Recommendations: Costume cdramas
Below you will find my list of the best xianxia/wuxia/xuanhuan/historical cdramas that I've watched so far. This list is always updating.
About the genres:
Xianxia - immortal heroes, the heaven/demon/mortal realms (+ other magical realms). It has immortals, spirits, demons, magic and martial arts. It's usually about the conflict between the realms and the ultimate battle between good and evil.
Wuxia - mortal realm only but focused on magic and martial arts. It's usually about the conflict between different martial arts sects and who will rule them all.
Xuanhuan - means “mysterious fantasy”. A broad genre of fictional stories which remixes Chinese folklore/mythology with foreign elements & settings.
Historical - mortal realm only, martial arts without magic. It's usually more realistic stories in historical times.
More lists: https://mydramalist.com/profile/justjacky/lists
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![Love and Redemption]()
1. Love and Redemption
Chinese Drama - 2020, 59 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Xianxia masterpiece about true love, friendship, sisterhood and good vs evil themes.
Mood: Mix of light-hearted & very emotional.
Romance: Friends to lovers & secret crush.#xianxia
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![Hei Yue Guang Wen Na BE Ju Ben]()
2. Hei Yue Guang Wen Na BE Ju Ben
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Three lifetimes. Three marriages. Not for the faint hearted. The anti-hero story you need to see.
Mood: Very, very, very angsty.
Romance: Enemies to lovers & arranged marriage.#xianxia
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![Ning An Ru Meng]()
3. Ning An Ru Meng
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Best 2023 Historical Drama. Brilliant palace politics with dark romance.
Mood: Mature, sexy and intense.
Romance: Enemies to lovers & reverse harem.#historical
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![The Romance of Tiger and Rose]()
4. The Romance of Tiger and Rose
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Hilarious, romantic and thought-provoking story on genre roles.
Mood: Light-hearted with some light emotional vibes.
Romance: Enemies to lovers.#historical #transmigration
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![In Blossom]()
6. In Blossom
Chinese Drama - 2024, 32 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Face swap. Murder investigations. Blossoming romance. Gothic cinematography.
Mood: Mysterious, mostly serious with some light moments.
Romance: Slow burn (in a way) & falling in love with inner beauty.#historical
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![Xi Qian Hua]()
7. Xi Qian Hua
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: A beautiful story about a woman’s growth journey of love and life.
Mood: Mature historical times with life lessons.
Romance: Reverse-harem & secret love.#historical
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![The Evil Face]()
8. The Evil Face
Chinese Drama - 2022, 18 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Best short drama! A male lead who falls for the female lead's heart and personality, not her looks.
Mood: Sensual vibes.
Romance: First love.#historical #fantasy #shortlength
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![Qing Qing Ru Huai]()
9. Qing Qing Ru Huai
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: If you are a hopeless romantic, you will love this short drama.
Mood: Hopeless romantic.
Romance: Arranged marriage.#historical #shortlength
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![Half of Us]()
11. Half of Us
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
RECOMMEND
About: Dark Wuxia with crazy plot twists, romance, suspense, assassins and scheming.
Mood: Suspense, scheming, dark vibes.
Romance: Arranged marriage & enemies to lovers.#wuxia
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![Love When the Stars Fall]()
12. Love When the Stars Fall
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
RECOMMEND
About: Two sisters. Two husbands. Their fates intertwined.
Mood: Mix of light-hearted & angsty.
Romance: Opposites attract, arranged marriage & secondary couple.#xianxia
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![Di Jia Qian Jin]()
13. Di Jia Qian Jin
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Theatrical, addictive and dramatic revenge play.
Mood: Dark & emotional with some comedy.
Romance: Slow Burn.#historical
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![Cang Lan Jue]()
14. Cang Lan Jue
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: The ultimate love story between a fairy and devil who's tribes are enemies.
Mood: Mix of light-hearted and emotional.
Romance: Enemies to lovers.#xianxia
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![Kong Que Cheng Xia Xiao Qing Yi]()
15. Kong Que Cheng Xia Xiao Qing Yi
Chinese Drama - 2024, 42 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Novel transmigration with cute romance and reverse gender roles.
Mood: Mostly light-hearted.
Romance: Frenemies to lovers.#historical #transmigration
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![Yu Jiao Ji]()
16. Yu Jiao Ji
Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Emotional, slow paced and visually beautiful story of a girl falling in love with a merman.
Mood: Very emotional.
Romance: First love.#xuanhuan
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![Try the World]()
17. Try the World
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Royal politics with a dash of romance.
Mood: Mature with a dash of romantic fluff.
Romance: Rivals/Friends to lovers.#wuxia
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![Shao Nian Ge Xing]()
18. Shao Nian Ge Xing
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: The best non-romance wuxia you will ever watch.
Mood: Light-hearted and adventure feel.
Romance: Bromance.#wuxia
REVIEW -
![Chinese Paladin 4]()
19. Chinese Paladin 4
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: A hero’s journey through personal growth, love and friendship.
Mood: Goofy at first but after ep 12 very mature and serious.
Romance: Friends to lovers.
#xuanhuan -
![Qi Zinzhao]()
20. Qi Zinzhao
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Six youths on a self-discovery journey with romance, friendship & adventure.
Mood: Mix of light-hearted and emotional.
Romance: Friends to lovers.#xuanhuan
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![The Seventh Generation]()
21. The Seventh Generation
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: The love story between the God of War and a Fairy and their seven lives together.
Mood: Mostly light-hearted with some emotional vibes.
Romance: Star-crossed lovers#xianxia
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![Lang Jun Bu Ru Yi]()
22. Lang Jun Bu Ru Yi
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Beauty and the beast vibes but in a goofy mode.
Mood: Very light-hearted with some emotional vibes.
Romance: Forced marriage.#xuanhuan
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![The Legend of Gu and Jue]()
23. The Legend of Gu and Jue
Chinese Drama - 2021, 49 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Like a real folklore tale filled with romance, emotional scenes and epic magic battles.
Mood: Emotional.
Romance: First love.#xianxia
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![Lost You Forever]()
24. Lost You Forever
Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: A slow paced and mature themed story.
Mood: Mature and emotional.
Romance: Reverse-harem.#xuanhuan
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![The Long Ballad]()
25. The Long Ballad
Chinese Drama - 2021, 49 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: A story about personal growth, overcoming challenges, friendships, love, justice and peace.
Mood: Mature and emotional.
Romance: Friends to lovers#historical
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![Different Princess]()
26. Different Princess
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Murder crimes with slow burn romance where modern girl falls for the villain of her story.
Mood: Mix of light-hearted with some emotional vibes.
Romance: Arranged marriage.#historical #transmigration
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![A Journey to Love]()
27. A Journey to Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: It's about the journey, not the destination. Rescue mission & revenge.
Mood: Mix of light-hearted and emotional.
Romance: Rivals to lovers.#historical
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![Le You Yuan]()
28. Le You Yuan
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
RECOMMEND
Drama: Merge of Mr. & Mrs. Smith + Romeo & Juliette romance + War.
Mood: Mix of romantic and emotional.
Romance: Rivals to lovers.#historical
