Chinese historical drama (also known as costume or period drama) is gaining popularity in the global entertainment space.
They are a brilliant form of escapist entertainment, but due to their traditional, cultural, and historical references and nuances, they’re not easy to understand if you’re completely new to them.
Whether you are interested in diving into Chinese historical drama or are a Chinese second-language learner looking to consume more content, I have just the right recommendations for you.
I’ve put together a list of interesting Chinese historical dramas with straightforward plots and not much politics. I feel these types of shows are perfect for newcomers to the genre.
Disclaimer: These are all shows I’ve personally watched and feel are suitable for you. If you are a beginner in learning Chinese, these shows are suitable for you to dive into the genre, but aren’t suitable as language learning material for your current level.
The six best Chinese historical dramas for newcomers to the genre
《赘婿》 My Heroic Husband
Chinese historical dramas with transmigrations were extremely popular between 2020 and 2024; there were many good ones, and many bad ones. 《赘婿》 My Heroic Husband is one of the best in the genre.
In 《赘婿》 My Heroic Husband, the main character is a businessman who falls into a historical world where he is a live-in husband (married into the wife’s family) of a fabric merchant. He uses his modern knowledge and business experience to help the business grow. He eventually finds himself involved with the country’s matters.
I’ve watched the first half of this show multiple times, and even after so many years, nothing has replaced my love for it! A modern person with modern ideas running a business in a historical world is an amazing theme!
For more information and where to watch, visit MyDramaList.
《卿卿日常》 New Life Begins
《卿卿日常》 New Life Begins was my favourite show of 2022, and to this day, it has remained a favourite of mine. It’s not all perfect; the beginning is slow, and the ending is a little messy, but the middle part is the best.
If you love watching a group of extremely strong female characters standing up for themselves in a male-dominated world, supporting each other and making a living for themselves, you’ll love this!
《卿卿日常》 New Life Begins is set in a fictional world with nine kingdoms and one ruling kingdom, where the alliances between the kingdoms are kept through marriage. The drama tells the story of many young women from different kingdoms who are sent to marry into the ruling kingdom’s royal family. There’s romance, friendship, family dynamics, business, and many strong female characters.
Alliances and conflicts among multiple kingdoms are common themes in many Chinese historical dramas. As this drama is very light-hearted and has very light politics, it’s a great way to get into this type of setting.
For more information and where to watch, visit MyDramaList.
《墨雨云间》 The Double
One of my all-time favourite shows is 《墨雨云间》 The Double, so of course, it’ll make it to this list.
《墨雨云间》 The Double is a story about self-discovery and revenge, where the female lead takes revenge on her husband and her friend’s family. As the focus of the story is on revenge, there’s little to no politics. The female lead’s father is a high minister, so their family has ties with the royal family and other members of the imperial court.
There is some romance in 《墨雨云间》 The Double, but it takes a back seat. So this is the perfect show for you if romance isn’t your thing.
For more information and where to watch, visit my review page on 《墨雨云间》 The Double
《锦月如歌》 Legend of the Female General
The name gives off a plot-heavy vibe, but it’s actually very light-hearted and more romance-focused.
《锦月如歌》 Legend of the Female General tells the story of the female lead who was betrayed by her family and brother. On a journey to reclaim what she lost and exact revenge on her family, she disguises herself as a man, joins the army and falls in love with the general. It’s got a bit of Mulan vibe.
Due to the light-hearted romance-focused nature of this show, there’s not much politics, not many characters and factions, so it’s easy to understand and digest.
For more information and where to watch, visit MyDramaList.
《五福临门》 Perfect Match
《五福临门》 Perfect Match follows the story of a wealthy family consisting of a single mother and her five daughters. Despite their beauty and talent, four of them struggle to find suitable matches, so after moving to Bianjing, the mother hopes to find them new suitors.
Does this sound a little familiar? Yup, it feels a little like Pride and Prejudice, so if you’re a fan of that story, you’ll like this!
As the focus of《五福临门》 Perfect Match is on marriage, you’ll be introduced to the marriage customs often seen in Chinese historical dramas. As marriage appears in almost every Chinese historical romance drama, this show is the perfect way to familiarise yourself with it.
For more information and where to watch, visit MyDramaList.
《少年歌行》 The Blood of Youth
For a modern take on the wuxia (武侠 – martial heroes) genre, 《少年歌行》 The Blood of Youth is your go-to; it’s the perfect introduction. It has many of the common tropes with modern cinematography, with somewhat decent special effects.
《少年歌行》 The Blood of Youth follows the journey of a fallen prince and his friends as they’re drawn into an adventure of hidden identities, mysteries and a fight for the throne.
The romance is really lacklustre and feels forced, so keep that in mind. You’re really watching it for the drama, the mysteries, the martial arts, and the light politics.
For more information and where to watch, visit MyDramaList.
