Top 10 Most Popular TV Series of Qiong Yao
Qiong Yao, Taiwan’s queen of romance novels, has written more than 60 works. Many of her novels have been adapted to movies and TV series such as My Fair Princess, Romance in the Rain and Green Green Grass By The River. Here is my personal picks of the 10 most popular TV series of Qiong Yao.
1. Princess Pearl《还珠格格》(1998)
Princess Pearl or My Fair Princess (or Huan Zhu Ge Ge) is one of the most famous Chinese television series. The drama centers around the legend of Princess Pearl during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, Qing Dynasty. This drama enjoyed the highest viewing rate of all tv dramas in Chinese history and brought Vicki Zhao to fame all around Asia.
2. Fantasies Behind the Pearly Curtain《一帘幽梦》 (1995)
Fantasies Behind the Pearly Curtain (or Yi Lian You Meng in Chinese) is one of the most unforgettable and touching dramas by Qiong Yao. It focuses on a woman whose fate is closely related with a mystery man she met when she was young. The drama made the leading hero Liu Te-kai become dream lover of many young girls at that time.
3. The Tattooed Flower《梅花烙》(1993)
The Tattooed Flower (or Mei Hua Lao) stars Vivian Chen Derong and Steve Ma Jingtao. This drama is the first part in Qiong Yao’s three-part collection Mei Hua San Nong. It Premiered in Taiwan in 1993 and was well received by audience. Later, the play was introduced to Hong Kong and mainland China. It is regarded as one of the most classic dramas of Qiong Yao.
4. Wan Jun 《婉君》 (1990)
Wan Jun is a famous Taiwan TV episodes shot in 1989. It is one out of six “Dreams” series written by a famous Taiwan women writer Qiong Yao. The story is set in the late Qing Dynasty, a beautiful girl was loved by three brothers, causing lots of bedlam in this rich family.
5. Romance in the Rain 《 情深深雨蒙蒙》(2001)
Romance in the Rain (Qing Shen Shen Yu Meng Meng in Chinese) is an adaptation of Qiong Yao`s 1964 novel Yan Yu Meng Meng. The play is set in the 1930s China during the Republican era, telling love and hate in a downfallen warlord family. Romance in the Rain brought together famous Chinese and Taiwanese stars, Zhao Wei, Ruby Lin, Leo Ku, and Alec Su.
6. Green Green Grass By The River《青青河边草》 (1992)
Green Green Grass By The River ( or Qing Qing He Bian Cao in Chinese) is a hit TV series by Qiong Yao. The play tells the story that happened in a mysterious manor. The little girl Xiao Cao, who could not bear her aunt’s tough treat, and another girl Qing Qing, who eascaped marrige, met the young man He Shiwei, who just ran away from home. And then many happenings brought the past intertwined things today, telling lots of love and hate among them .
7. The Deep Courtyard 《庭院深深》(1987)
The Deep Courtyard (or Ting Yuan Shen Shen ) is adapted from Qiong Yao’s novel of the same name, it tells a quirky story between Zhang Hanyan, a young master of a tea manor and the Bai Peiwen, a tea-picking gir. The drama received up to 50% of audience shares broadcast in Taiwan.
8. After Many Red Sunsets《几度夕阳红》(1986)
After Many Red Sunsets (or Ji Du Xi Yang Hong) is the first Qiong Yao TV series which aired in mainland China. The drama made great waves in Taiwan in 1986. The leading role Qin Han once again got to the top of his acting career.
9. Cang Tian You Lei 《苍天有泪》(1998)
Cang Tian You Lei is 1998 TV drama starring Jiang Qinqin. Set in the first years of the Republic, the play tells a sad and sweet love story between Yu Feng and Yun Fei.
10. The Ghost Husband 《鬼丈夫》(1993)
The Ghost Husband stars Yue Ling and Li Zixi. Set in the early years after the Qing Dynasty, the drama tells about a story about unrequited love, fate and destiny.
Does anyone know the name of this one Chinese drama where this lover had to walk through 7 large gates with villagers throwing garbage and hit them as they go through it? I watched it as kid and I couldn’t recall the name of the drama.
I grew up watching some of these dramas (dubbed in Vietnamese). It’s kinda sad that Taiwan doesn’t make dramas like these anymore. I mean back in the 80’s and early 90’s, Taiwan used to make serious drama that can hold up to Korean dramas. Now these day, Taiwanese is all rom-com not melodrama like back in the 80’s. Now if you want to watch melodrama, Korean dramas are the only way to go. Sadly, a lot of Qiong Yao/Chiung Yao dramas has never seen a English subtitled release. Given the popularity of Korean dramas outside of Asia, I think many K-dramas fans would love these dramas. It’s too bad Taiwan is not going to do another adaptation/remake of these storyline. I feel like Qiong Yao/Chiung Yao storyline could rival any Korean melodrama like Winter Sonata, Love Rain, Stairway to Heaven, etc… So if Taiwan won’t do anymore remake/adaptation of these storyline. I guess South Korea will have to be the one to introduce Chiung Yao to the international audiences outside of Asia. I mean Korea has remade 3 Taiwanese dramas so it wouldn’t be crazy if South Korea want to get adaptation right from Chiung Yao. It fit the Korean melodrama and I could see some of these as K-dramas if South Korea can remake them. If South Korea can remake The Deep Courtyard (I think the director of Winter Sonata and Love Rain should direct the remake) and Romance in the rain would do as well as K-drama.
Where I can found this film again? I really want to watch fantasies behind pearly curtain and green grass by the river again. I grew up with this films…
Huan Zhu GEGE is my favourite. No matter how many times i watch, i still laugh with it.