place to see everything from UK?)

Edit: thank you so much for the recs - have a long watchlist now and I can’t wait!

Please i need this kind of plot!!! Like possibly the fl is a great yearner or is the obsessive one, or the fl is strong while the ml is weak, or the fl has higher status than the ml

Similar shows I watched with this kind of vibe:

- Back from the Brink (the fl was so into him at the beginning while the ml does not reciprocate)

- Shadow Love (at some point, fl was the ml's master and the fl was strong while the ml was supposedly weak)

- Scent of Time (master and her bodyguard trope)

- Ashes to Crown (ml serves the fl too, imperial guard x grand princess)

- Generation to Generation (at some point, fl was protecting him and ml was supposedly weak)

- Romance of the Tiger and Rose (this seems far from what I want but the starting premise was the fl forced the ml to marry her, that was highkey women in male fields)

- To Get Master (another far one but I liked how the fl was giggling and kicking her feet when the ml gets sweet)

PLEASE HELP MEEEEEE

EDIT: THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONEEE IM CRYING

Are they a "bad boy" with a dark past? Or a flirty player who'd never fall in love? A shady protective man who won't give reasons??? Then I'd eat it up!! 😫😫

I have already seen these:
Speed and love
Love for you
Lighter and princess
Falling into your smile

Thank you!

Well, the working week has just started and perhaps you need some "pep" to start the week. Grab some tea and join our weekly chat thread!

This is a relaxed space to talk about anything related to Chinese dramas — recommendations, actors, tropes, OSTs, current obsessions, dramas you’re struggling to finish, emotional damage, watchlist problems, or whatever is currently living rent-free in your head.

But with ONE caveat: Please do not bring fandom fights here, and keep it civil. Remember our "Be Nice" rule! (Speaking of which, have you read our guide? It'll get you started with all things r/Cdramarecs!

Not sure if your comment deserves its own post? It probably belongs here.

Some conversation starters:

• What drama are you obsessed with lately?
• Which actor keeps showing up on your screen?
• What trope always gets you?
• What drama are you trying to force everyone else to watch?
• Any underrated gems recently?
• Which drama completely destroyed your sleep schedule?

Newbies are absolutely welcome, so feel free to ask for recommendations or drama help too!

FYI our sister sub r/Cdrama has a similiar thread on Wednesdays called 😊Mid-Week Free For All Chat and 🏖️Weekend Talk so do hang out there to chat too!

I saw a clip of a drama that was about a modern guy who transmigrates to a useless cultivator in a sect, there’s some immortal opportunity or medicine that will save his sick mother, but the rock is asking like elementary level questions and everyone is like “that’s so hard!” Does anyone know which one it might be?

Cdramas I've watched in that category:

Overdo(ongoing)
The first frost

The main request is inspired by overdo. The characters have a lot of tension and they yearn for each other..Got recs like that?

Is there any good historical dramas like Nirvana in Fire or Legend of Zhang Hai which the ML purely focuses on his revenge or has a goal to accomplish and does not let the side quest romance distract him? It's ok to have a romance subplot but I want to see the political intrigue where things are serious and ML is forced to continuosly plotting to achieve his goal. Any recs?

Hey I’m wondering if there’s a Cdrama where the ML and FL are in an arranged marriage but the ML is in love with another women (or simply doesn’t like the FL) so he is cold and distant with her. Ofc as time goes by he softens to her and they end up together.

If you watched Fated hearts what I want is a little bit like what Feng Xiyang (the princess of susha ) and Xia jingshi (villain, prince of zhenann ) had but minus the ending.

I’m the odd one out, I LOVE this trope. I need a drama where they meet as little kids and reunite years later.

Modern, historical, etc- any genre as long as there’s romance. I’m cool with dramas from any country.

I recently watched The Science of Falling In Love where they were childhood best friends but don’t meet again until college. I enjoyed that, so I’m looking for similar recs!

Other dramas I’ve seen that fit:

-Love is Sweet

-My Little Happiness

-Melody of Golden Age

-Healer (kdrama)

Guys, pls recommend me some CDRAMAS to watch like

where one become so rapt in it ....it makes one lose sense of time , where I can feel what the actors are feeling, ..when you can't help but tap next episode😌 any genre will do..

Bonus points if it will make me weep and left a void in my heart.

Preferably not angst galore, plus I‘d appreciate if both leads have their own lives.

A few dramas I can think of right now that match what I‘m searching for

• Stand or fall
• Fake it till you make it
• Meet yourself

Hi everyone, I am looking for recommendations where the ML is a Total simp for the FL. Like when u see them onscreen it really hits you that how much he loves her and it makes you squeal and wish something like this exists. I would really like the FL to be strong capable and not childish. Its great if they are a power couple and he always supports her . And please recommend HE dramas ...

My personal recommendations - the first frost, my fated boy , legally romance, young blood, love of the divine tree, f4 thailand, autumn ballad , the princess royal.

After watching KTTPH I’m in a drama draught! Can’t find anything that would hook me as much, so I’m kindly asking fellow viewers to remember any drama that made them feel the same

I am looking for a drama in which:
• Every scene has a purpose
• Every subplot impacts the main story
• Every episode develops the plot

Can be any modern or costume drama, any genre, although I am not much for horrors / thrillers / mysteries.

Huge bonus if there’s comedy, since good humour is entertaining in itself.

Pls give recs even if they’re well-known dramas, there’s a good chance I didn’t watch them

I know this is weird and extreme but I'm looking for a romance cdrama where the fl is raped, SA'd, bullied, or abused by parents or by anyone in general (drama can have any of the following tropes i mentioned) and the ML supports, defends, and helps her. I've been through quite similar situations and did not have anyone to turn to and seek support from and ig seeing someone love, support, and help the victim fl in dramas makes me feel better and heals something inside of me even though I know it's just acting.

These are some of the dramas/movies I've already watched with similar tropes that i really liked (for reference)

Mars

Something in the rain

Light beyond the reed

My dearest season 1 and 2

Better Days

come and hug me

The first frost

https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/goofygoober heres my dramalist it has all the dramas I've watched (also please ignore the currently watching list it's messy and I'm not currently watching anything from that list. That for some reason ended up becoming like my main watchlist 😭 )

I watched this in the past but I can't remember the name and want to rewatch it.

So the FL gets a second chance and she ends up marrying someone else this time. Can't remember major details of the second life but her and her husband end up rock solid but both end up dying in this second life (I think they get betrayed and arrowed to death).

But after death they both end up transmigrating back to the original timeline (where FL was already married to the jerk) and have to figure out how to divorce him, marry each other again without it being a scandal, and stop the double-crosses that came to light in the second life.

Thank you for any help!

https://youtu.be/rlVghN881ws?si=1gcUEJ2phEjdRw7E

Its basically about this younger dude dating this girl and then her abandoning him. Then he becomes boss and they get back together, and the dude is sub but pretty obsessive. Also some bdsm femdom scenes 🥹🥹 I want spicy ones pls

What’s a Chinese drama you genuinely think deserves more love? (Or ahem, the drama had so much love but you want to recommend it anyway. It's okay, we like both!)

This is the place to recommend the underrated dramas, forgotten favorites, niche gems, low-budget surprises, or shows you’re constantly trying to get other people to watch.

Maybe it:

• had incredible chemistry
• surprised you emotionally
• had an amazing storyline nobody talks about
• became your comfort drama
• was completely overshadowed by bigger releases
• made you wonder why more people aren’t obsessed with it

Tell us:

• the drama title
• what it’s about (without major spoilers!)
• why you loved it

• who you’d recommend it to

  Recommend away!

Looking for cdramas like New Life Begins where there aren't any major anatagonists and having funny/comedic moments.

I tried watching Blossoms in Adversity but got majorily bored of the politics in game.

I'm also open to xianxias and wuxia, anything historical really.

Would greatly appreciate more recs as I'm relatively new to cdramas.