Having strong and compelling male protagonists are common in Asian costume dramas, including Chinese shows. Once in a while, there comes a drama where the female lead charms fans with her marvelous and powerful personality.
This article lists down the best Chinese dramas where the female lead outshines their male counterparts.
The Double (2024)
The widely popular costume drama The Double features Wu Jinyan and Wang Xingyue in the lead roles. It follows Xue Fang Fei (Wu Jinyan), a daughter of a scholar, who falls victim to conspiracies after lowering her standards to marry the man she loves. Manipulated by the cunning princess and his family, her husband frames her for being an adulterer, attempts to murder her, and leaves her in a ditch in the middle of the forest to die.
However, destiny has other plans for her. She survives with the help of an ill-fated minister’s daughter. After her benefactress passes away, she borrows her identity and returns to the capital to punish those who wronged them. Fang Fei has Duke Su (Wang Xingyue) and her savior’s family by her side, who think she is their daughter. Together, they unfold layers of mysteries that threaten the kingdom’s peace.
The Double is available to watch on Netflix, Youku and Viki.
The Princess Weiyoung (2016)
This costume drama bears a similar storyline to The Double, in which the female protagonist rises in power after losing everything. After the sudden and untimely destruction of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Princess Feng Xin Er (Tiffany Tan) is orphaned and left all alone. Although she manages to escape death, she accidentally crosses 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 influential women in the country.
The drama is available to stream on Netflix and Viki.
The Legend of Shen Li (2024)
This xianxia drama, featuring Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin in the leading roles, is an adaptation of Jiu Lu Fei Xiang’s novel Yu Feng Xing. It is the love story of Xing Zhi (Lin Geng Xin), the last surviving deity, and Shen Li (Zhen Li Yang), a powerful female demon lord, who falls into the mortal domain while escaping her marriage.
A greedy vendor mistakes her for a chicken and keeps her in a cage, tormenting her. Soon, in her captive state, she catches the eye of Xing Zhi. He heals her, and soon, they fall in love. When her lover’s life is threatened, Shen Li goes to great lengths to protect him.
The Legend of Shen Li is available to stream on Tencent Video, WeTV, KUKAN, MGTV, and Viki.
The Story of Yanxi Palace (2018)
In this costume drama, Wei Ying Luo (Wu Jinyan) comes to Beijing to investigate the heinous crimes committed against her older sister that resulted in her demise. The prime suspect is the imperial guard Fuca Fuheng (Xu Kai). To punish him, she gets close to his sister, the Empress. Ying Luo starts working as the empress’s maid and quickly wins her heart.
Meanwhile, Fuheng falls in love with her. She soon realizes that both the Fuca siblings are innocent. She discovers layers of conspiracies against the empress that are connected to her sister’s murder. Ying Luo goes to great lengths to protect her benefactress.
The Story of Yanxi Palace is available to stream on iQIYI, We TV, Viki, and Tubi.
Legend of Fu Yao (2018)
An adaptation of Tian Xia Gui Yuan’s novel Empress Fuyao, the drama follows the story of Fuyao (Yang Mi), who was adopted as a child and enslaved by the Xuan Yuan sect.
After encountering a series of tragedies, she embarks on a journey to free herself from the curse that wrecked her life. She meets Zhang Sun Wu Ji (Etan Juan), the Crown Prince of Tianquan. After the two fall in love, Wu Ji helps her find her true identity.
Legend of Fu Yao is available for streaming on iQIYI, Viki, and Prime Video.
The Long Ballad (2021)
This famous Chinese costume drama is set during the Tang Dynasty. After the infamous Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Chang Ge’s (Dilraba Dilmurat) whole family is slaughtered, but she manages to escape. She is fueled with vengeance and swears to avenge her family. Thus, she forms an army to confront the new emperor.
However, a sudden attack by the Eastern Turkic Khaganate forces led by General Ashile Sun (Leo Wu) interrupts her plans. He spares her life but keeps her captive to use as his strategist. Eventually, they form a powerful military partnership and learn to rely on each other for their own benefit.
The Long Ballad is available to stream on Tencent Video, iQIYI, Netflix, and Viki.
The Empress of China (2014)
This is another drama that is set in the Tang Dynasty. The story follows the life of Wu Ru Yi (Fan Bingbing), a young girl who gains the emperor’s attention after joining the imperial harem. She is an exceptional performer who leaves other dancers behind in terms of talent and skill.
Driven by jealousy, the other courtesans ostracize her. Furthermore, they frame her for the death of a fellow dancer. In the face of such torture, she confesses to the murder, and the king banishes her. The drama reveals how Ru Yi rises in power to become an influential empress.
The Empress of China is available to stream on Youku.
