Costume dramas or period dramas are extremely popular among Chinese drama lovers. This genre includes shows that take place in a particular period or era. The costumes and make-up used by the characters are reminiscent of that particular time in history. Costume dramas can depict a variety of subgenres, including thriller, romance, etc.
From Youku’s The Double to The Princess Royal, here’s a list of Chinese costume dramas that are available to stream on Netflix:
The Double (2024)
The Double, featuring Wu Jinyan and Wang Xingyue in the lead roles, is one of the most popular Chinese dramas to come out in 2024. The drama has broken several records and has been proven to be one of the best thriller dramas of the year.
It tells the story of Xue Fang Fei (Wu Jinyan), a highly educated daughter of a scholarly family who falls prey to conspiracies after going against her family to marry the man she loves. Manipulated by various forces, her power-thirsty husband falsely frames her for being an adulterer.
After he attempts to murder her and leaves her to die in a ditch, an ill-fated minister’s daughter saves her life. After her benefactress passes away, she borrows her name and identity and returns to the capital to punish those who wronged them.
Fang Fei has her new lover Duke Su (Wang Xingyue), and her savior’s family by her side. Together, they help the young Emperor identify traitors and also unfold layers of mysteries that threaten the kingdom’s peace.
The Princess Royal (2024)
his period romance Chinese drama features Zhang Linghe and Zhao Jinmai in the lead roles. As seen in the official trailer, the drama tells the story of Li Rong (Zhao Jinmai) and Pei Wen Xuan (Zhang Linghe), who get married at a very young age. Although they were fond of each other at first, their love faded as time passed.
This hopeless situation leads to Li Rong falling for someone else. Meanwhile, Wen Xuan completely devotes himself to serving his nation. This allows conspirators to use this situation and turn them against each other, which leads to them getting murdered.
But a paranormal phenomenon brings them back in time and they wake up in the year they got married. Although they want to stop the marriage before the situation escalates, like last time, they end up falling for each other.
Who Rules the World (2022)
This Wuxia C-drama features popular actors Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi in the lead roles. It is an adaptation of the novel “Qie Shi Tian Xia” by Qing Ling Yue. The love story follows two individuals with opposite ideologies. But they fall in love as they both excel in their individual fields. They join hands to fight political injustice and betrayal. As time passes, love starts to bloom between them.
The Princess Weiyoung (2016)
In this period of drama, the sudden obliteration of the Northern Wei Dynasty leaves Princess Feng Xin Er orphaned and alone. Although she manages to escape death, she accidentally enters the enemy’s territory. Desperate to find shelter, she borrows the identity of Li Wei Young, the daughter of the Prime Minister. She faces many obstacles but eventually utilizes her wit and sense of justice to become one of the most powerful women in the country.
Goodbye My Princess (2019)
A love story blossoms between Xiao Feng (Peng Xiao Ran), the 9th Princess of Western Liang and the crown prince. They both hide their own agendas. While Xiao Feng leaves the life that she has known in order to become the Crown Princess , the Prince has no choice but to marry the Princess from a foreign land for political reasons.
The newlyweds do not get along. He has his own favored concubine while she has her own life. Amidst deadly power play in the dangerous Eastern Palace, the buried memories start to resurface.
Other than these The Legend of Anle (2023) and Judge Dee’s Mystery (2024) are also worth mentioning. Happy streaming!
