Top 10 Ancient Chinese Drama Series

Ancient or traditional Chinese drama series have been very popular in China, most of which are produced in the Mainland, and some are from Hong Kong and Taiwan areas. Below are the top 10 most famous TV ancient drama series, please your comment below and let me know which one you like best.

1. The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983) 《射雕英雄传》

The Legend of the Condor Heroes is one of the most classic ancient Chinese drama series. It was adapted from Jin Yong’s novel of the same name. The drama mainly tells the love love story between Guo Jiang and his wife Huang Rong and how Guo Jing experiences various hardships and finally turns into a great hero. This 59 episodes drama was first broadcast on TVB in Hong Kong in 1983 and is considered as a classic television version of the novel.

2. New Legend of Madame White Snake (1992) 《新白娘子传奇》

New Legend of Madame White Snake is a 1992 ancient Chinese drama starring Angie Chiu and Cecilia Yip. This version is widely accepted as an unbeatable adaptation of the Chinese folklore legend The Legend of White Snake. The 50-episode fantasy romance tells the love story between the white snake spirit Bai Suzhen and mortal scholar Xu Xian. The drama also features many Chinese folk-style songs.

3. Princess Pearl (1998)《还珠格格》

The Princess Pearl (or Huan Zhu Ge Ge) is a 1998 ancient Chinese drama series adapted from Qiong Yao’s novel of the same title. The play is set in the Qing Dynasty and tells what an orphan experiences after she is accidentally named the princess. The series features Vicki Zhao’s role as the cheerful, energetic and lovely Xiao Yanzi which brought her to fame all around Asia.

4. Demi Gods and Semi Devils (1997)《天龙八部》

Demi Gods and Semi Devils (1997) is an adaption of Jin Yong`s novel of the same title. The play tells about how the three persons – Xiao Feng, Xu Zhu, Duan Yu  fight during the troubled times, experiencing life and death, discrimination, love, and sorrow.

5. Dream of the Red Chamber (1987)《红楼梦》

Dream of the Red Chamber is a 1987 TV series adapted from Cao Xueqin`s novel of the same name. The story tells about the rise and fall of four feudal noble families. But the most fascinating parts are the sad love story between the three main characters: Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai. This 36-episode long drama gained great popularity with its superb music, cast, and plot adaptation.

6. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (2010) 《三国演义》

Three Kingdoms is a Chinese television series directed by Gao Xixi. The series is adapted from classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and is  a 95 episodes long drama. The series was well received both domestically and internationally.

7.  The Return of the Condor Heroes (1995) 《神雕侠侣》

The Return of the Condor Heroes is a 1995 TV series from Hong Kong. It is adapted from Jin Yong’s famous novel of the same title. The plot sticks to the original story well with no cut-out of the major scenes. The performance of the two leading actors Louis Koo and Carmen Lee are exceptional and this version is considered the best one ever.

8. Journey to the West (1986)《西游记》

Journey to the West is a 1986 ancient Chinese TV play adapted from the classic novel of the same title. The plot is based on a real journey of a monk named Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty. The play is praised as the best and most authentic interpretation of the novel.

9. All Men Are Brothers (2011) 《水浒传》

All Men Are Brothers is a Chinese TV series adapted from Chinese classic novel Water Margin. It is about an epic tale of a band of patriots during the latter part of Song Dynasty.

10. The Grand Mansion Gate (2001)《大宅门》

The Grand Mansion Gate or Da Zhai Men is a 2001 ancient Chinese drama. The 51 episodes long play follows the ups and downs of a prominent merchant family who deals in Traditional Chinese Medicine during the emperor Guangxu years of the Qing Dynasty.