10 Best Chinese Dramas on Netflix for K-Drama Fans

If You Love K-Dramas, You Should Check Out These 10 Chinese Dramas on Netflix

The Untamed protagonists posing at the ready for battle.Image Via Netflix

By Anja Djuricic Published 43 minutes ago Anja Djuricic was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1992. Her first interest in film started very early, as she learned to speak English by watching Disney animated movies (and many, many reruns). Anja soon became inspired to learn more foreign languages to understand more movies, so she entered the Japanese language and literature Bachelor Studies at the University of Belgrade. Anja is also one of the founders of the DJ duo Vazda Garant, specializing in underground electronic music influenced by various electronic genres. Anja loves to do puzzles in her spare time, pet cats wherever she meets them, and play The Sims. Anja's Letterboxd four includes Memories of Murder, Parasite, Nope, and The Road to El Dorado. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

K-dramas are all the rage nowadays, and day by day, there are many more K-drama enthusiasts. People love them for their emotional storytelling, swoonworthy romances, some heart-pounding tension, and just the right mix of fantasy and realism. Some of the best K-dramas of all time often combine all these things and are simply a good time.

However, if you've burned through your K-drama watchlist, or you're craving a bit of a change with something similar but still new, Chinese dramas (C-dramas) on Netflix can scratch that same itch, often with just as great a production value and emotional storytelling. With these "new" series, you can expand your drama palate and indulge in some great, fresh cultural flavors. If you love K-dramas, you should check out these 10 Chinese dramas on Netflix.

10 'When I Fly Towards You' (2023)

Zhou Yiran and Zhang Miaoyi on the poster for When I Fly Towards YouImage via Youku

When I Fly Towards You is a pure coming-of-age, slice-of-life romantic drama with a great pace and even greater character arcs. Think Reply 1988 or Our Beloved Summer — the kind of human drama that loves its protagonists and viewers with equal measure. When I Fly Towards You is soft, nostalgic, and very character-driven, perfect for K-drama fans who love to watch the joys of youthful romances and growth.

When I Fly Toward You follows Su Zai Zai (Zhang Miao Yi), a brand-new student at Jiangyi High School. As soon as she joins the school, she meets the aloof and popular Zhang Lu Rang (Zhou Yi Ran) and falls in love with him at first sight. The show follows both as they navigate friendship, school life, and teenage romances, going through the thrills and complexities of first crushes, awkward moments, and self-discovery. It's a perfect K-drama formula with a C-drama spice and style.

9 'Falling Into Your Smile' (2021)

Xu Kai and Cheng Xiao on the promo poster for Falling Into Your SmileImage via Tencent

Falling Into Your Smile has a modern setting and feels relatable in many ways; it's very much a young adult series. It was based on a novel of the same name by Qing Mei and follows the lives of professional esports players. But don't let the gaming premise fool you — this show is deeply romantic and emotionally layered, covering issues like sexism, fame, and personal identity. If you liked Start-Up, for example, Falling Into Your Smile will be an adequate replacement.

Falling Into Your Smile follows Tong Yao (Cheng Xiao), a recent college graduate who joins the highly competitive esports team called ZGDX. She becomes the first female member of the team and bonds with the team leader, Lu Sicheng (Xu Kai). It shows their growth as they navigate workplace drama, romance, and the high-stakes world of competitive gaming. The vibe of this C-drama is modern, aspirational, and socially conscious, with a perfect romantic premise that balances heart and mind.

8 'Hidden Love' (2023)

Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan on the poster for Hidden LoveImage via Netflix

If you’re a fan of K-dramas, then you are undoubtedly a fan of slow-burn romances. Hidden Love is a classic slow burner, forming from a teenage crush into secret yearning and then a mature romance, full of a kind of youthful innocence that K-drama fans usually adore. Hidden Love is wholesome, nostalgic, and very emotional, helping you immerse yourself in the universe of these characters easily and with a lot of love.

Hidden Love was based on the popular Chinese web novel Secretly, Secretly; But Unable to Hide It, and follows Sang Zhi (Zhao Lusi), a schoolgirl who develops a crush on Duan Jiaxu (Chen Zheyuan), her older brother's best friend. Sang Zhi's emotions develop early, and we follow her growth through the gradual emotional journey, from a crush on Duan Jiaxu to the eventual forming of a relationship with him several years later. The dynamic of the leads mirrors many beloved K-dramas with slow-burn romances and coming-of-age arcs.

7 'The First Frost' (2025)

Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan on the poster for The First FrostImage via Netflix

The First Frost is very much a healing, romantic drama. It delves into some difficult emotions, from trauma and recovery to longing and reconnection, depicting the emotional state of characters through some heavy personal journeys. Many K-dramas have a similar feel, focusing on growth and second chances through love and friendship. The First Frost is the year's most popular C-drama, setting the record in popularity and viewership.

The First Frost follows two former classmates, Wen Yifan (Zhang Ruonan) and Sang Yan (Bai Jingting), who accidentally reconnect at a bar and later unknowingly become roommates. Since they're forced into proximity, this allows them to gradually grow closer and help each other slowly heal past wounds. The show is bittersweet and thoughtful, and while it does tackle some heavy emotions, it’s pretty soothing as well. It's quite a mature love story that gives its protagonists time to heal and come to terms with some intense feelings.

6 'The Rational Life' (2021)

Qin Lin and Dylan Wang on the poster for The Rational LifeImage via Netflix

The Rational Life is an office romance, which must be one of the most popular genres of K-drama. This one is quite mature and thematically serious, tackling age-gap romances, workplace dynamics, and societal expectations regarding both. Though K-dramas also frequently tackle a combo of these topics, it's interesting to see the same standards explored in a Chinese landscape. The Rational Life balances professional ambition and romantic feelings tenderly, with some realism.

The Rational Life follows Shen Ruoxin (Qin Lan), a successful career woman in her 30s, who is forced to fight against the societal pressures to commit and start her own family. She also tackles office politics, from misogyny to company-wide nepotism, balancing the delicate scales of business and life ethics. When she hires a young intern, Qi Xiao (Dylan Wang), her resistance to conformity stumbles, and she finds romance with a younger man. The Rational Life is a grounded and elegant C-drama with a charismatic protagonist and a beautiful slow-burn romance.

5 'Eternal Love' (2017)

Yang Mi and Mark Chao on the poster for the romantic fantasy Eternal LoveImage via Goco Entertainment

The most-watched TV show in the world, Eternal Love, was streamed over 50 billion times. This fantasy drama is a mythical, romantic epic that depicts a beautiful love story, connecting the leads through fate and lifetimes. With themes of destiny, reincarnation, sacrifice, and true love, Eternal Love is perfect for fans of fantasy dramas that have the ability to make anyone believe in love. The show is grandiose and visually stunning, too; it's probably one of the most beautiful dramas you'll ever see.

Eternal Love follows the epic romance between Bai Qian (Yang Mi) and Mo Yuan (Mark Chao) as they continue to find each other in every next life. Mi and Chao portray several different characters who are meant to be reincarnations of their past selves, whether in god form or mortal. If you like the K-dramas Goblin and Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Eternal Love is the perfect C-drama to replace them; it has 58 episodes, so it can take a while to finish, but fantasy lovers will delight in it.

4 'The Untamed' (2019)

The Untamed is a fan-favorite drama and a modern cult favorite, and for good reason: it's an epic and beautiful combination of mystery, fantasy, and drama. Its themes show the importance of emotional bonds and self-discovery, and while it's not fully a romantic drama, it does have romantic themes spread out across it. The Untamed is character-driven, but many love it for its visual identity as well — high praise went to its costumes and set design, showing an elevated and dedicated production. The Untamed is one of the most beloved Chinese dramas of the 21st century.

The Untamed follows two soulmate cultivators, Wei Wuxian (Xiao Zhan), and Lan Wangji (Wang Yibo), who meet after Wei is resurrected nearly 20 years after his death. Wei finds Lan, and their relationship turns emotional again, showing the deep spiritual connection they have even after all this time. The Untamed was based on a web novel in which Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, two male protagonists, are a romantic couple, too; due to nationwide censorship of LGBTQ content, their relationship in the series adaptation isn't romantic, but there's plenty of homoerotic subtext.

3 'Love O2O' (2016)

Yang Yang and Zheng Shuang on the promo poster for Love O2O

Love O2O is a modern romance that borrows very loose sci-fi elements; it's one of the most-watched C-dramas of the past decade, amassing around 25 billion views since it first aired in 2016. If you like K-dramas that center on modern school life and tackle unexpected pairings and romances, Love O2O is the best choice among Chinese dramas. It's light and youthful, full of brilliant and tender energy, and celebrates the nerdy aspects of life, from video gaming and online dynamics to tech literacy.

Love O2O follows Bei Weiwei (Zheng Shuang), a tech college student who wishes to become a game developer. She spends her time playing the online game, A Chinese Ghost Story, and nurtures a virtual alter ego, Luwei Weiwei. When she meets Xiao Nai (Yang Yang) in the online world, they start playing together, bonding, and falling in love; will they meet in person, though? A "fun" fact about Love O2O is that it was banned in mainland China after Zheng Shuang was deemed one of the "actors with poor conduct" due to several scandals, including tax evasion. If you're entertained by the fact that you can watch this C-drama on Netflix, but no one in China can, maybe just watch it for that?

2 'Well-Intended Love' (2019)

The cast poster for Well-Intended Love with Simona WangImage via Netflix

Well-Intended Love is one of those melodramatic shows with intensely wild and sometimes unbelievable twists. It's adjacent to K-dramas because of several themes, including contract marriage, illness, and a romance with a young and handsome CEO who wishes to be unmarried. The dramatic emotional stakes feel like mood swings in the best way possible; this show is sweet and soapy and will question logic, but the more you're in, the more you'll get it and will be ready to defend it. (Any K-drama fan is deeply familiar with that feeling.)

Well-Intended Love follows a D-list actress, Xia Lin (Simona Wang), who is diagnosed with leukemia. She meets a young and dashing CEO, Ling Yi Zhou (Xu Kaicheng), who could help her with the treatment, and he promises to do so if she enters a contract marriage with him. They, of course, fall in love gradually and through unusual and sometimes quirky experiences. The contract marriage trope is at its finest here, and if you like Business Proposal or What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?, this series is similar yet different enough to be interesting.

1 'Meteor Garden' (2018)

The cast members of Meteor Garden, the C-drama remake of Boys Over FlowersImage via Netflix

Meteor Garden is the C-drama equivalent of Boys Over Flowers — it was directly adapted from the original Japanese manga of the same name and the Taiwanese drama adaptation, so fans of the Korean version of Boys Over Flowers have a lot to look forward to with Meteor Garden. There's no Lee Min-ho, sadly, but Dylan Wang is just as iconic and charismatic; the characters are younger, and the fashion is more relevant to modern times since the show was made in 2018.

Meteor Garden follows Dong Shancai (Shen Yue), a regular girl who manages to get into the most prestigious university in the country. There, she comes across a rich boys' clique calling themselves the F4 and clashes with them, especially their arrogant leader, Daoming Si (Wang). Soon, Daoming Si falls in love with Shancai, but she is in love with his best friend. The melodrama is carried by the greatest romance trope ever, enemies-to-lovers. If you love this kind of story, Meteor Garden is a somewhat superior version of Boys Over Flowers, as it might be more appealing to modern audiences (and also more widely available).

Boys Over Flowers

Like Release Date 2009 - 2009-00-00

Cast

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Kyo Hye-sun
Lee Min-ho

Creator(s) Jeon Ki-sang, Yoon Ji-ryun, Yoko Kamio Powered by

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TV
Netflix
China

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