Chinese dramas, Q3 2026: the quarter in review
Editors Β· 2026-10-06
Fifty-seven Chinese dramas premiered between July and September 2026. Hits emerged across genres including workplace romance, historical drama and mystery adventure, and a title released simultaneously overseas on Netflix climbed near the top of the global chart for non-English TV.
Because most Chinese dramas debut on streaming platforms, this roundup looks at performance mainly through platform viewing share and each platform's own popularity index. The shares below are daily shares of effective plays from the market research firm Yunhe Data (Enlightent), and the popularity indexes of different platforms cannot be compared directly.
Against the Current β a historical drama that broke a 40% share
It began streaming on Tencent Video on September 11 and also aired on CCTV-8. Across 47 episodes, the daughter of a distinguished family ruined by a false charge of treason enters her former fiancΓ©'s household as a maid and survives by hiding her identity. Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi star, and it is based on He Yanshan's novel Lan Xiang Yuan.
Its Yunhe share climbed steadily from 4.9% on day one to a high of 42.6%, making it the 10th title in Yunhe's records to pass 40%. It streamed internationally on Disney+ and WeTV.
Against the CurrentView title details βThe Early Spring β three straight weeks at No. 2 in non-English TV on Netflix
A 24-episode workplace romance released on Youku on August 26. Shang Zhitao (Sun Qian), a new hire at a global advertising agency in Beijing, and her sharp-tongued boss Luan Nian (Jing Boran) build both their love and their careers over 10 years. It is based on a web novel by Guniang Bieku.
Released the same day on Netflix in the United States and most other regions, it ranked No. 2 on the global chart for non-English TV for three consecutive weeks and was No. 1 in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam. In China it held the No. 1 daily spot on Yunhe from August 29.
The Early SpringView title details βMystic Nine β a follow-up set in the world of The Mystic Nine
A 30-episode mystery adventure released on Youku on July 30. When more than 100 soldiers under Zhang Qishan vanish without a trace, the heads of Changsha's nine clans join forces to investigate both the political situation above ground and the secrets of ancient tombs below. It continues the world of 2016's The Mystic Nine, with original author Nanpai Sanshu as executive producer. William Chan, Zeng Shunxi and Chen Yao star.
Its Youku popularity index passed 10,000 within 50 hours of release, the fastest of the year, and its Yunhe share peaked at 34.4%, with a total of 21 days at No. 1 in the daily rankings.
Mystic NineView title details βBlossoms of Power β a daughter of a ruined clan and a sickly crown prince join forces
A 36-episode historical drama released on Tencent Video on July 9. The daughter of an annihilated family returns in the guise of a commandery princess from the northwest and teams up with a crown prince who seems frail but hides his true intentions to fight conspiracies at court. Based on Jin Huang's novel Wo Hua Kai Hou Bai Hua Sha, it stars He Yu and Meng Ziyi.
Its Yunhe share rose from 7.1% on day one to 16.2%, taking the top spot. In Korea, it premiered early on TVING in September and has been airing on Junghwa TV since September 22.
Blossoms of PowerView title details βSpring of the Blade β streaming on both iQIYI and Youku
A 30-episode historical revenge drama released simultaneously on iQIYI and Youku on September 17. In the Southern Song dynasty, a girl who has lost her mother and a boy whose family has fallen into ruin meet in hard times and promise to protect each other; years later, they meet again amid the struggles of powerful families. Based on a novel by You Sijie, it stars Xu Kai and Zhou Ye. Internationally it was released on iQIYI's international service.
Spring of the BladeView title details βGenius Girlfriend β a coming-of-age romance about a girl with an IQ of 174
A 28-episode youth romance released on iQIYI on August 2. Lin Zhixia (Tian Xiwei), a science prodigy with an IQ of 174, and Jiang Yubai (Hu Yitian), a kind-hearted top student, meet as school rivals and, over many years, heal each other as they grow up. Based on a novel by Su Guangtong, it was also released the same day on iQIYI's international service.
Genius GirlfriendView title details β