Must Watch 'Historical' Chinese Drama!
Please only include your favourite 'NON-Xianxia or Wuxia' Chinese Dramas.
These C-dramas are either loosely based on or inspired by historical events with a more serious undertone (Palace intrigue, politics, harems etc). Certainly not centered around Immortal Heroes or Martial Heroes.
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Additionally, here's my list for more specified genres. Enjoy :)
Red Raven Feb 6, 2024
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![Nirvana in Fire]()
In sixth-century China, the Emperor of Great Liang orders the unjust execution of his brother-in-law Marshal Lin Xie alongside the Lin family, his 70,000 army soldiers, and Crown Prince Qi. Secretly surviving ...more -
![A Dream of Splendor]()
Zhao Pan Er, is a smart and savvy teahouse owner in Qiantang, living alongside her two best friends Sun San Niang and Song Yin Zhang. When she finds out her fiancé left ...more -
![Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1]()
Ling Bu Yi, the foster son of Emperor Wen and a talented & ruthless general of the Black Armour Army, was on a personal mission to uncover hidden truths about the past, ...more -
![Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2]()
After a series of twists and turns, Cheng Shao Shang and Ling Bu Yi are engaged to be married by Imperial consent and decree. However, they still have many hurdles to overcome. ...more -
![Story of Yanxi Palace]()
In 18th century Beijing, during the 6th year of Qianlong Emperor's reign, Wei Ying Luo enters the Forbidden City as an embroiderer to investigate the truth behind her older sister's rape and ...more -
![Story of Kunning Palace]()
Jiang Xue Ning's unrelenting desire to become empress eventually strains her bond with her childhood friend Yan Lin and leads to the arrest of the noble Official Zhang Zhe. Guilt and remorse ...more -
![The Rise of Phoenixes]()
Feng Zhi Wei is the unfavored daughter of the Qiu Family, who has to flee due to unfortunate circumstances. Owing a favour to the 6th prince Ning Yi, Zhi Wei cross-dresses as ...more -
![The Sword and the Brocade]()
Set during the Ming Dynasty, the story revolves around the romance between General Xu Ling Yi and the concubine's daughter Shi Yi Niang, that starts from an arranged marriage. Despite being born ...more -
![Legend of the Dragon Pearl: The Indistinguishable Road]()
9. Legend of the Dragon Pearl: The Indistinguishable Road
Chinese Drama - 2017, 90 episodes175 points by 2 votersThe story of the ill-fated romance between Zhu Yi Huan, the last princess of the Ming Dynasty and Kangxi, the young emperor of the Qing Dynasty. (Source: TheTVDB.com) -
![The Wolf]()
A young boy brought up by wolves falls in love with a young Ma Zhai Xing, the daughter of a general and noble lord. Wrongly accused of killing the godbrother of the ...more -
![A League of Nobleman]()
Zhang Ping is an impoverished orphan who comes from a provincial part of the country. He came to Beijing in an attempt to take the civil service entrance examination but had to ...more -
![Joy of Life]()
Fan Xian is born in the ancient empire of Southern Qing with memories of the 21st century. He lives in a rural town as the illegitimate son of the Minister of Finance, ...more -
![Winter Begonia]()
A story that revolves around a Peking opera performer and a wealthy businessman who are brought together by their love for Peking opera. Set in the 1930's, it follows Shang Xi Rui, ...more -
![The Story of Ming Lan]()
Set in the Northern Song dynasty, the story follows Sheng Ming Lan, an unfavored concubine-born 6th daughter of an official. After losing her mother at a young age, Ming Lan is raised ...more -
![Wonderland of Love]()
"Wonderland of Love" follows the story of the emperor's grandson Li Ni, who guards the border and is forced to take on the responsibility of quelling the rebellion. Although Li Ni is ...more -
![Good Bye, My Princess]()
A love story revolves around the 9th Princess of Western Liang as she journeys to the Central Plains to fulfill a marriage alliance with the Crown Prince. Having received overwhelming love and ...more -
![The Princess Wei Young]()
The Northern Wei Dynasty was obliterated one night leaving behind the kindhearted Princess Feng Xin Er as an orphan. Although she escapes death, she accidentally enters her enemy's territory and she assumes ...more -
![The King's Woman]()
Gong Sun Li is the granddaughter and disciple of military commander Gong Sun Yu. Jing Ke (first disciple) and Sun Li are childhood lovers and were forced to escape when Qin troops ...more -
![The Legend of Hao Lan]()
During the Warring States Period, Li Hao Lan is forced out of her own home and sold as a slave despite being the daughter of the Public Censor of Zhao. Purchased by ...more -
![Royal Feast]()
Set during the Ming dynasty during the rule of the Yongle Emperor, it tells the story of a young girl named Yao Zi Jin, who entered the palace to become a maid ...more -
![The Legend of Zhuohua]()
It tells the love story of a woman who overcomes many trials to become a female official, and a general who has weathered many hardships in his road to victory. Despite being ...more -
![General's Lady]()
A notorious general and an aristocrat's daughter hold each other's hands to spend a lifetime together while protecting what's precious to them. Shen Jin grew up as the unfavored daughter of a ...more -
![Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures]()
A determined Qing dynasty princess contends with palace intrigue and a vendetta against her family while navigating the treacherous terrain of romance. (Source: Netflix) -
![The Long Ballad]()
In the year 626 C.E., the Tang Dynasty faces upheaval following the successful Xuanwu Gate Incident, a coup orchestrated by a cunning prince. During the chaos, Li Chang Ge's family is slaughtered, ...more -
![The Virtuous Queen of Han]()
As a lowly servant's daughter, Wei Zi Fu does not have many means, yet she is undeniably beautiful and virtuous. When she is later recruited to entertain Princess Ping Yang, she immediately ...more -
![Legend of Mi Yue]()
Mi Yue, daughter of King Wei of Chu, was the first stateswoman in the history of China. The drama details her turbulent life, as Mi Yue becomes a concubine, gets separated her ...more -
![Legend of the Phoenix]()
Set in the fictional Eastern Liang dynasty, circus performer Ye Ningzhi’s troupe enters the palace and stages a performance to celebrate the empress dowager’s birthday. The ambitious grand princess (emperor’s sister) decides ...more -
![The Legend of Xiao Chuo]()
Late in the 10th century, the Liao dynasty is at the zenith of its power. The omnipotent Liao rule much of what is now Northeast China, Mongolia, Russia, and much of the ...more -
![Prince of Lan Ling]()
A prophecy foretold that victory goes to the one who has the priestess' blessing. Yang Xue Wu, the last priestess of her clan, unwittingly embroiled in a war between Northern Qi and ...more -
![The Song of Glory]()
Set in the Liu Song Dynasty (420-479), with powerful aristocrats clamoring for power, the people of the Liu Song Empire have succumbed to the ensuing chaos. Desperate to bring peace to his ...more -
![Princess Silver]()
A story that follows a princess with amnesia who meets a prince that does not want to marry her and how they find a place for themselves despite the complications of the ...more -
![General and I]()
In a world ravaged by war, the four great nations, Jin, Yan, Liang and Qin, are ceaseless in their pursuit of power and ultimate domination. In the midst of this endless conflict, ...more -
![Maiden Holmes]()
It is the sixth century CE and the Qi Kingdom, in what is now Eastern China, is a land at war. The young teenage prince Xiao Yan Zhi, a prodigal young military ...more -
![Legend of Yun Xi]()
The story follows a lady doctor called Han Yun Xi, who marries into the royal family and gets caught in the political machinations in the palace whilst she falls into a romance ...more -
![Destined]()
Liu Yu Ru is the only legitimate daughter of a former cloth merchant living a stoic life with her mother in a household where they're mistreated despite their status. Due to a ...more -
![Unchained Love]()
During the Longhua period, eunuch Xiao Duo plotted with Fu Wang to help him sit on the throne. Bu Yin Lou was supposed to be buried with the late Emperor, but she ...more -
![Jun Jiu Ling]()
Chu Jiu Ling is the daughter of the late emperor who discovers her uncle, the current emperor, to be responsible for her late father’s demise. Wishing to avenge his death, she chooses ...more -
![Court Lady]()
Born into privilege as the son of one of the founding pillars of the Tang Empire, Sheng Chu Mo has never had any desire to do more than enjoying the ease of ...more -
![Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace]()
The road to becoming an empress is paved with treachery. Ru Yi is a consort who quickly learns to navigate the treacherous politics of the royal court and move up the ranks. ...more
