Top Ten Famous Chinese TV Dramas

TV dramas are used to record what happened, or to restore classic works, or to reflect various aspects of life, or to create through the author’s imagined storyline, which is very meaningful for the promotion of culture. Chinese TV dramas have a long history, many of which are adapted from classic historical works or stories. These TV series are still loved by audiences after many years. This post will bring you top 10 Chinese TV dramas.

1. Journey to the West 西游记

“Journey to the West”, also known as the CCTV version or the 86 version of “Journey to the West”, is adapted from the Ming Dynasty novelist Wu Chengen’s literary classic of the same name. It is a 41-episode costume myth drama produced by China International Television Corporation. Directed by Yang Jie, co-written by Dai Yinglu, Yang Jie, and Zou Yiqing, starring Liu Xiaolingtong, Xu Shaohua, Chi Chongrui, Wang Yue, Ma Dehua, Cui Jingfu, Yan Huaili, Liu Dagang, etc. Li Shihong, Li Yang, Zhang Yunming, Lipo, etc. Dub. As soon as the Spring Festival in 1986 was broadcast, it caused a sensation all over the country and was suitable for all ages. It was highly praised and created a myth of 89.4% of the ratings. It is still the most rebroadcasted TV series in winter and summer vacations. , has become a recognized unsurpassed classic.

2. A Dream of Red Mansions 红楼梦

The CCTV version of “A Dream of Red Mansions“, which premiered in 1987, is an ancient costume series produced by CCTV and the China TV Drama Production Center based on the famous Chinese classic literature “A Dream of Red Mansions”. It is directed by Mr. Wang Fulin, and many red scholars such as Zhou Ruchang, Wang Meng, Zhou Ling, Cao Yu and Shen Congwen participated in the production. The first 29 episodes of the play are basically faithful to the first 80 episodes of Cao Xueqin’s original work, and the main plot of the last 7 episodes still uses the last 40 episodes of Cheng Gaoben. In addition, the small reunion endings of Baoyu Zhongju, Lan Gui Qifang and Jiafu Zhongxing have been abandoned. The research results of Zhipi and Hongxue’s exploration of lost studies have revised the plots of Xiangling’s death, and recreated the plots of visiting the prison in the temple. After the play was broadcast, it received unanimous praise from the public and was replayed more than a thousand times.

3. Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三国演义

The 84-episode TV series “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” is adapted from “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, one of the four famous classics of Chinese classical literature, produced by China TV Drama Production Center and CCTV, with Wang Fulin as the chief director, Cai Xiaoqing, Zhang Shaolin, Sun Guangming, Zhang Zhongyi, Shen Hao is the director of the branch, starring Sun Yanjun, Tang Guoqiang, Bao Guoan, Wu Xiaodong, Lu Shuming, Li Jingfei, Hong Universe, Wei Zongwan, and Zhang Guangbei, with a total investment of 170 million yuan. The play tells the story of the Three Kingdoms period and the rise and fall of Wei, Shu and Wu. It focuses on the intricate, tense and sharp struggles between multiple political groups in troubled times; this struggle developed into a continuous struggle for political power and military conflicts, creating the situation from the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the early years of the Western Jin Dynasty for nearly a century. change.

4. Shanghai Beach 上海滩

“Shanghai Bund” is a drama of the Republic of China produced by Hong Kong TVB. It was directed by Zhao Zhenqiang and Tan Ruiming, and starred by Chow Yun-fat, Zhao Yazhi and Lu Liangwei. The play is set in Shanghai during the Republic of China, and describes the love and hatred of the characters in the Shanghai gang and the love story between Xu Wenqiang and Feng Chengcheng. The play was first broadcast on Hong Kong TVB in 1980, and was introduced to mainland China in 1985. In 1990, Hong Kong TVB held the selection of “Top Ten TV Dramas in the 1980s”, and “Shanghai Bund” ranked first.

5. Huanzhugege 1 还珠格格

“Huanzhu Gege” is an ancient costume Qing palace comedy adapted from Qiong Yao’s novel of the same name. It is directed by Sun Shupei and written by Qiong Yao himself. Ruby Lin, Su Youpeng, Zhou Jie, Chen Zhipeng, Zhang Tielin, Fan Bingbing and other co-stars. The play tells the story of Qianlong’s daughter, Ziwei, who went to Beijing to meet her long-lost father. When he was desperate, he met Xiao Yanzi, a female snitch, and became sisters. Xiaoyanzi tried to find a way to infiltrate the palace for her, but in a misunderstanding, she and Ziwei switched identities and became the “Huanzhugege” in the Qing palace and was deeply favored by Qianlong. The show was first broadcast on China Television in Taiwan on April 28, 1998; the highest ratings exceeded 62.8% after it was introduced to the mainland for broadcast on October 28, creating a rating record for Chinese TV dramas after statistics.

6. The Legend of the New White Snake 新白娘子传奇

“The Legend of the New White Snake” is a costume myth drama directed by Xia Zuhui and He Qi, starring Zhao Yazhi, Ye Tong, Chen Meiqi, etc. The play is based on “Legend of Leifeng Pagoda” by the owner of Yushan and “The Complete Biography of the White Snake” by the owner of Menghua Pavilion, and tells the love story between Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian. The drama premiered on Taiwan TV on November 15, 1992. In 1993, it was introduced to CCTV in mainland China for broadcasting; in the same year, the play won the gold medal of the 20th International Television Art Exhibition in Japan. In 2004, CCTV-1 and CCTV8 rebroadcasted and won the annual viewing champion of these two channels.

7. Bao Qingtian 包青天

“Bao Qingtian” is a full-length costume detective TV series produced by Taiwan’s Chunghwa TV Company in 1993. It was directed by Liang Kaicheng and Sun Shupei, and starred Jin Chaoqun, He Jiajin, Fan Hongxuan, Zhang Qian, etc. The play is based on Bao Zheng in the classic novel “Three Heroes and Five Righteousness” as a prototype and is adapted from folklore. It tells the story of 41 units of Bao Qingtian’s case, a total of 236 episodes, and became an epoch-making classic in the early 1990s. film and television works.

8. Legend of the Condor Heroes 射雕英雄传

“The Legend of the Condor Heroes” is a martial arts drama produced by Hong Kong TVB, adapted from Jin Yong’s novel of the same name, directed by Wang Tianlin, starring Huang Rihua, Weng Meiling, Miao Qiaowei, Yang Panpan, Zeng Jiang, Liu Dan, etc. The play is based on the confrontation between Song, Jin and Mongolia, and revolves around the stories of Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Yang Kang, and Mu Nianci. It tells the story of Guo Jing becoming a generation of heroes after experiencing various hardships and the love between him and Huang Rong story. The play is divided into three parts: the first is “The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Iron-blooded Heart”, with a total of 19 episodes; the second is “The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Evil and the West”, a total of 20 episodes; the third is “The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Huashan on the Sword”, a total of 20 episodes. The show premiered on TVB on February 28, 1983. This TV series was introduced in mainland China in 1985.

9. The Condor Heroes 神雕侠侣

“The Condor Heroes” is a TV series produced by Hong Kong Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd., directed by Li Tiansheng, written by Huang Guohui, Tang Jianping, Zhao Jingrong, Chen Baoyan, and starring Gu Tianle, Li Ruotong, Fu Mingxian, Li Qihong, Zhang Keyi, Su Yuhua, etc. The play is adapted from Jin Yong’s martial arts novel of the same name, “The Condor Heroes”. It mainly tells the story of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu’s poignant love and grievances in the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty. TV Emerald Channel premiered.

10. Tianlong Babu 天龙八部

“Tian Long Ba Bu” is an ancient costume martial arts love drama adapted from Jin Yong’s novel of the same name. It was filmed by Hong Kong TVB and directed by Li Tiansheng. The play tells that in the face of troubled times, Xiao Feng, Xu Zhu, and Duan Yu started an extraordinary career in the arena. The villains and other masters of all kinds, life and death love, love and hate separation, national righteousness in karma and other stories. On July 28, 1997, it premiered on Hong Kong TVB Jade Channel.
See Also: Three Chinese TV Dramas To Be Watched by Businessmen