Our 21 Favorite Chinese Shows on Netflix [September 2024]

Netflix is full of potential for language learners, including those who are learning Mandarin. With a Netflix subscription, everything from atmospheric xianxia shows with exciting plot twists or modern thrillers and romantic comedies are all at your disposal.

Check out some of the most popular and highly-rated Chinese-language shows on Netflix.

Additionally, you can have a look at our favorite Chinese Netflix movies:

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Chinese Xianxia and Wuxia Shows

1. The Untamed (2019)

Chinese Name: 陈情令 (Chén Qíng Lìng)

Genre: Xianxia

Number of Episodes: 50

Actors: Xiao Zhan, Wang Yibo

“The Untamed” is based on one of the most popular Chinese webnovels ever. In fact, it was so addicting to watch that I binged the whole series in less than a week! It takes place in a universe with ancient clans, dark magic, and constantly shifting allegiances.

Wei Wu Xian starts out as a promising young cultivator, but he gets involved in the dark arts and dies as a heretic. Years later, he’s mysteriously resurrected.

His match appears to be Lan Wang Ji, a righteous cultivator from a prestigious clan. Despite their differences, they’re drawn to each other, and delve into a series of mysterious events to investigate Wei Wu Xian’s past.  

2. Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022)

Chinese Name: 苍兰诀 (Cāng Lán Jué)

Genre: Xianxia

Number of Episodes: 36

Actors: Dylan Wang, Esther Yu

This massively popular drama portrays the unexpected relationship between Xiao Lan Hua, an orchid fairy, and Dong Fang Qing Cang, the notorious Lord Devil who was imprisoned for 30,000 years. Their destinies collide when Lan Hua unknowingly frees Qing Cang, leading to a magical body swap—and the only way to reverse it is through a kiss.

They’re also forced to grapple with the “One Heart Curse,” which makes the emotionless Qing Cang feel Lan Hua’s every emotion. As they come to understand each other better, Qing Cang has to fight against his internal darkness and initial intentions to sacrifice Lan Hua for his freedom.

3. The Longest Promise (2023)

Chinese Name; 玉骨谣 (Yù Gǔ Yáo)

Genre: Xianxia

Number of Episodes: 40

Actors: Xiao Zhan, Ren Min

This series drew a lot of attention because it has Xiao Zhan as the lead actor. He’s one of the most prominent figures in Cdrama, given his amazing performance in “The Untamed.”  

Shi Ying is a former Crown Prince who’s practicing cultivation in the serene Jiuyi mountain. But then Zhu Yan becomes his apprentice, and they slowly develop feelings for each other.

This is extremely taboo, to the point that Shi Ying is even pressured to kill her. To further complicate things, it turns out that they’re both from rival kingdoms with opposing goals.   

4. Word of Honor (2021)

Chinese Name: 山河令 (Shānhé Lìng)

Genre: Wuxia

Number of Episodes: 36

Actors: Zhang Zhe Han, Gong Jun

Based on the boy’s love novel “Faraway Wanderers,” this is a captivating show with great chemistry between the two main characters and beautiful martial arts scenes.

Zhou Zi Shu wants to break away from his former life as a spy and assassin. He then meets Wen Ke Xing, a mysterious martial artist who has a shadowy past himself, and they team up to search for a legendary treasure that promises immense power.

Along the way, they encounter various sects with their own agendas, and their connection gets tested as they get tangled up in political plots and power plays.

5. Eternal Love (2017)

Chinese Name: 三生三世十里桃花 (Sān Shēng Sān Shì Shí Lǐ Táo Huā)

Genre: Xianxia

Number of Episodes: 58

Actors: Yang Mi, Mark Chao 

Also known as “Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms,” this is one of the most-watched Chinese dramas of all time. It started out a bit slow for me at first, but I’m glad I kept going with it–—t turned out to be a heart-wrenching love story, with am intricate plot that plays out over thousands of years and multiple reincarnations.

At the start, Bai Qian, a goddess from the Heavenly Realms, is introduced in her human form as Si Yin. She then unexpectedly meets Ye Hua, a human prince, but their story doesn’t end well in this lifetime. Still, their paths cross again, after three hundred years–and one remembers their connection while the other doesn’t at all.

6. Handsome Siblings (2020)

Chinese Name: 绝代双骄 (Jué Dài Shuāng Jiāo)

Genre: Wuxia

Number of Episodes: 44

Actors: Chen Zhe Yuan, Hu Yi Tian

“Handsome Siblings” features two unparalleled martial artists: Jiang Xiao Yu of Yihua Palace and Hua Wu Que, who’s raised by the villainous Ten Villains sect.

They were raised to be enemies, but there’s a twist: they’re actually twin brothers who were intentionally separated at birth. They see each other as rivals initially, but as fate keeps pulling them together, they start to learn about the truth behind their bloodline and the dark plots that led to their separation.

This series tackles interesting questions such as the meaning of family and nature versus nurture, all while being jam-packed with intense fight scenes.

7. Who Rules the World (2022)

Chinese Name: 且试天下 (Qiě Shì Tiānxià)

Genre: Wuxia

Number of Episodes: 40

Actors: Yang Yang, Zhao Lu Si

“Who Rules the World” is set in the Dadong Empire, where six kingdoms are under the rule of one emperor. The empire’s stability is symbolized by the Imperial Token, so when It goes missing, chaos ensues.

Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi are both renowned martial artists who get deeply involved in the search for the Imperial Token. Both of them are also secretly royals from different kingdoms.

Throughout the series, they go from being curious about each other to working together as equals and then falling in love. Expect lots of exciting chemistry between the two, along with palace intrigue!

Chinese Historical Series

8. The Ghost Bride (2020)

Chinese Name: 彼岸之嫁 (Bǐ’àn Zhī Jià)

Genre: Supernatural

Number of Episodes: 6

Actors: Peijia Huang, Chris Wu, Ludi Lin

I found this 19th-century Malaysian drama intriguing because it revolves around a traditional Chinese concept: ghost brides. In a nutshell, a woman marries the spirit of a dead man so he won’t be lonely in the afterlife.

Li Lan’s family is on the brink of financial collapse, so she desperately takes on such an offer from a wealthy family—she agrees to be the ghost bride of their dead son.

This solves her money problems, but she also gets thrown right into the realm of the dead. She then finds herself torn between two men: her new, deceased husband and a mysterious heavenly guard.

9. The Princess Weiyoung (2016)

Chinese Name: 锦绣未央 (Jǐn Xiù Wèi Yāng)

Genre: Historical

Number of Episodes: 54

Actors: Tiffany Tang, Luo Jin

Princess Feng Xin’er had a comfortable life—right until her dynasty, the Northern Liang, falls to the Northern Wei. In an attempt to save the princess, a kind-hearted girl named Li Weiyoung steps in and gives up her life. Xin’er seizes this chance to start over and takes on Weiyoung’s identity, with the goal of avenging her dynasty against the Northern Wei.

This drama focuses a lot on court politics, and it’s a bit more light-hearted compared to xianxia shows. Even though she encounters a lot of tricky situations, Xin’er relies on her wits and finds a way to solve them.

Chinese Modern Romance Shows

10. Falling Into Your Smile (2021)

Chinese Name: 你微笑时很美 (Nǐ Wéixiào Shí Hěn Měi)

Genre: Romantic comedy

Number of Episodes: 31

Actors: Xu Kai, Cheng Xiao

Lu Si Chen is a professional gamer who’s cold and aloof, but his world gets shaken up when Tong Yao—a brilliant female gamer—joins his team. She’s passionate and dead-set on breaking gender stereotypes, and they don’t get along that well initially. But as they go through competitions and deal with personal problems together, they start to warm up to each other.

This series does a good job of portraying how competitive gaming works in China. Even if you’re not into gaming, the romance is well-paced and cute, and there are a lot of laugh-out-loud scenes!

11. When I Fly Towards You (2023)

Chinese Name: 当我飞奔向你 (Dāng Wǒ Fēi Bēn Xiàng Nǐ)

Genre: Romantic comedy

Number of Episodes: 24

Actors: Zhou Yi Ran, Zhang Miao Yi

“When I Fly Towards You” is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that actually made me remember my school years. Su Za Zai is a bubbly middle school transfer student, and she likes Zhang Lu Rang right away the first time she sees him. Zhang Lu Rang seems to have it all together on the outside because of his good grades and influential family, but deep down, he’s actually filled with self-doubt.

Su Zai Zai helps break him out of his shell. Alongside other friends, he discovers what self-worth really means and begins to forge his own path as they grow up into adulthood.

12. Hidden Love (2023)

Chinese Name: 偷偷藏不住 (Tōu Tōu Cáng Bù Zhù)

Genre: Romance

Number of Episodes: 25

Actors: Zhao Lu Si, Chen Zhe Yuan

“Hidden Love” offers a unique spin on the classic “crush on the older brother’s friend” trope. Sang Zhi first meets Duan Jia Xu, her older brother’s charismatic friend, as a teenager, and she gets a crush on him.

Fast forward to when Sang Zhi is a university student, and she and Duan Jia Xu meet again—this time, he’s already working. They start to have sparks despite a five-year age difference.

While Sang Zhi’s feelings have deepened from her initial infatuation, Duan Jia Xu has to adjust from seeing Sang Zhi as a younger sister figure to someone that he can date.

13. Meteor Garden (2018)

Chinese Name: 流星花园 (Liúxīng Huāyuán)

Genre: Romantic comedy

Number of Episodes: 50

Actors: Dylan Wang, Shen Yue, Darren Chen, Caesar Wu, Leon Leong

If you’re a Cdrama fan, you’ve definitely heard of “Meteor Garden.” This is the 2018 remake of the original 2001 Taiwanese hit.

Ming De University, a prestigious school, is dominated by the F4 group. This consists of four boys who are all wealthy and handsome. When Dong Shan Cai, a girl who’s from a humbler background, enters the school, she takes a stand and refuses to be bullied by the F4.

This defiance catches the eye of the group’s leader, Dao Ming Si. They start dating, but it’s far from a simple love story as jealousy, misunderstandings and complications abound.

14. Use for My Talent (2021)

Chinese Name: 我亲爱的小洁癖 (Wǒ Qīn’ài de Xiǎo Jié Pǐ)

Genre: Romantic comedy

Number of Episodes: 24

Actors: Jasper Liu, Shen Yue

This is adapted from the South Korean series “Clean With Passion for Now.” The premise is quirky enough: Shuang Jiao is a messy girl who’s deeply influenced by a traumatic childhood involving her mother, while Gu Ren Qi is an eccentric CEO of a cleaning company and a germaphobe.

Shuang Jiao applies at Ren Qi’s company because she’s desperately looking for a job. At first, Ren Qi finds it hard to stand Shuang Jiao, but they gradually come to like each other. The storyline is light and simple, and I enjoyed watching the characters grow as they confront their insecurities and traumas together.

15. Put Your Head on My Shoulder (2019)

Chinese Name:致我们暖暖的小时光 (Zhì Wǒmen Nuǎn Nuǎn De Xiǎo Shíguāng)

Genre: Romance

Number of Episodes: 24

Actors: Xing Fei, Lin Yi

Si Tu Mo is a graduating student who wants to go into advertising, but she struggles to hold down a job while facing pressure from her family. Meanwhile, Gu Wei Yi, an astrophysics genius and her college classmate, needs to move to a new apartment.

An unexpected turn of events leads Si Tu Mo to share an apartment with Gu Wei Yi. The two can’t be more different: Mo is spontaneous and bubbly, while Wei Yi is methodical and reserved.

But through late-night study sessions and heartfelt conversations, they start to form a deeper connection, even with challenges like career pressure and past relationships.

16. The Rational Life (2021)

Chinese Name: 理智派生活 (Lǐzhì Pài Shēnghuó)

Genre: Romance

Number of Episodes: 35

Actors: Qin Lan, Dylan Wang

Shen Ruo Xin is a talented senior manager in her thirties. Aside from dealing with work politics and younger rivals, she’s also having a hard time deciding between two men. There’s Xu Min Jie, a competent executive who seems like a perfect match, and Qin Ming Yue, a younger intern.

Even though Ming Yue is more than 10 years younger, he’s mature and supportive of Ruo Xin. As Ruo Xin grows closer to Ming Yue, they grapple with society’s judgments about age gaps in relationships. At the same time, her interactions with Min Jie are disappointing to the point of being funny, even though he’s the conventional choice.

17. Love O2O (2016)

Chinese Name: 微微一笑很倾城 (Wēi Wēi Yī Xiào Hěn Qīng Chéng)

Genre: Romantic comedy

Number of Episodes: 30

Actors: Yang Yang, Shuang Zheng

“Love O2O” tells the story of Bei Wei Wei, a computer science student and an accomplished gamer. When her in-game husband suddenly divorces her, she starts a virtual romance with the game’s top player, Xiao Nai, who’s also her school’s heartthrob.

Unknown to Wei Wei, Xiao Nai had already taken an interest in her after a chance real-world encounter. In the virtual world, drawn by her gaming skills, he proposes to her, and their relationship soon extends offline. They then have to deal with jealous peers and professional challenges as they embark on a business venture together in the competitive tech world.

Chinese Action and Crime Shows

18. The King’s Avatar (2019)

Chinese Name: 全职高手 (Quánzhí Gāoshǒu) 

Genre: Action

Number of Episodes: 41

Actors: Yang Yang, Jiang Shu Ying

Ye Xiu is a top professional gamer in China, but he’s forced to leave his championship-winning team. Since he isn’t in the esports scene anymore, he takes up a job at an internet cafe managed by a passionate gamer, Chen Guo, and tries to play anonymously.

Chen Guo is a fan of Ye Xiu, so when she discovers his identity, she backs him up. With her support, Ye Xiu makes a comeback and builds a new team from scratch. With tournaments all throughout, the series shows how both strategic skills and dedication are needed to become a competitive gamer.

19. The Victim’s Game (2020)

Chinese Name: 谁是被害者 (Shuí Shì Bèihàizhě)

Genre: Crime

Number of Episodes: 8

Actors: Joseph Chang, Tiffany Hsu

Fang Yi Ren is a talented forensic detective with Asperger’s syndrome. He’s incredibly good at figuring out even the most complicated crime scenes, but he struggles to connect with people, especially with his estranged daughter.

The story takes a sinister turn when his daughter becomes a prime suspect in a series of murders. He then goes in search of the killer, hoping to clear his daughter’s name. It’s a dark story with plenty of plot twists, and the clues were so subtle that I couldn’t piece together what really happened until the end.

20. Light the Night (2021)

Chinese Name:华灯初上 (Huá Dēng Chū Shàng)

Genre: Thriller

Number of Episodes: 24

Actors: Ruby Lin, Cheryl Yang

“Light the Night” is a murder mystery that’s set in Taipei’s bustling red-light district in the 1980s. The story revolves around the women working at Light, a Japanese-style nightclub with wealthy clients.

In the spotlight are two long-time hostesses who are drawn to the same man. But you’ll get to know the other women too, with their own secrets, traumas and dreams.

This isn’t just a drama series, though—a murder suddenly happens at the nightclub, and any of the women could be the killer.

Slice-of-Life Dramas in Chinese

21. Wave Makers (2023)

Chinese Name:人选之人—造浪者 (Rén Xuǎn Zhī Rén Zào Làng Zhě)

Genre: Political

Number of Episodes: 8

“Wave Makers” is a Taiwanese drama that offers a unique portrayal of the political scene in Taiwan. Weng Wen Fang is a senior PR staffer for the Justice Party and an LGBTQ figure. The series delves into her challenges following a damaging election loss and her role in a crucial presidential campaign.

You’ll get to see the intricacies of political campaigning in Taiwan, from important policy decisions to managing PR fiascos. Beyond politics, the series boldly addresses societal issues like workplace sexual harassment and gender bias—in fact, it’s known for launching a #MeToo movement in Taiwan.

 

These Chinese shows on Netflix have very absorbing plots, with some series even having more than 30 episodes—so don’t be surprised if you find yourself unable to stop watching. Tune in to Netflix, get cozy, and prepare to be entertained for hours! 

And if you make it through this list, check out our other lists of great Chinese movies and shows:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/best-chinese-movies-on-amazon-prime/

You can also practice learning Chinese through TV show clips with FluentU.