Although the Chinese film industry experienced a sluggish start in the first half of 2025, television dramas continued to thrive. The most recent hit, Legend of Zang Hai—a 40-episode historical fantasy aired on CCTV-8, the Central Television Station’s drama channel, and streamed on Youku—has garnered over 1.3 billion views. The show also topped the charts on Disney+ in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and appeared on trending charts in countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Starring the popular yet controversial actor Xiao Zhan, the series follows the rise of a young orphan as he seeks revenge and ascends to become the imperial court’s chief astronomer, wielding significant influence. Viewers have praised its fast-paced storytelling, striking cinematography, intricate set design, and rich portrayal of traditional Chinese culture.

Aside from Legend of Zang Hai, numerous notable television series have emerged during the first six months of the year, spanning historical epics, urban family sagas, crime thrillers, and period romances. Here’s our look at some of the standouts:

What a Wonderful World 在人间

Xu Tian (Yin Fang), a systems engineer and part-time ride-share driver, volunteers for a research institute’s beta test of a new intelligent machine—one that gives him the power to control dreams, including those of others. After his first attempt is interrupted by a call from Jia Xiaoduo (Zhao Liying), Xu later enters her dream, posing as her, to find out whether this frequent passenger and secret crush might feel the same way about him. The two eventually fall in love, but Xu begins to lose his grip on reality, blurring the lines between himself, Jia, and the dream.

Released on May 28, this fantasy drama, directed by Xu Bing, has drawn polarized reviews, earning a modest 6.7 out of 10 on the review platform Douban. Many viewers, along with media outlets like New Weekly magazine, applauded the show for its unfettered imagination and novel depiction of the inner world of those with multiple personality disorder. Some even hailed it as a reflection of humanity’s “ultimate loneliness,” drawing comparisons to Christopher Nolan’s 2010 sci-fi classic Inception for its shared themes of dreams, love, and redemption. However, others find the story confusing, criticizing it for using the so-called “stream of consciousness” as an excuse for weak plotting. “[The director] might have got ‘Nolan’s syndrome,’ but fail to achieve Nolan’s success,” a popular comment on Douban reads.

Forget You Not 忘了我记得

Cheng Le-le (Hsieh Ying-xuan) works at a convenience store by day and performs stand-up comedy at night. Her life is, in many ways, a mess—caring for a father with Alzheimer’s, mourning the recent loss of her long-absent mother, and going through a divorce. Yet she remains stubborn and resilient to the core, getting through it all with the help of her two best friends: one a mother of two, the other what some might call a classic “childless cat lady.”

Some critics have pointed out its similarities to the popular American drama The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, with both centering on middle-aged women who found themselves through stand-up comedy. But beyond that surface resemblance, the two share little else in common. Forget You Not centers more on the pain and struggle of caring for an aging father who’s slowly losing himself, despite a previously distant father-daughter relationship.

Directed by actress Rene Liu, the eight-episode Netflix series clearly draws inspiration from her own life: Liu grew up in a single-parent household, her father was a seaman—just like Cheng’s father—and her grandmother had Alzheimer’s. But the series is more than just a reflection of Liu’s story; it’s a vivid portrayal of a middle-aged divorcee who finds herself unemployed, off balance, and losing momentum in life, but still manages to find the courage to start over.

The show currently holds a strong rating of 8.3 on Douban.

The Lost National Treasure 护宝寻踪

In the winter of 2002, lion dancers in rural Xi’an leap and twist through the air, stilt walkers move gracefully above the crowds, and spectators jostle shoulder to shoulder. But beneath the festive atmosphere, a group of tomb raiders uses the sound of firecrackers to mask the blast opening a tunnel into an ancient tomb. Before they can descend into the pit that night, however, another group beats them to it, resulting in the looting and overseas trafficking of treasured black pottery figurines from the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE).

Based on a true story, The Lost National Treasure uses a near-documentary approach to strip away the thrilling allure of tomb-raiding tales, exposing the harsh realities of looting, international repatriation, and legal battles. The show portrays the police, archaeologists, and tomb raiders all as fully developed characters, and even lets a villain drive the entire story. While some viewers feel that having all the characters speak in the Shaanxi dialect added a sense of realism, it also made the show harder to follow, especially for those unfamiliar with the local accent.

The show currently holds a 7.2 rating on Douban—an impressive feat for a domestic production without a star-studded cast.

A Love Never Lost 人生若如初见

Set on the eve of the Qing dynasty’s collapse, Liang Xiang (Li Xian), a marginalized young member of the Manchu imperial clan, is sent to Japan to study modern military affairs. Among his fellow students are a revolutionary and a warlord’s follower. While abroad, Liang falls in love with Xie Shuhong (Chun Xia), a young woman who has fled her family to escape an arranged marriage. Later in life, their vastly different political beliefs inevitably pull them to opposite sides of history.

Originally released with six episodes on the streaming platform iQiyi in 2022, the show was swiftly taken down for “technical reasons.” Some suspect its unusual focus—a Qing aristocrat and monarchist as protagonist—may have been seen as controversial, diverging from the more common revolutionary narratives in early 20th-century period dramas, such as The Age of Awakening (2021). The show also drew criticism for including a plotline in which the male lead rapes his love interest. Critics condemned this choice, while some fans defended the show, arguing that a protagonist does not need to be morally upright if the story as a whole is compelling. Despite the backlash, the series earned a 7.3 rating on Douban.

Endless Protection 无尽的尽头

With a blood-stained iron hanger, a palm marked by burn scars, and the hesitant testimonies of neighbors, Endless Protection paints a chilling portrait of juvenile crime. Centered on the work of a juvenile prosecution team, this legal drama explores six cases—including bullying on campus, sexual abuse, and child abduction—many of them based on real-life cases, such as a middle schooler who fell to his death after a severe beating by a classmate.

Over its 24-episode run, the series also explores the root causes of juvenile crime, highlighting the influence of family, school, and society on adolescent development. The drama also advocates for juvenile justice reforms, such as conditional non-prosecution, to better shield minors from falling into a cycle of serious crime.

To prevent further harm, the series takes a nuanced approach, avoiding graphic depictions of bullying and the fear experienced by young victims. Instead, it tells the story through the eyes of the prosecutors, offering a more empathetic lens on these difficult issues. The show currently holds an impressive 8.3 rating on Douban.

A Better Life 蛮好的人生

Set in modern Shanghai, A Better Life follows 39-year-old insurance professional Hu Manli (Sun Li) as she works to rebuild her decade-long career after simultaneously losing both her job and her marriage. Through her journey, she uncovers the truth behind her career downfall, resolves misunderstandings with former colleagues, and ultimately regains her place in the industry.

In collaboration with China Pacific Insurance, the 36-episode hit (rated 6.4 on Douban) also highlights the difficulties faced by insurance professionals, addressing issues like disputes in elderly care communities and hurdles in critical illness insurance claims. The series also explores broader everyday topics such as healthcare, marriage, and parent-child relationships through various storylines.

Unlike typical youth romances, the workplace drama presents a mature narrative focused on resilience and personal growth. While many have praised the authentic Shanghai setting and the standout performances of the lead characters, some insurance workers have criticized the portrayal of unethical sales tactics, including the fabrication of customer signatures, depicted in the drama.

Playing Go 棋士

Set in a southern Chinese city in the early 2000s, Cui Ye (Wang Baoqiang) is an unassuming go teacher, often sidelined at work. At home, he lives in the shadow of his older brother—an upright detective captain whom even Cui’s own son sees as a father figure. One day, Cui is accidentally caught up in a bank robbery. To survive, he helps the robbers escape through a hidden passage, relying on his sharp memory and keen perception. The experience awakens something in him. Cui decides to hatch a scheme to swindle one of the city’s wealthiest and most corrupt businessmen—a man who also happens to be the patron of Cui’s school and someone Cui has long been forced to flatter. But his unusual behavior doesn’t go unnoticed. Cui’s brother begins to suspect something, and the chase is on.

First gaining fame for portraying characters with hidden depth beneath an innocent exterior, actor Wang Baoqiang delivers a grounded and powerful performance—strikingly different from his exaggerated comedic role as the titular detective in the Detective Chinatown series (2015–2025). Playing Go received a 7.4 rating on Douban.

Flourished Peony 国色芳华

Adapted from the web novel of the same name and set in the Tang dynasty (618 – 907), Flourished Peony follows He Weifang (Yang Zi), the daughter of a merchant, who is traded into a loveless marriage, along with a sizable dowry, in exchange for what is believed to be a life-saving cure for her ailing mother. She later manages to secure a divorce and travels to the capital, Chang’an. There, through her talent for cultivating peonies and sharp business acumen, she builds a successful career as a florist, joined by several other women who have also endured hardship. Meanwhile, a quiet affection begins to blossom between her and her investor and landlord, Jiang Changyang (Li Xian), a seemingly mercenary official.

While many viewers have grown weary of the typical “female-lead series” and “costume romance drama”—a genre that has been around for over two decades—Flourished Peony still managed to top numerous audience rating charts following its January release. The show currently holds a strong 7.8 rating on Douban.

Beyond its focus on the female protagonist’s growth, Flourished Peony has also drawn praise for its exquisite costumes, intricate makeup, and historically authentic settings. Yang Zi’s performance earned her a Best Actress nomination at this year’s Shanghai TV Festival, with results expected in late June.

Its sequel, In the Name of Blossom, is expected to air next year.