Top 10 Chinese Costume Dramas to Watch in 2025｜Romance, Revenge & Royal Intrigue

A Blockbuster Year for Chinese Costume Dramas 

2025 is shaping up to be a golden year for Chinese historical dramas. Whether you're a fan of fantasy, palace intrigue, tearjerking romances, or fierce female leads, this year's lineup delivers it all. With adaptations of bestselling novels, high-budget productions, and a star-studded cast roster, these costume dramas promise binge-worthy viewing and immersive storytelling. 

Below, we’ve handpicked the top 10 Chinese costume dramas you can’t miss this year. From recent premieres to upcoming releases, each title weaves together legend, love, and legacy. 

1. The Blossoming Love (千朵桃花一世開) 

Starring: Zhang Binbin, Sun Zhenni  

Platform: Youku  

Genre: Xianxia Romance, Reincarnation 

Adapted from Sui Yu Er An’s novel, Blossoms of a Thousand Lifetimes follows a soul-twisting love that defies gods and time. Once the revered Emperor Zhaoming sacrifices himself to save humanity, his beloved Chaos Pearl risks everything to preserve a sliver of his soul. Centuries pass. Reborn as the immortal sect leader Xie Xuechen (Zhang Binbin), he crosses paths with Chaos Pearl, now reborn as Saintess Mu Xuanling (Sun Zhenni). Mistrust turns into camaraderie, and old flames are reignited amidst rising chaos. 

With Zhang’s masterful depth and Sun’s breakout lead performance, this visually stunning fantasy romance blends action, emotion, and destiny—offering one of the strongest openers for 2025’s costume drama slate. 

2. Moonlight Mystique (白月梵星) 

Starring: Bai Lu, Ao Ruipeng  

Platform: iQIYI  

Genre: Fantasy Romance, Mythical Realm 

Based on Divine Bai Shuo, this enchanting drama tells the story of Bai Shuo (Bai Lu), a noblewoman on a path to immortality who rescues a powerful but misunderstood demon god, Fan Yue (Ao Ruipeng). Their rocky beginning as reluctant allies evolves into a deep romance as they navigate betrayals, magical realms, and the blurring lines between duty and love. 

With high-end production, dazzling visuals, and captivating chemistry, Moonlight over the Divine Star is poised to be this year’s most talked-about xianxia love story. 

3. Flourished Peony (國色芳華) 

Starring: Yang Zi, Li Xian  

Platform: KTSF 26  

Genre: Historical Romance, Business Drama 

Beauty in Legacy reunites beloved duo Yang Zi and Li Xian in a riveting tale set in Republican-era Suzhou. As a gifted craftswoman from a declining silk family, He Weifang (Yang Zi) partners with savvy businessman Jiang Changyang (Li Xian) to revive traditional peony embroidery and fight societal constraints. 

What begins as a pragmatic alliance evolves into romance amidst political unrest, industrial change, and gender inequality. With exquisite period styling and emotional gravitas, this series redefines the genre through its focus on craftsmanship and female empowerment. 

📺 Special Broadcast Alert: Airing July 31, Monday to Friday at 9 PM on KTSF 26. 

4. Everlasting Longing (相思令) 

Starring: Angelababy, Song Weilong  

Platform: Tencent  

Genre: Forced Marriage, Cross-Border Romance 

This high-stakes love story begins when noblewoman Jun Qiluo is kidnapped by northern warlord Xuan Lie. As the journey unfolds, so do emotional scars, shared battles, and the gradual melting of pride. 

Angelababy shines with grace and determination, while Song Weilong delivers a layered performance as a tribal leader torn between duty and passion. Fans of opposites-attract dynamics and survival romance will find this intensely compelling. 

5. Perfect Match (五福臨門) 

Starring: Wang Xingyue, Lu Yuxiao  

Platform: Mango TV, Netflix  

Genre: Family Comedy, Romantic Slice-of-Life 

Set during the Song Dynasty, this light-hearted original drama follows a widowed matriarch and her five daughters as they move to Bianjing in search of love and opportunity. From strategic marriages to entrepreneurial ventures, each daughter’s story unfolds with humor, mishaps, and heart. 

Wang Xingyue and Lu Yuxiao lead an ensemble cast in this vibrant city drama that fuses romance, comedy, and old-world charm. A delightful break from heavy palace politics, it offers joyful storytelling with a modern sensibility. 

6. Love the Divine Tree (仙台有樹) 

Starring: Deng Wei, Xiang Hanzhi  

Platform: iQIYI  

Genre: Xianxia, Rebirth, Forbidden Love 

Trees of the Immortal Realm delves into the emotional depths of a master-disciple bond tested by fate and betrayal. To seal away a demonic power, sect leader Mu Qingge (Xiang Hanzhi) sacrifices herself and traps the evil within her disciple Su Yishui (Deng Wei). Condemned and slain by rival clans, she reincarnates 20 years later—only to be taken in as a disciple by Su Yishui himself, who has since become a stoic master. 

This emotionally charged epic brings intense character evolution, breathtaking visuals, and a narrative rich with longing and redemption. A masterstroke for fans of tragic yet transformative romance. 

7. Kill My Sins (掌心) 

Starring: Liu Shishi, Dou Xiao  

Platform: Youku  

Genre: Historical Suspense, Revenge Thriller 

A medical prodigy-turned-vigilante, Gu Qing (Liu Shishi) returns to the capital under the alias Ye Ping’an, 18 years after her entire family was wiped out due to a conspiracy. She sets up a mental health clinic to bait her enemies and extract truth with scalpel-sharp precision. Alongside the observant Magistrate Yuan Shaocheng (Dou Xiao), she navigates secrets, betrayals, and courtroom intrigue. 

Packed with political scheming, emotional justice, and strong female leads, Kill My Sins weaves a revenge saga that balances intellect with intense heart. 

8. Les Belles (怎敵她千嬌百媚) 

Starring: Lin Yun, Fang Yilun  

Platform: Tencent  

Genre: Romance, House Drama, Redemption 

When fallen noblewoman Luo Lingyu (Lin Yun) seeks stability by reconnecting with distant relatives in Jianye, she collides—quite literally—with the cold and powerful Lu Yun (Fang Yilun). Mistaken identities, class divides, and family politics brew tension, but beneath their animosity lies growing affection. 

The drama excels in witty banter, slow-burn chemistry, and empowerment themes. It’s an ideal pick for viewers who enjoy strong-willed heroines, layered relationships, and satisfying character arcs. 

9. SI Jin (似錦) 

Starring: Jing Tian, Zhang Wanyi  

Platform: Tencent  

Genre: Rebirth, Romance, Self-Awakening 

After betrayal leads to her demise, noblewoman Jiang Si (Jing Tian) is granted a second chance at life. With past pain etched in her soul, she rewrites her destiny, rejects toxic ties, and finds new strength. Her former love, Yu Jin (Zhang Wanyi), seeks redemption and her forgiveness as he battles to win her back. 

Brimming with emotional realism and poetic symbolism, SI Jin is a feminist revival tale wrapped in historical grandeur, offering hope, love, and a powerful message of self-determination. 

10. The Glory (雁回時) 

Starring: Chen Duling, Xin Yunlai  

Platform: Tencent  

Genre: Mystery, Court Intrigue, Romance 

Zhuang Hanyan (Chen Duling), abandoned as a child, returns to the aristocratic Zhuang household, unaware of the deep-set rivalries awaiting her. Paired with the reserved and ailing Magistrate Fu Yunxi (Xin Yunlai), she uncovers decades-old secrets while redefining her own fate. 

This atmospheric drama balances slow-burn romance, high-stakes family drama, and legal investigations. With a strong female lead uncovering truths while healing from her past, The Glory promises emotional richness and powerful revelations. 

Dive into the Magical World of Chinese Costume Dramas in 2025 

From sweeping xianxia epics to gripping revenge sagas and heartfelt romantic journeys, 2025 is shaping up to be a golden year for Chinese costume dramas. These series go beyond captivating visuals—they tell stories of resilience, love, power, and destiny that resonate across generations. 

Whether you're a fan of dramatic palace intrigue, soul-stirring fantasy, or strong heroines rewriting their fate, this year’s top 10 dramas offer something for every kind of viewer. With high-caliber casts, rich storytelling, and elevated production value, each title in this lineup invites you to get lost in a different era—and perhaps, discover parts of yourself along the way. 

So grab your popcorn, open your streaming app, and let these stunning dramas transport you into the past, one episode at a time.