Last updated on July 24th, 2026 at 10:28 am
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As one of the most visited platforms in the world, YouTube is often everyone’s go-to place to stream video content.
Although all Chinese dramas have some video clips on YouTube, not all have complete shows there. Here are 15 of the best Chinese dramas with English subtitles on YouTube you can binge-watch at once.
Let’s get started!
Best Chinese Dramas on YouTube List
1) Reset
This modern thriller drama stars Zhao Jin Mai and Bai Jing Ting. It’s a 15-episode show about how two characters, Li Shi Qing and Xiao He Yun, are on a time loop of the same incident where a bomb killed all the passengers on the bus. They work together to escape the situation.
Reset keeps things fresh and entertains the audience despite the time loop. Since there are male and female leads, romance might be expected. However, the romance is minimal. Instead, the suspense will keep you in your seat, making you feel like a detective trying to solve the mystery with them.
2) The Journey of Flower
Along with Eternal Love, The Journey of Flower is always on many best Chinese drama lists, including mine. It is a classic show that will forever have a spot in people’s hearts.
Zhao Li Ying changed everyone’s mind with this student-teacher xianxia drama. I don’t say this often—or at least I don’t think I do about actors—but I feel she was born for this role. She showcased her diverse acting skills because of her character, Hu Qian Gu. Li Ying receives criticism for her appearance, aura, and personality, but rarely for her acting skills. You’ll see why when you watch this.
Also, don’t let the fact that this is an old show stop you from watching The Journey of Flower. The quality of this drama is pretty good for a 2015 show.
3) Empresses In the Palace
This iconic palace drama was released in 2011 but is still being quoted. It’s one of those shows where the actresses will forever be known as their characters because it’s just too good.
Although it’s not historically accurate (most Chinese dramas aren’t), the audience will gain a better understanding of what it was like to be a woman in the royal palace during historical times. Circumstances force you to grow, and they can be cruel in their demands for you to adapt and survive.
Empresses in the Palace is on the longer side, with 76 episodes. It will take dedication to follow the drama from start to finish. It does have a slower pace, though. Once you start watching the show, you’ll understand why it exploded in popularity.
4) Under the Skin
Most dramas I write about on my blog are romance-focused, but I’ll make some exceptions. The Chinese drama, Under the Skin, is one of them.
It’s a crime drama in which a portrait artist, Shen Yi, works with police detective Du Cheng. They clash at first but learn to work together to solve cases.
Police dramas are a dime a dozen, especially Hong Kong dramas. What makes this story unique is its focus on forensic art.
The show took a risk, and it paid off. It was well-received by the public and helped the actors’ careers. It’s what gave Tan Jian Ci a leg up in the industry and helped him secure his role in Lost You Forever (his character was also well-received there).
Watch this if you’re into thrillers and mystery dramas.
5) Eternal Love
You’ll already be familiar with this show if you’ve read several of my blog post roundups. It’s one of those Chinese dramas you’ll constantly see over and over again because it was a mega hit when it came out in 2017.
Yang Mi and Mark Chao’s love story in Eternal Love spans lifetimes and realms.
Although there is a constant debate about Yang Mi’s acting skills, she was able to silence her haters (at least for a bit) in Eternal Love. As always, Mark Chao gets complimented for his acting.
There is also a movie version titled Once Upon a Time, starring Liu Yi Fei and Yang Yang. Although these are two big stars, it doesn’t hit quite the same as the TV show.
6) Go Ahead
Go Ahead is a slice-of-life drama about three childhood friends — Li Jian Jian, Ling Xiao, and He Zi Qiu — who grow up together.
Go Ahead explores the different types of human relationships: familial, friendship, and romance. The plotline isn’t the most original, but the way it’s woven with relatable characters makes this show worth watching.
If you enjoy romance dramas, you should skip this one, as the relationship between the lead actors is weak.
Best Chinese Dramas on Youtube #7- Story of Yanxi Palace
Before the government ban, palace dramas were the rage in C-dramas. The Story of Yanxi Palace was one of the last palace harem dramas to air before this genre was no longer allowed.
It’s about a young girl entering the palace to find out who her sister’s murderer is.
As this drama is more of an idol drama, there will be a stronger emphasis on the actors’ visuals than Empresses in the Palace, even though they are in the same genre.
Multiple actors, including the supporting actresses, gained recognition for their roles in this show. The lead actors, Wu Jin Yan and Xu Kai, instantly gained fame from this show.
Wu Jin Yan excels in these vengeful yet strategic roles. In 2024, she proves herself again and experiences a career resurgence with The Double.
8) Put Your Head on My Shoulders
Put Your Head on My Shoulders is a romantic comedy about a female college student, Si Tu Mo, who moves in with a genius, Gu Wei Yi. They butt heads in the beginning, but soon slowly start to understand each other.
This is an excellent show for new fans of Chinese dramas. The show is only 24 episodes long, the plot is simple to follow, and the lead actors have nice chemistry. Sweet and laugh-out-loud moments will make you want to watch the drama until the very end.
9) Fall in Love
In the 1920s, Mu Wan Qing returned to China to be with her father, with whom she had a distant relationship. She meets Tan Xuan Lin, an army commander, and soon gets involved with him, as they each have their own goals.
This story features an enemies-to-lovers trope, with Mu Wan Qing and Tan Xuan Lin initially wary of each other before they open up to each other.
Their chemistry should feel pretty real. Rumour has it that the lead actors, Chen Xing Xu and Zhang Jing Yi, dated and broke up. The interviews were pretty awkward to watch when they had to do press together for the show. It’s entertaining for the audience, though!
10) Go Go Squid
Go Go Squid is next on the list of the best Chinese dramas on YouTube. In this drama, Yang Zi plays Tong Nian, a young female adult who falls for Han Shang Yan at first sight. She hilariously attempts to get close to the calm, closed-off Shang Yan.
One of the biggest complaints was Tong Nian’s character and lack of personality. Yes, she’s adorable and in love with him, but there can be more to her character.
If you can get over that, then it’s a pretty sweet love story. These two make a fantastic onscreen couple.
How does Yang Zi have so much onscreen chemistry with many male co-stars? She and Li Xian are a fan favourite, though. When fans rallied for them to pair up again, they listened. They reunite in a 2025 drama titled Flourished Peony, set in a historical period and featuring characters from vastly different backgrounds.
11) Nirvana in Fire
In Nirvana in Fire, Hu Ge plays Lin Shu, who is renamed Mei Chang Su after a tragic accident leaves him an orphan.
This fantasy drama stars Hu Ge, Liu Min Tao, Wang Kai, and Liu Tao.
It’s another show that doesn’t center around romance, so it might not be as popular as other fantasy dramas like Eternal Love and The Journey of Flower. However, Nirvana in Fire does stand on its own. When it aired, the show received a positive reception from audiences for its plot, talented cast, and production quality.
12) A Love So Beautiful
Despite its simple plot—a cheerful girl chasing after a smart, popular, and cold guy —A Love So Beautiful has captured millions of hearts. It is one of the best-known school-campus Chinese dramas.
This drama evokes nostalgia, reminding you of your school days.
Both lead actors, Shen Yue and Hu Yi Tian, rapidly gained fame after this drama. She has the girl-next-door aura down pat. Producers must have felt the same because Shen Yue was also cast as Shan Cai in Meteor Garden, a Japanese manga that the Taiwanese TV show made popular.
The lead actor, Hu Yi Tian, had the potential to be a top star after this show. When you’re a rising star, there is a microscope on you. A leaked audio clip showed him talking smack about his co-star, Shen Yue. It was detrimental to his career because he was also caught with a woman. Fan girls fantasize about being with male actors, so his scandal shattered this illusion.
Regardless of his personal life, A Love So Beautiful remains one of the best Chinese dramas ever.
13) Legend of Chusen
Legend of Chusen is a 2016 xianxia drama starring many famous Chinese actors, including Cheng Yi, Yang Zi, Qin Jun Jie, Liu Xue Yi, Tang Yi Xin, Zhao Li Ying, and Jackson Yee.
It’s about Zhang Xiao Fan, who enters a cultivation sect and meets Bi Yao, a girl from the opposite sect.
Legend of Chusen was split into two seasons, although the reasons are unclear. Season two picks up right where season one left off, with the same cast.
Viewers drawn to this show for Zhao Li Ying might be disappointed by her screen time. Although she is listed as a main character in both seasons, her presence is lighter in season 2. It almost feels like she is more of a supporting character.
14) Meet Yourself
Liu Yi Fei is no stranger. In the Western world, she is best known for her role as Mulan in the 2020 Hollywood movie. In China, she is a household name.
She excels in Chinese historical dramas, but Meet Yourself is one of the rare times she appears in a modern drama. This feel-good show makes you want to travel within China.
When it comes to Chinese TV dramas, Yi Fei turns each one into gold almost every time. Her dramas are always highly rated (not for her acting, though) and have a lasting impact.
15) My Sassy Princess
My Sassy Princess is a short historical drama about a bold princess who flirts with the general, Shen Yan.
Most people are familiar with the lead actress, Yuan Bing Yan, from Love and Redemption. She was on hiatus for two years, and this was her comeback drama. Within that time frame, she improved on her acting skills and chose a role completely different than what she was mostly known for.
Unfortunately, this was Yuan Bing Yan’s last project before she was caught evading taxes. Like other celebrities who have done so, including Deng Lun, Fan Bing Bing, and Zheng Shuang, there seems to be zero leniency, so she shouldn’t be expected to come back onscreen as a public figure.
Fans can only rewatch shows like this when they miss her as an actress.
Final Thoughts – Best Chinese Dramas on YouTube
It’s incredibly frustrating only to watch YouTube clips of a show, but when you want to watch the whole drama, you can’t find it on that platform! That’s why this list was created, so you know exactly which shows have all the episodes. Now, you know which full c-drama to watch. Sit back, relax, and enjoy.
Now to You – Best Chinese Dramas on YouTube
Did you agree with this list? Let me know in the comment section down below!
Xoxo,
Nicole
