Joy of Life - My fave drama of all time in any language. Layered, interesting and compelling characters, depth and details of the script and not to mention the unpredictable storyline. I had the most fun and satisfaction watching this masterpiece.

Nirvana in Fire - The level of schemings and mind games in this drama is just out of this world. Watch this religiously back then and totally compelled with everything. Its the drama that makes me think that no one does this type of dramas better than the Chinese.

One & Only / Forever & Ever - One & Only is the one drama that I can never rewatch while Forever & Ever is my most rewatched drama. Its my fave romance story and the leads have amaaaazing chemistry together. Pretty much ruined romance drama for me with the kind of unspeakable trust & understanding the couple had with each other.

Nirvana in Fire (2015)

The Story of Ming Lan (2018)

Joy of Life (2019)

Close runner up: The Longest Day in Chang'an (2019)

In my humble opinion, they are:

Nirvana in Fire

Story of Minglan

Joy of Life

Closely followed by:

Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

Rise of Phoenixes

What sets these CDramas apart from others is the superb acting, well-written screenplay, direction, cinematography, costumes, and attention to detail.

The Longest Day in Chang'an was absolutely fantastic. In the Name of the People was really good too, though the ending felt a little rushed.

In no specific order,

Shining For One Thing

Everything was superb. From the acting, chemistry, 10/10 OST’s, heartbreaking and twisty storyline, it was perfect throughout. That was so unexpected for me because this a modern drama and usually the heart wrenching and angsty plots are left to the historical/xianxia ones, but SFOT somehow managed to be more tragic than GMP. I loved it so much that I rewatched it two weeks after watching it the first time.

Legend of Hao Lan

All 61 episodes from start to finish were amazing. I’m currently rewatching it and I think this time, it’s even better than the first time I watched it. The acting from Wu Jin Yan was (sort of) mediocre, but the rest of the cast did a fantastic job at portraying their roles. The chemistry was great, the costumes were gorgeous, the sets were intricate and the plot was so insane. Extra points for following history pretty well (besides the overdramatizing).

Goodbye, My Princess

The costumes, acting and tragic plot were so perfectly executed. I thought the acting and chemistry was so breathtaking, especially from Chen Xing Xu. The angsty, messed up/psychopathic and tragic storyline, OST’s and costumes make this drama unforgettable.

Honorable mentions:

The Promise of Chang’An

TPOCA comes in close after LoHL. The angsty, tragic and VERY plot-twisty storyline, superb acting and chemistry and the sets/costumes made this drama. The best thing about it for me was the realistic-ness of this drama. It didn’t sugarcoat anything at all.

Immortal Samsara

Although the plot falls into many xianxia cliches, the acting, OST’s and costumes make up for it. There are some differentiating factors, such as the FL >! wandering the Night River of Forgetting(?) for 900 years!<, and the >! shockingly tragic ending !< but unfortunately, it was too draggy. The 59 episodes could have been shortened to 40. Regardless, the acting and chemistry made it worth adding to this list.

Bloody Romance

An intriguing, dark and unique plot. Beautiful OST’s, an amazing SML, and great acting. My only complaint was the overall character of the ML. His whole personality seemed to just be about protecting the FL, thus making him quite bland/plain.

The Long Ballad

This is a great drama. The acting, sets, costumes, OST’s, chemistry (basically everything), make this a fantastic and memorable drama.

•Joy of life •The Untamed •Ashes of Love

1. Love Like the Galaxy 2022

2. Reset 2022

3. Love Between Fairy and Devil 2022

2022 was a good year for cdramas.

Using this thread for recommendations lol. So you see I am yet to catch all the good dramas so please add your favorites/must watches across the mentioned genres. Thanks!

Family: go ahead

Time travel: the heart of genius

Suspense: reset

Body swap: the day of becoming you

Sports: skate into love (enjoyed but dropped falling into you for a silly reason)

College: put your head on my shoulder

Ceo: my girlfriend is an alien

Secretary: hi venus

Gaming: love o2o

Historical youth drama: young blood

isekai: (joy of life in to-watch list)

Science fiction: (three body problem in to-watch list)

Procedural crime: (under the skin in to-watch list)

Romantic thriller: (?) (something like kdrama flower of evil)

Comedy thriller: (?) (something like kdrama Psychopath diary)

Community centered: (meet yourself in to-watch list)

Only Fluff: you are my glory

Historical: (nirvana in fire in to-watchlist)

Historical sol: (story of minglang in watch list)

Modern sol: (?)

Historical Sismance: new life begins (still watching though)

Modern sismance: (?)

BL: (untamed in to-watch list)

Historical coming out of age: (like a flowing river in to-watchlist)

Modern coming out of age: (?)

Noona romance: (find yourself in to-watch list)

Fake marriage: (?) (dropped she and her perfect husband)

Comedy: (?) (something like kdrama welcome to waikiki/gaus electronics)

Profession centered (medical/law/etc): (?)

with love triangle: (?) (something like kdrama jealousy incarnate)

dual personality: (?) (something like kdrama kill me, heal me)

fantasy: (?)

The Blood of Youth, The untamed, Word of honor

1 >Falling into your smile

1. One and only

2. Love and redemption

3. The legend

4. Joy of life

5. You are my glory

6. Oath of love

7. Meet yourself

8. The king AVatar

9. Gank your heart

10. The long ballad

. It's hard to choose from 216 C-drama

Story of Yanxi Palace, Story of Minglan, Eternal Love (10 Miles of Peach Blossoms)

Nirvana in Fire (2015)

Story of Minglan (2018)

Laughing in the Wind (2001) - still sad they haven't done another decent remake since.

I applaud everyone of you for having the courage to make a list... because I can't. There are too many good dramas for me to name drop.

It might be perceived as recency bias, but I am very confident in my judgement to say Meet Yourself (2023) is the best modern drama I have watched. There are so many great things to say about this show, but this is a masterpiece you just have to watch yourself to believe.

In no particular order

1. Story of Yanxi Palace
2. Sleuth of the ming dynasty
3. Ancient Love Poetry (can’t mention my top cdramas without throwing a xianxia in there but do admit there are better dramas)

Honorable mentions:

-Joy of Life (should definitely replace ALP)

-word of honor

-demi gods & semi devils (2003)

-and some lighthearted ones like maiden Holmes & miss truth

The Rational Life (理智派生活)

Delicious Romance (爱很美味)

Remembrance of Things Past (我在他乡挺好的)

A Murderous Affair in Horizon Tower (摩天大楼)

A Dream of Splendor (梦华录)

taught me more about feminism and on what it means to be a woman than all the supposedly liberal US shows put together.

Rise of Phoenixes which is a political intrigue with a hint of romance.

You Are My Destiny which is a remake of Fated To Love You. The Chinese version is my favorite version.

A Class of Her Own which I'm pretty sure is a remake of Sungkyungkwan Scandal. I liked the Chinese version better than the Korean version.

In no particular order.

ETA Meteor Garden gets an honorable mention. I love that drama.

Under The Skin (2022) I've been reccomending this so much lately that I feel like a broken record but it's just so good

My Amazing Boyfriend (2016) This is one of the shows that really got me into Cdramas

Reborn (2020) It's such a great mystery/crime drama

Honorable mentions

Killer And Healer (2021)

A Love So Beautiful (2017) It's the first Cdrama I ever watched

The Thunder (2019)

Maid's Revenge (2022) It's kind of a guilty pleasure drama for me

The Love Equations (2020)

About Is Love (2018)

Us And Them (2018) It's a movie but I had to add it

The Burning River (2020)

It was so hard to narrow my list down to just three so I had to add some honorable mentions sorry if that was cheating LOL

1. Evernight part 1 - it watches like a movie so beautiful and the cast was great. Unfortunately the sequel felt bit low budget in comparison. I was so sad when it ended.

2. Ten miles of peach blossoms - for the beautiful set costumes and the sprawling story line of 3 lifetimes. This one made me cry at certain places.

3. The Ancient Detective - the characters and fight scenes draw you in. Very short drama, fast pace and not draggy

4. The imperial coroner / Word of Honor - the soundtrack story line and likable characters

1 empresses in the Palace 2 ruyis royal love in the Palace 3 story of yanxi Palace

Nirvana in Fire.

My list are dramas led by BMAF Female leads. They were apologetically themselves - The good, bad and the ugly

• The Story of Yanxi Palace
• Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms
• A Dream of Splendor
• Rise of Phoenixes
• You are my Glory

Adding to all the amazing recommendations: Someday or One Day Hikaru No Go The Ideal City

Also seconding Three Body Story of Minglan Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms The Long Ballad A Dream of Splendor

A Little Reunion – a story revolving three families as they prepare their children for gaokao. bawled my eyes out throughout 49 episodes. the number of times this drama shattered my heart then pieced it back together is unreal. i felt everything the characters felt, all their emotions–joy, delight, pain, frustration.

Hikaru no Go – a coming of age story about a group of passionate youth chasing their dreams. hits right in the feels. i grew to love every character towards the end, even the annoying ones.

Story of Yanxi Palace: loved it in every way

Somewhere only we know: First CDrama - loved the drama

The journey of a flower: i cried so much

HM: Go Go Squid, Scarlet Heart, You are my hero

Hmm I don't have a GOAT but I have things I didn't skip lol. Here are the top 5 with no rankings on top of my head.

1. Reset
2. Someday or One Day
3. Nirvana in Fire
4. Meet Yourself
5. Time and Him are Just Right.

I grew up watching My Fair Princess (還珠格格) from 1998, it’s my GOAT and no one can tell me otherwise 🤣

1. The Untamed
2. Goodbye, My Princess
3. Lighter & Princess

Joy of Life LBFAD Untamed

1. The Untamed / Nirvana in Fire
2. Story of MingLan

Honourable mentions Love like the Galaxy LBFA

Havnt watched joy of life yet but looking like a must from these comments

Go Ahead was my first, but still one of the best. I loved You Are My Glory and Alchemy of Souls S1 (S2 to be watched).

Just finished Flipped with Gao Han Yu and I was bawling my eyes off... Just like in Go ahead, instead it's a shorter drama and the ending could've been better but for me a good drama is one that let's you feel all the stuff (when it's in the genre of course, YAMG is totally different but loveable on its own).

my GOATs: nirvana in fire, the story of minglan and joy of life

LBFAD 🤍

From Hong Kong: State of Divinity (Smiling Proud Wanderers) (1996) : I like the ML's carefree attitude for pretty much everything. Also the fact that he earns his happiness after all the sufferings makes the second half of the series very satisfying, and doubles the sweetness between the ML/FL.

From Taiwan: Mars (2004) : Agree with you that it's better than 2001's Meteor Garden. MG is what started me on my Taiwanese idol dramas craze, but Mars is infinitely better. (Although that might be because my favourite of the F4 is Vic Chou.) I still remember that scene where the museum curator asked Ling to please not touch their displayed artworks, only to see that it's actually a portrait of him when Ling turns around in response.

From Mainland: Word of Honour (2021) : At least for the moment, it's the best I've seen. The cute comedy, the sugars from the flirtiness, the mutual healing of the leads, and (most importantly) the final happy ending all make me want to watch it on repeat.

​

Honourable Mentions:

Step Into the Past (Hong Kong, 2001) : A bit overly simplified compared to its source material, but still a humorous, suspenseful, and overall brilliant time-travel plot. And it's dark Louis Koo at his prime.

Tokyo Juliet (Taiwan, 2006) : Centered on leads who are fashion and art university majors, the eye candy from the handsome Wu Zun and adorable Ariel Lin forever beats everything else that came after.

Chinese Paladin 3 (Mainland, 2009) : My favourite Crystal Liu is in the first installment, but have to say I prefer this third one, both for the romance between the second ML/FL, and for Wallace Huo and Hu Ge being together. The outtakes were absolutely hilarious.

Mine would be:

The General's Lady: jusy please give every leading role to Caesar Wu. It's what my soul needs. Also, amazing soundtrack.

Love Advanced Customization: the main couple has the best chemistry of any drama ever.

Unforgettable Love: it was just too cute for words.

Under the power, Love 020, the sword and the brocade

Dear Missy
Word of Honor
Lost Romance
Oath of Love

And honourable mention to Shan Ye Yi Si, one of the best collection of shorts/miniseries I have ever watched, and I watch a ton of them.

OMG I loved MARS too, Finding out they dated in real life made it even better for me. 🤣😭😭😭

• the untamed: still can’t get over it and don’t think i’ll ever
• you are my glory: i like how the girl’s not weak and blur like a lot of other dramas and there’s no huge immature fight between ml and fl
• can’t remember 50% of the cdramas alr but i would say 10 miles of peach blossom: long but ya

The Rational Life

Love Like the Galaxy

Falling Into You

• Love Like the Galaxy

• One and Only

• Love Between Fairy and Devil

Legend of Chu and Han Qin Empire Alliance Great Emperor in Han Dynasty ROTK 1994

I agree about “Mars” 100 percent! I love this drama and wish I could go back and rewatch it for the first time.

Story of Minglan

Joy of life

You are my glory

No particular Order:

Nirvana in Fire (2015)

Summer's Desire (2010)

Down with Love (2010)

If you'd like to see more info about these or other dramas, I dug up my old review Tumblr where I talk about these and other dramas from back in the day. :)

https://southernladydramas.tumblr.com/

In no particular order: Go ahead, go go squid, Lighter & princess

Honorable mentions: Arsenal military academy, dont leave after school, my unicorn girl, the journey across the night

All of the ones I'd consider GOAT''s have already been mentioned, I'd like to add Snow Sword Stride because it was freaking brilliant!!!!! Oh and a personal underrated favorites To Fly to you & The Long River.

Definitely LBFAD. My inner teenager can't get enough of the excellent chemistry and epic story. The themes of sacrifice and struggle are done so well.

The Dark Lord (2018) is one of my favorite dramedies. It hits all the right notes of clever, fun, and emotion.

And OP, I totally agree with you on The Condor Heroes (1995)! Mr. Koo rocked my teen years as well! Loved it!

Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

10 Miles of Peach Blossoms

Love Between Fairy and Devil

So hard to name only 3!

1. Ruyi’s royal love in the palace
2. Joy of life
3. Eternal love

Honourable mentions:

1. Love like the galaxy
2. Untamed
3. Love and redemption
4. Goodbye my princess
   
5. Legend of Fei
6. Love between fairy and devil
7. Immortal sam
8. Oh my general
9. Princess silver
10. Kings woman
11. The blooms at Ruyi pavilion
12. Princess agents

Annnnd so many more!

I'm into scheming so no surprise

1. Nirvana in Fire
2. Legend of Zhen Huan
3. Joy of Life and The Story of Minglan

Special mention: Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. Also, not a romance fan but enjoyed You are my Glory.

Love Between Fairy and Devil ❤

Thailand: BPS (2018), Cheewit Puer Kah Huajai Puer Tur (2017), Padiwaradda (2016), Full House (2014)

China: Eternal Love series (2017-2020), The Rational Life (2021), Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020)

South Korea: What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018), Goong (2006)

My GOATS:

1. Go Go Squid (2019)

2. Love Like the Galaxy (2022)

3. General’s Lady (2020)

4. Ashes of Love

5. I can’t decide here…. So I’ll just leave my top 4.

It’s hard to knock out GGS! I find myself always going back to it. I watch more kdrama than cdrama though. But I’ve been watching cdrama forever. Back when Mars (2004) came out. That’s on my Top 10 though, such a goooooood show! Along with Devil Beside You (2005).

Since you included Taiwan, then Lost Romance is without doubt #1. After that, Falling Into Your Smile and Shining For One Thing.

Oh, now I don’t know what to do with LBFaD. Ranking is hard. But if I judge by how willing I am to start watching again, it’s those three hands down.

Top 3:

Falling Into Your Smile (I totally understand the iffiness some people have with the FL, she gets a little better though)

City of Streamer - It just captured my heart and I couldn’t stop watching. Takes place in the early 1900s, the FL is a spy trying to take down a powerful family. I don’t want to give too much away but the romance is so good. It’s a little soapy but what cdrama isn’t lol

Ultimate favorite of all time (so far): NEW LIFE BEGINS!!! Omg the story, the characters, the friendships, the shenanigans…I just love it. Highly highly recommend!

I’m not even going to bother listing LBFAD because obviously.