18 C-Dramas to Start Your Binge: From Secret Office

Curious about Chinese dramas but staring at an endless list? Start here. Soompi’s starter pack covers every mood, from school-day crushes to palace-style power games, so you can pick by vibe instead of guessing. This guide covers 18 shows in four easy categories.

If you want background on the genre first, read about Chinese television dramas on Wikipedia.

18 C-Dramas: Overview

Mood	Best for	Starter pick
Sweet first love	Comfort viewing	Hidden Love
Grown-up romance	Slow burns and healing	The First Frost
Workplace and career love	Banter and chemistry	Only for Love
Fantasy and historical	Big visuals and high stakes	Love Between Fairy and Devil

Sweet First Love and Childhood Bonds

Drama	Stars	Why watch
Hidden Love	Zhao Lu Si, Chen Zhe Yuan	A girl’s schoolgirl crush on her brother’s best friend grows into a gentle, patient romance.
Our Generation	Zhao Jin Mai, Zhang Ling He	A cheerful girl befriends a shy math prodigy, and their bond survives separation and misunderstandings.
Go Ahead	Tan Song Yun, Song Wei Long, Zhang Xin Cheng	Three kids from different families grow up together under two single fathers, forming a found family.
My Little Happiness	Xing Fei, Tang Xiao Tian	A law intern reunites with her neurosurgeon childhood friend in a light, comforting romance.
The Best Thing	Xu Ruo Han, Zhang Ling He	A workaholic hotel manager with insomnia finds slow-paced care from a kind traditional medicine doctor.

Start with: Hidden Love. The slow build and the male lead’s thoughtful gestures make it a perfect first C-drama.

Grown-Up Romance and Second Chances

Drama	Stars	Why watch
The Early Spring	Jing Bo Ran, Sun Qian	A demanding ad executive and an intern fall into a secret affair, then face the cost of ambition.
The First Frost	Bai Jing Ting, Zhang Ruo Nan	Old schoolmates share a roof and slowly face old wounds in a story about trust and healing.
Shine on Me	Song Wei Long, Zhao Jin Mai	A former neurosurgeon and his new team member clash, then build a relationship on equality.
Fireworks of My Heart	Yang Yang, Wang Chu Ran	A firefighter captain and an ER doctor reunite years after her family separated them.
Love Story in the 1970s	Sun Qian, Arthur Chen	A marriage of convenience in late-1970s China turns real as the couple chase their dreams.

Start with: The First Frost, for Bai Jing Ting’s restrained performance and a rewarding healing arc.

Career, Business and Competition

Drama	Stars	Why watch
Lighter and Princess	Arthur Chen, Zhang Jing Yi	A brilliant programmer with a bad reputation and a determined classmate who refuses to give up on him.
Amidst a Snowstorm of Love	Leo Wu, Zhao Jin Mai	A former billiards prodigy meets a talented player and is inspired to return to the sport.
Only for Love	Bai Lu, Dylan Wang	An ambitious financial reporter and a hard-to-impress CEO trade sharp banter and attraction.
As Beautiful As You	Xu Kai, Tan Song Yun	Two former classmates meet again in the competitive start-up world, where trust is central.

Start with: Only for Love, for fast, flirty dialogue and an easy-to-follow story.

Fantasy, Period and High-Stakes Drama

Drama	Stars	Why watch
Love Between Fairy and Devil	Esther Yu, Dylan Wang	A xianxia hit with a body-swap twist, lavish costumes and a feared ruler who gradually softens.
Pursuit of Jade	Tian Xi Wei, Zhang Ling He	A butcher’s daughter marries a disguised nobleman, and war pulls them into justice and political intrigue.
Against the Current	Tan Song Yun, Liu Xue Yi	A noblewoman loses everything and serves her former fiancé as a maid in a story of survival and honor.
The Lament of Autumn	Xu Ruo Han, Ryan Cheng	A wrongly accused student bargains with a warlord, starting a dangerous game of power and obsession.

Start with: Love Between Fairy and Devil, the easiest way into immortal fantasy.

How to Pick Your First Drama

Not sure where to begin? Use this quick rule:

Want comfort? Choose My Little Happiness or Hidden Love.
Want heartbreak and healing? Try The First Frost or Fireworks of My Heart.
Want drama on a grand scale? Go for Pursuit of Jade or The Lament of Autumn.

One tip from me: start with a shorter, lighter pick before committing to a long historical epic. That way you’ll get used to the pacing and storytelling style.

Want more drama news and watch lists? Visit Technosports or browse our latest entertainment coverage.