Last updated on June 5th, 2026 at 11:38 pm
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Xianxia dramas are exclusive to the Chinese entertainment industry, and that’s honestly the main reason I keep coming back for more. I am HOOKED on this genre, and so are millions of people worldwide. This term might be foreign to drama beginners, so let’s discuss the genre description first.
What is Xianxia?
Xianxia dramas are fantasy. They involve immortality, whether the main characters are already immortal — such as gods, demons, or spirits — or humans seek to cultivate it.
This genre transcends realms, often combining one or more of the heavenly, spiritual, demonic, and mortal realms. Expect a lot of angst; common themes include reincarnation, forbidden love, hidden identities, and amnesia. It’s also CGI-heavy, as wielding magic involves hand gestures and movements.
In addition, these shows are often longer, typically comprising at least 36 episodes in a drama series.
It’s by far the most popular genre in the Chinese entertainment industry. Historical costumes, set design, and actors’ appearances make it a visual feast.
Did I get your attention now?
Great!
Here are the top 20 best xianxia dramas you HAVE to watch!
Best Xianxia Dramas List
1) The Legend of Shen Li
In this drama, Zhao Li Ying plays an immortal lord named Shen Li. She falls into the mortal world when injured in a fight and is saved by a mortal, Xing Yun. She discovers there’s more to him than what meets the eye.
The Legend of Shen Li is the second project that stars Zhao Li Ying and Lin Geng Xin. They worked together in Princess Agents, and fans have been rallying for them to collaborate again.
They got their wish a mere few years later with this drama, The Legend of Shen Li, a genre in which Zhao Li Ying excels. She has been in her fair share of xianxia dramas, including The Journey of Flower and The Legend of Chu Sen. They’re all pretty successful, too, so this is in her lane!
2) Chinese Paladin
It’s the oldest drama on this list, but it remains a good one.
Li Xiao Yao stumbles into an unknown land and meets Zhao Ling Er. Due to an unfortunate accident, he loses his memory and sees her as a stranger when they meet again.
Chinese Paladin had a significant impact on the industry. It was one of the pioneers of the xianxia genre and kick-started the long-lasting acting careers of Hu Ge and Liu Yi Fei.
3) The Journey of Flower
When Hu Qian Gu was born, her strange scent attracted demons. She travelled to Chang Liu, an immortal sect, and met Bai Zi Hua, a highly revered immortal who oversaw the realms. She became his sole disciple.
This love story between a master and a disciple became a huge hit. Zhao Li Ying was already gaining traction after her 2013 drama The Legend of Lu Zhen, but this propelled her into the A-list as a TV actress.
It’s a classic xianxia drama that I still rewatch from time to time. I can’t imagine any other actor being a better Hu Qian Gu than Zhao Li Ying.
4) Chinese Paladin 3
Following the massive success of Chinese Paladin, the Chinese entertainment industry continued to develop this interconnected series with seasons 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Chinese Paladin 3 will always be remembered fondly for featuring many big-name Chinese celebrities, including Yang Mi, Hu Ge, Tiffany Tang, Liu Shi Shi, and Wallace Huo. Since the salaries of Chinese actors have been incrementally increasing, there is rarely enough budget to accommodate two big-name stars, let alone five.
Although released in 2009, this show still generates significant buzz. Xianxia fans, including me, will always fondly remember this drama.
5) Love and Redemption
Chu Xuan Ji is born without her six senses and meets Si Feng, a talented disciple from the Yu Ze Palace who is forbidden to fall in love. On her journey to recover her senses, she meets new friends, overcomes obstacles, and learns who she truly is.
Love and Redemption is one of my favourite Chinese dramas because the chemistry between Yuan Bing Yan and Cheng Yi was sizzling.
There are only a few onscreen CPs (couple pairings) that I felt strongly about, and this is one of them.
Cheng Yi was smart in being involved in this project. Following this drama, he became a leading actor in TV historical dramas alongside Luo Yunxi.
6) Ashes of Love
Ashes of Love was what revived Yang Zi’s originally dying career. In this drama, she plays Jin Mi, a clueless, sheltered girl who was forced to take a loveless pill as a child. She saves Xu Feng, the prince of the heavenly realm, and he brings her back to his home, exposing her to a whole new world.
When Jin Mi is manipulated into thinking Xu Feng killed her dad, she kills him as revenge on her wedding day to another man. She discovers the truth and does whatever it takes to revive Xu Feng.
Ashes of Love is a xianxia drama filled with angst that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. Although watching Jin Mi initially was painful for many people, she undergoes immense character development, so don’t give up on this drama so soon.
7) Back from the Brink
A jaded dragon King, Tian Yao, was betrayed by his human lover and almost died. His dragon scales landed on a human baby, Yan Hui. He finds us and is determined to use her to recover fully.
I’m surprised this drama doesn’t have a higher rating and isn’t talked about more. I think it’s partly because the two leads, Zhou Ye and Hou Ming Hao, are rising stars. They are not as established as some other actors on this list, so they have fewer fans. Therefore, distribution companies might not be as willing to promote the series.
8) Till the End of the Moon
Li Su Su goes back in time to stop the devil lord, Tan Tai Jin, from destroying the world by extracting his evil bone. She assumes the identity of Ye Xi Wu, the spoiled younger daughter of a general.
Bai Lu should be a familiar name in the historical drama genre, as most of her film projects are in this category. Her modern drama with Luo Yun Xi, Love is Sweet, was well received by audiences, so they paired up again in the xianxia drama Till the End of the Moon.
This drama gets dark and twisty, so you’re in for a wild ride.
9) Moonlight Mystique
Moonlight Mystique is about a human female, Bai Shuo, seeking immortality to repay her benefactor. Along the way, she meets the demon lord Fan Yue.
Bai Lu has starred in many historical dramas, but this pairing still feels fresh, as Ao Rui Peng isn’t as well-known to the public. Their chemistry could have been stronger, yet the storyline, music, costumes, set design, and character development still make this a compelling drama.
10) Ancient Love Poetry
Zhou Dong Yu is an actress who primarily works in the Chinese movie industry, but she also made a notable TV appearance in the drama Ancient Love Poetry alongside Xu Kai. In this drama, she plays Shang Gu, who becomes entangled with Bai Jue, a powerful immortal who mentors her in unlocking her powers.
If you like Zhou Dong Yu in movies, don’t forget to watch this drama. The TV industry isn’t her primary focus, so there will not be as many opportunities to catch her on a small screen.
With the public’s hostile reception of her appearance in this drama, I doubt she is eager to return to the TV industry scene.
11) Eternal Love
It’s about a love story that spans three lifetimes.
Yang Mi plays Bai Qian, a nine-tailed fox and the youngest child of the Fox King. She becomes a disciple of Mo Yuan, the God of War. Seventy thousand years later, Bai Qian lands in the mortal realm without her memories and is now known as Su Su. She meets and rescues Ye Hua, the crown prince of the heavenly realm, without either of them knowing their true identity.
Yang Mi and Mark Chao might be an unexpected couple, but it’s a must-watch thanks to their chemistry, a solid storyline, and lovable supporting characters.
12) Eternal Love of Dream
If you enjoyed watching Dilraba and Gao Wei Guang’s story in Eternal Love, you’ll finally get to see their drama unfold in Eternal Love of Dream. Dilraba and Gao Wei Guang reprise their roles as Bai Feng Jiu, a nine-tailed fox, and Dong Hua Di Jun, a heavenly emperor.
Although they were only supporting characters in Eternal Love, this pairing became so popular that they have their own spinoff story. Dilraba’s representative work will always include this character; it’s her best character yet.
13) The Blue Whisper
Chang Yi, a merman, is captured. The goal is for him to cut off his tail willingly because it has divine powers. The clan delegates the spiritual master, Ji Yun He, to complete this mission. She is reluctant to do so, but must decide between her freedom and his.
This story is unique because xianxia dramas don’t usually feature mermaids as characters. Dilraba, one of the two top actresses of the 90s, was the lead actress, which helped the drama garner considerable attention.
(When the drama aired in 2022, it was split into two seasons. A TV show cannot have more than 40 episodes in a single season. So, shows like Immortal Samsara, Love Like the Galaxy, and Lost You Forever had to split the drama into two seasons to air it successfully. Although these are two distinct parts, there is a seamless transition from one season to the next. Each season is a continuation of the drama.)
14) The Starry Love
The Starry Love is about two human sisters whose marriage carriages get switched on their wedding day. The mischievous Ye Tan marries into the heavenly realm, while the gentle Qing Kui marries into the demon realm.
This synopsis might sound familiar because the plotline is essentially the drama “Wrong Carriage, Right Groom” in a xianxia setting.
The Starry Love has the typical drama and angst. It also leans into the comedy side to make the show lighter. With the same team as The Blossoming Love and Ashes of Love, you’ll find similarities in all three dramas.
15) When Destiny Brings the Demon
When Destiny Brings the Demon was a surprise to me because I had zero expectations for that drama.
It’s about a modern office woman who is transported to the xianxia world. She joins Sima Jiao’s staff, a powerful and feared cultivator who has been imprisoned for 500 years. At first, he is wary of her as he is used to everyone wanting to benefit from him. To his surprise, she is unambitious and wants to live a relaxed life. She slowly thaws his walls and becomes an unlikely couple.
The drama features Chen Fei Yu, best known for Lighter and Princess. He works with actress Wang Ying Lu, known for her role as Feng Bao Bao in the drama, I am Nobody (which I never watched).
This delightful drama will have you hooked with its storyline and pace.
16) Legend of Chusen
This is another xianxia drama starring Li Yi Feng. In it, he plays Zhang Xiao Fan, who becomes an orphan overnight after his entire community is killed. He becomes a disciple of Qing Yun and meets Bi Yao and Lu Xue Qi.
Legend of Chusen features a star-studded cast including Li Yi Feng, Zhao Li Ying, Yang Zi, Cheng Yi, Qin Jun Jie, Tang Yi Xin, Liu Xue Yi, Jackson Yee, and others.
For Li Yi Feng fans, Legend of Chusen is one of his last xianxia dramas. He was blacklisted from the entertainment industry in 2022. Despite his personal life, this is still a xianxia drama people rewatch for the rest of the cast and storyline.
17) The Blossoming Love
The Blossoming Love is a story of forbidden love between the demon saintess, Mu Xuan Ling, and the leader of Snow City, Xie Xue Chen. It’s the girl chasing after the guy, so that the dynamic will remind you a little of Yuan Bing Yan in My Sassy Princess.
Sun Zhen Ni gained recognition as the second female lead in Till the End of the Moon. Now, she has evolved into a female lead and has considerable potential. She made me fall in love with her character, Mu Xuan Ling.
Mu Xuan Ling is one of my all-time favourite characters in Chinese dramas!
18) Love You Seven Times
The War God, Chu Kong, and Xiang Yun are tied together for seven lifetimes. Together, they experience trials and tribulations in the mortal and heavenly realms.
Yang Chao Yue started as an idol but transitioned into acting. Although she has faced numerous criticisms during her acting career, she has shown some improvement in Love You Seven Times.
Her counterpart, Ding Yu Xi, shows excellent potential and is among the top 95’er actors. His popularity soared in Romance of Tiger and Rose and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy.
19) Love Between Fairy and Devil
This is a classic ‘good girl, bad boy’ story, xianxia edition. When Xiao Lan Hua accidentally releases the imprisoned Dong Fang Qing Cang, she becomes entangled in her feelings for him. Her kindness slowly melts Dong Fang Qing Cang’s heart, and they fall in love despite being in opposite sects.
Love Between Fairy and Devil is another one of my all-time favourite Chinese dramas. This is one of the best Chinese fantasy dramas, mainly due to the romantic storyline between the two actors. Yu Shu Xin and Dylan Wang have one of the strongest CP fandoms out there. This drama was released in 2022, but even years later, their fandom still gets excited when they catch glimpses of them interacting.
20) Love In the Clouds
Love in the Clouds is another xianxia drama I fell in love with in 2025. There’s Lu Yu Xiao, who blew up from being a supporting character to getting lead roles after being in the drama My Journey to You.
Hou Ming Hao might also be a familiar face for those deep into the C-drama fandom. Their pairing was unexpected, but they had good onscreen chemistry.
There also weren’t any of the typical xianxia tropes: amnesia, reincarnation, or multiple lifetimes (Okay, I have to clarify that I am not complaining. I can forever watch these types of tropes when done correctly).
The refreshing pair of actors, along with the captivating storyline, made me rush to press play every time an episode was released during its airing.
I have my eyes on Lu Yu Xiao. She has proven herself as an actress, but not enough people know about her yet. I believe she will continue to gain popularity and am rooting for her.
Why Your Favourite Chinese Stars Have Been in Xianxia Dramas
One of the fastest ways to become popular in the C-drama world is to star in a xianxia drama. This worked for many TV actors, including Zhao Li Ying, Cheng Yi, Yang Zi, Yu Shu Xin, Wang He Di, Liu Yi Fei, Hu Ge, Liu Shi Shi, Tang Yan, and others.
These actors have had multiple acting projects, but xianxia dramas boosted their careers.
That’s why many of your favourite actors and actresses have appeared in at least a few xianxia dramas to cement their status.
Final Thoughts – Best Xianxia Dramas
If you haven’t delved into this genre yet, this list of xianxia dramas will offer plenty of content. Although there are many more xianxia dramas, I have handpicked these as the best to watch.
Head over to video streaming platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Viki, where you’ll find most of these shows online. It’s the perfect way to unwind after stressful times (sadly, there are too many of these in life).
So, what are you waiting for?
Join the list with millions of people and obsess over xianxia dramas!
Now to You – Best Xianxia Dramas
If you’ve already watched multiple xianxia dramas, which was your favourite?
If you haven’t dived into this world yet, which drama on this list interests you the most?
Let me know in the comment section down below!
Xoxo,
Nicole
