The 22 Best Chinese Period Dramas of All Time

From imperial palace intrigue to sword-wielding immortals soaring through mythical realms, this lineup spans dynasties, genres, and blockbuster fandoms alike. Cast your vote!

1. 1
   Nirvana in Fire

   A 2015 political revenge epic following a disgraced general's adopted son as he maneuvers the imperial court to clear his family's name.
   1000pts
2. 2
   The Untamed

   A 2019 xianxia fantasy following two cultivators reuniting years after a war that shattered their clans and reputations.
   862pts
3. 3
   The Story of Ming Lan

   A 2018 Song dynasty drama about an overlooked daughter who uses wit and patience to secure her family's standing.
   665pts
4. 4
   Legend of Chusen

   A 2022 xianxia epic based on a landmark cultivation novel, following a young disciple drawn into a war between immortal sects.
   664pts
5. 5
   Love Between Fairy and Devil

   A 2022 xianxia fantasy about a mischievous flower fairy who accidentally bonds her soul to a feared devil king.
   596pts
6. 6
   The Story of Yanxi Palace

   A 2018 Qing dynasty palace drama about a sharp-witted maid who claws her way up the ranks to outwit the imperial court.
   596pts
7. 7
   Ashes of Love

   A 2018 fantasy romance between a flower goddess and a wounded phoenix god caught between duty and forbidden love.
   596pts
8. 8
   Story of Kunning Palace

   A 2023 time-loop palace drama in which an empress relives her life to outwit the husband who once destroyed her family.
   596pts
9. 9
   Word of Honor

   A 2021 wuxia drama about two former rivals from rival martial sects who journey together across the jianghu.
   596pts
10. 10
    Legend of Fuyao

    A 2018 xianxia epic following an orphaned girl with a mysterious destiny who rises to become a legendary cultivator.
    596pts
11. 11
    The Rise of Phoenixes

    A 2018 political drama following an exiled prince and a disguised female strategist scheming for the throne.
    596pts
12. 12
    Empresses in the Palace

    A 2011 Qing dynasty drama chronicling a naive concubine's ruthless rise to power inside the Forbidden City's harem.
    423pts
13. 13
    Love and Destiny

    A 2019 xianxia romance between a god of war and a half-goddess destined to face a cosmic prophecy together.
    310pts
14. 14
    Princess Agents

    A 2017 wuxia drama following a fierce slave girl who rises to become a powerful spy and military strategist.
    310pts
15. 15
    Scarlet Heart

    A 2011 time-travel romance in which a modern woman wakes up in the Qing dynasty and gets entangled in a deadly succession struggle.
    310pts
16. 16
    Lost You Forever

    A 2023 mythological romance following a half-human queen torn between duty to her people and forbidden love.
    310pts
17. 17
    Joy of Life

    A 2019 political fantasy about a modern soul reborn in a feudal empire who uses his knowledge to outsmart court intrigue.
    310pts
18. 18
    Journey of Flower

    A 2015 xianxia drama about a demon-hunting sect leader who falls for the disciple destined to bring ruin to the world.
    310pts
19. 19
    A Dream of Splendor

    A 2022 Song dynasty drama about three women rebuilding their lives and a teahouse business in the capital.
    310pts
20. 20
    Legend of Miyue

    A 2015 Warring States epic dramatizing the rise of China's first empress dowager from neglected princess to ruler.
    310pts
21. 21
    The Longest Day in Chang'an

    A 2019 Tang dynasty thriller tracking a disgraced ex-convict racing to stop a terrorist plot within a single day.
    0pts
22. 22
    Eternal Love

    A 2017 xianxia romance following an immortal fox goddess navigating love and war across three lifetimes.
    0pts

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