As the popularity of Korean dramas continues to increase globally, Chinese dramas are also not behind when it comes to entertaining people and gaining viewership with their cultural, comedy, love, and betrayal themes.
For decades Asian entertainment industry has been successful in engaging the audience worldwide. It is just recently that they have become a trend because of the rise of streaming platforms.
The drama “Be With You” is based on a lovely relationship between son and father. The mother of the son has passed away, and his father takes complete care of him. Both of them are a complete mess.
The father also has to take care of his work, so he is struggling to care for his son. Both of them are waiting for a miracle to happen. One fine day, her mother returns, but she has lost all her memory.
The show highlights the importance of mothers in the well-being of a family. It is a great show with a balanced plot and beautiful cinematography. If you have not watched Be With You yet, then you can check it on Netflix.
If you have already seen the drama, then this list has 15 dramas like Be With You. The list has been shown from various genres, but the theme of love is common with all the shows. Search for your favorite show and enjoy, and do not forget to get a tissue because some of the suggestions are very heavy on emotions.
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Love Me If You Dare
This Chinese drama from 2015 is a no-brainer for anyone, irrespective of whatever genre you watch. Simon Bo, played by Wallace Huo, is an excellent criminal psychologist whose job is to suggest the cops on their most disturbing, violent, and gruesome cases.
Jenny Jian, played by Sandra Ma, is his new assistant. She is the daughter of an experienced cop whose robust ideology of justice suits her spunky personality. Both of them dive into the minds of the most dark, horrific criminals.
With each passing crime and solving them together, both of them grew close to each other. They share their secrets from the past that haunt them.
The show is filled with romantic scenes and instances that feels exciting, suspenseful cases, and a brutal serial killer who loves to mess with people’s mind as an audience, It feels concerning for the characters and a lot of additional subplots; what else you could ask for in a drama show.
As the story unfolds, the two main characters develop their romantic relationship, and you will get excited and root for their love affair.
The climax of the show is filled with twists; you’ll surely bite all your nails as the show concludes. All in all, it is one of the most complete shows on this list; there is something for every kind of audience.
Bromance
When Pi Ya Nuo, played by Megan Lai, was an infant, a fortune teller told her family that if she didn’t spend the first 25 years of her life as a boy, she would not survive adulthood.
But as soon as she gets 26, she can start to live her life as a girl. Throughout her life, she always tried to maintain distance from people so that her secret remains a secret and no one can find her truth.
One day, she meets Du Zi Feng, played by Baron Chen, and the two get close as they start their friendship. She is naturally a woman, and her feelings begin to complicate her secret life. In Dramaland, a female dressing as a man is not something new.
The bromance came out in 2015, but it still manages to display a simple yet unique plot that will entertain you from the first scene to the last. The chemistry of the two main characters is really sweet and looks authentic on screen.
The funny lines and the witty side characters are some of the driving factors of the show. All in all, it is a good watch that will keep you hooked to the screen.
The Eternal Love
This show is out here for all the historical drama lovers out there. If you think you have seen all the historical drama out there but somehow missed this, then definitely have a look at this one.
In the show, The Eternal Love, Qu Tan Er, played by Liang Jie, is fond of Mo Yi Huai, played by Wang Rui Chang, the king’s oldest son, but she is forced to marry Mo Lian Cheng, played by Xing Zhao Lin, who is the younger brother of Mo Yi.
In this arrangement of a marriage, she gets depressed and tries to die by suicide but wakes up to find that some other woman’s spirit (Xiao Tan, a modern woman, again played by Liang Jie) has made a home inside her body.
The two spirits in one body have to coexist and find a cure or a way to undo the situation they’re in. To make it worse for her and funny for the audience, whenever one personality lies, the other one takes over, making the whole situation messed up and funny at the same time.
The drama blends the romantic to and fro with body exchange and time-traveling plot and turns into a good, satisfying watch that will definitely cheer you up. If you end up liking season 1, the show has more seasons that should also be checked.
Attention, Love!
Sweet and Simple came out in 2017 as a Taiwanese drama. The show is as sweet as it sounds, we see Li Zheng played by Wang Zi, which means attention, and the other hand, Shai Xi, played by Joanne Tseng, means at ease.
Both of them grew up and are an embodiment of their names. Li Zheng is a perfectionist and pays careful attention to details. On the other hand, Shai Xi takes life as it is and is carefree and laid back.
After growing up in Japan, he returned to Taiwan, where he met Shao Xi in school. Both of their personality has a vast difference, but both of them create a strong connection for each other.
The show is beautiful, filled with colors, and the pace of the show is consistent and doesn’t feel rushed, even the side characters we’ll think and present, which makes the whole plot alive.
If you’re looking for an easy-going show that will keep you uplifted and enjoy each episode with laughter and love, then Attention, Love! Is the right choice for you?
Rookie Agent Rogue
Rookie Agent Rougue has everything, from action to adventure, romance, betrayal, and other subplots that make it a good watch. The plot of the show is set in 1973 when Lan Yan Zhi, played by Zhao Li Ying, is a student activist in Shanghai and daughter of a rich banker.
She accidentally finds a letter from the Japanese army. A standing officer in the Japanese army, Yu Hao, played by Lu Yi, finds out she has the letter and is misjudged as a spy.
To prove that she’s innocent, she agrees to sneak into the residence of her best friend to help You Hao locate the mysterious traitor.
Her excellent memory and high intellectual skills helped her in this mission. As the story unfolds, she gets too close and finds out the dark secrets that came as a total shock to her.
The show has everything; the makers have made sure that the backdrop of the 1930’s is well preserved in the show. With 45 episodes, the show is definitely on a bit higher side, but this allows the makers to make sure the story is not rushed and all the details are perfectly laid out.
This is the case with this show. All the things are well thought out; from the costume to the surroundings, everything resembles the respective time. It is a must-watch for anyone who likes to enjoy slow burners; with a heavy plot and mysterious characters, you will definitely enjoy the show.
A Love So Beautiful
If you’re out looking for a perfect high school Chinese drama, then A Love So Beautiful is an ideal show for you. The plot revolves around a high school student named Chen Xiao Xi, played by Shen Yue.
She has a huge crush on their neighbor and classmate Jiang Chen, played by Hu Yi Tian, but he doesn’t feel the same way for her. Xiao Xi’s personality is carefree and spontaneous; on the other side, Jian Chen is a studious, quiet man who is extremely famous because of his good grades and charming looks.
They explore the drama of high school and adulthood with friends, two of them are Wu Bo Song, played by Gao Zhi Ting, and Lin Jing Xiao, played by Wang Zi Wei, who is the most beautiful and attractive girl in the school.
While watching the show, you will feel an instant connection because the scenes that they show must have happened to you, too. All the scenes feel authentic and natural in their cringe-worthy and embarrassing glory.
Dramas frequently include strong female friendships that are realistic. Even when they transition out of high school, all the actors do an excellent job and still seem quite age-appropriate. While C-dramas might be hit or miss, this one succeeds on every level.
Still, if you don’t find relatable scenes or characters, then you will enjoy the scenes of relationships, close friends, and chaos that is prominent with high school students. All in all, it is a fun show that you will definitely enjoy.
Thinking of You, Lu Xiang Bei
Most of the dramas on this list are romantic with lovely feelings, but what about a show that is based on a sham marriage with the intention of greed and revenge? Tony Yi Nian, played by Zhang Li, is the child of a rich chairman.
She is forcefully married to Lubl Xiang Bei, played by Hawick Lau. But this forced loveless marriage is just the beginning of her problem; she finds out the true reasons why Lu Xiang married her.
On the other hand, Lu Xiang was brought up in a tragic setup; he was abandoned by his father, and since then, he only has revenge plotted in his mind. All this is messed up for the two main characters; they start at a very unusual place.
The primary performers, notably Hawick Lau and the woman who played his mother, were fantastic. Additionally, the drama had a lot of tales and subplots, which kept viewers interested.
The show is full of drama and serious theme-based plots. The show is heavy on common human emotions, and the screenplay will not feel ordinary, so definitely look out for this one.
Single Ladies Senior
Single Ladies Senior is a drama about encouragement, friendship, and all the positives that a good friend can provide at a time of need.
Wang Mi Na, played by Summer Meng, Ying Ge Li, played by Christina Mok, Bai Ya Xuan, played by Bonnie Wang and Weng Mei Yan, played by Alina Zheng, are the four best pals from the college who have entered professional work life together.
They’re all exploring what they want to do with their lives; they must balance their romantic life and work and friendship, which is a never-ending thing. To strike a balance between all three of them is a difficult task, and in the show, this is what we will see these four try to do.
Single Ladies Senior is a light show full of uplifting material which is funny and refreshing. The drama should be on everyone’s list of those who like these kinds of stories. It’ll be an easy watch and will ensure the value of true friends in your life.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
This Chinese drama tells the tale of Zhang Xiao, played by Liu Shi Shi; he time travels back to the 18th century from modern-day China to get reincarnated into his previous life, Maertaei Rouxi, who is the daughter of Genera Manchu of the Qing Dynasty.
As she balances this new life, she somehow gets entangled in a fatal struggle for the throne of the emperor. Using her modern knowledge, she slightly bends history for her betterment; in the process, she gets romantic affection, too.
The cinematography drives the show heavily; it is beautiful, and every scene looks thoughtful just because of this. The writing of the characters is deep, and the actor’s portrayal of these characters is chilling and will leave you in awe.
How characters evolve throughout the course of their lives is a fascinating aspect. If you follow the narrative, you will experience many tragic scenes that will melt your heart.
The main character’s dealing with other characters and the internal struggle she is having while adjusting her modern life to this Dynasty era are all very exciting to see. It is a good watch with refreshing writing and beautiful scenes.
Nirvana in Fire
Nirvana in Fire is adapted from a novel of the same name authored by Hai Yan. It tells a strong tale of betrayal that led to the demise of more than 70,000 loyal soldiers, and one of the army men survives and returns to ensure the traitors pay the price of this horrific doing.
The setup is based on one of the most wretched and chaotic time periods in China’s history. It is placed in the time when it was divided into dynasties, the Southern Dynasty and the Northern Dynasty.
Don’t get it twisted; this is not an average betrayal and revenge drama. The characters are highly driven and want revenge, which is something higher than themselves; looking for the truth in all the chaos is so addictive to watch.
It is being carefully examined how they were trained and what their normal motions are. If you continue, there are some amusing moments amongst the stunning views that truly make you feel wonderful.
If you’re searching for a dark and intense drama with a complicated yet beautiful screenplay, fast action scenes, meticulous characters, and much more somber subplots, then Nirvana In Fire will serve you well in your boredom.
The Rise of Phoenixes
Do you like watching big thrones, birds’ feathers, and crazy good costumes? If you do, then The Rise of Phoenixes is a feast in the true sense. It has beautiful videography l; the characters will attract you instantly.
This is a historical romantic drama based on the novel Huang Quan, authored by Tianxia Guiyuan. One thing to note is that all the facts shown in the story are not historically precise, but the plot of the drama is heavily inspired by history.
For history buff, it is an ideal show where you will find betrayal, assassination, rebellion, and a whole lot more. The main plot of the show is about the illicit daughter of the Qiu Family, who is accused of a crime.
She gets banished from her home, but to survive, she pretends to be a male so that she can get into a world-renowned academy. She gets successful in the academy and enters the court as a high scholar and politician.
She is honest and loyal, but because of her honesty, she gets manipulated easily into believing that the Dynasty is built on the dead bodies of the persons she loves.
The script, costumes, acting, and coordination of the tragic and humorous components across the whole production are all superb.
The love narrative evolves, matures, and becomes more intense with every episode. The depth of desire is brought to the fore via excellent acting, and it deserves to be seen.
The main character of the show is what keeps the show intact; the script and the screenplay all look fresh, and well though out. The writers had to look at everything before going forward. Overall a great show for history buffs.
Bloody Romance
Bloody Romance is based on a novel of the same name. It follows the life of a beautiful woman who gets entangled in the abyss of this somber world; she has no other choice but to learn the ways to survive.
The poverty-stricken daughter of a herbalist, she was fooled and then sold into a brothel. To make it worse for her, she finds out that whoever did this to her is someone she knows and is close to her.
After escaping death and her previous life, she becomes a cruel, cold-blooded assassin. In this life, she faces insane sociopaths and psychopaths, and she must muster all the courage and strength to come to the top.
Everyone in this drama is always on the edge, and one wrong move will take their lives; it will keep you on the edge of your seat for the majority of the time. Bloody Romance exists in a different dimension.
If you’re looking for a show with romance, fantasy, and adventure, then it is an ideal recommendation for you. A lovely female main character who is willing to do anything just to make sure justice is served is something that becomes an instant watch.
The King’s Woman
The King’s Woman has all the elements that make it a good watch; from revenge to struggle to life and betrayal, it has everything. The plot of the show focuses on Gongsun Li, is military commander’s granddaughter.
When her home is surrounded by chaos, she has to leave and has no other choice. She leaves her home and all other fellow disciples whom she spent her childhood with. They got dependent on one other and fell in love.
One day, he somehow gets injured, and Gongsun Li comes to the palace and marries Ying Zheng just so that he can procure the medicine.
After this event, the story becomes more interesting because Gongsun Li must fight to survive and gain the respect of other fellows around him. To put it clearly, it is a live triangle drama, but the main backstory is about the first emperor who ruled China.
The action scenes using swords are just mind-blowingly well-captured glimpses into history. We are defined by our principles, values, beliefs, words, and deeds. This show does an amazing job of portraying all of the details of the script.
This is for the lovers of historical drama; it is a beautiful show with well thought and researched characters. The show must be on every watch list; even if you do not like palace politics, this show is easy to follow and enjoy.
Legend of Fuyao
Legend of Fuyao is one of those dramas that can be watched again and again. It mainly has political plots and subplots, and it has emotional stories and relationships, too.
The maid leads Fu Yao to transition from a slave girl to a powerful, commanding woman who finds her true power in making things right in this world. The storyline takes place in a setup of five coexisting kingdoms that are governed by the Imperial City of Wuji.
After the chain of tragic events hits her life, she embarks on her journey across these five kingdoms to uplift the curse that shadows her life. In her journey, she meets Wuji, who’s a crown prince and begins to like him.
In my opinion, important plot details are delivered in a really endearing setting, and the narrative itself is intriguing and original. You simply develop a liking for the characters.
While going on for this show, you can expect a lot of adventure, court drama, action, and, of course, an adorable love story. The setup in the plot makes it a complete watch; I totally recommend it.
Rush to the Dead Summer
Rush to the Dead Summer, a.k.a. Love Till the End of Summer, is also adopted from a Chinese drama of the same name authored by Guo Jinming.
Stretching for a time frame of 10 years, the show is about school friends who are ambitious, but their lives separate after their graduation.
All of them are behind in pursuing their dreams, but they face challenges, struggles, betrayals, and even imprisonment and watch their lives die.
Each of them is going through a rough patch, and they begin to doubt the intentions of others. This show is a true representation of life in general; it shows that life is not easy and straightforward.
The impact of true friendship is huge in our lives, and this show showcases that with purity. This drama really gets off to a good start, and if you enjoy school dramas, you’ll adore the first half.
The narrative is, therefore, endearing and adorable, precisely what viewers of Chinese school dramas enjoy. The drama caters to audiences from any age, not just teenagers, so that you can enjoy this show easily.
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