LayarHijau.com -- As we approach the end of 2024 and look forward to 2025, Douban has released its list of the highest-rated Chinese dramas for the year.
Here are the top ten dramas. Do you have any favorites on the list?
10. Escape from the Trilateral Slopes
This drama has a score of 7.9 on Douban. Starring Guo Qi Lin and Francis Ng, Escape from the Trilateral Slopes consists of 21 episodes and airs on Youku.
Synopsis:
Sanbianpo is an area with a tropical monsoon climate, where good and evil intermingle, and there is a significant gap between the rich and the poor. Shen Xing, who has just entered society and is working various jobs to make a living, accidentally ends up in Sanbianpo. By chance, he meets Uncle Cai, a peacekeeper with many connections in the black-and-white world of Sanbianpo.
9. Romance in the Alley
With a score of 8.3, Romance in the Alley consists of 40 episodes and airs on MGTV. The drama also stars Fan Chengcheng, Guan Xiaotong, Lu Yuxiao, and others.
Synopsis:
In the late 1970s, in a small alley of a cotton spinning factory housing area in Suzhou, live the Zhuang and Lin families. As college entrance exams approach, Zhuang Chao Ying, a teacher, and his wife, Huang Ling, prioritize their children's exams as the family's top priority. Their neighbor, Lin Wu Feng, and his wife, Song Ying, also begin to focus on their son's studies due to this influence.
The Zhuang family appears harmonious and respectable, with their diligent son Zhuang Tu Nan and well-behaved, wise daughter Zhuang Xiao Ting. However, Zhuang Chao Ying's indecisiveness and filial foolishness lead to losses for his family. Conversely, the Lin family seems to live by their own rules, with their mischievous son Lin Dong Zhe.
In truth, the couples support each other, and there is mutual respect between parents and children, creating a vibrant and satisfying family atmosphere. Adapting to the changing times, Lin Wu Feng and Song Ying move the entire family to Guangzhou in search of new opportunities.
After parting from childhood friends Zhuang Xiao Ting and Lin Dong Zhe, they realize their feelings for each other and agree to enroll in the same university. After graduation, despite facing obstacles from their families and reality, they resolutely choose each other. After many twists and turns, Zhuang Tu Nan and Li Jia also eventually become a couple.
8. Imperfect Us
Imperfect Us scores 8.3. Consisting of 8 episodes, this drama airs on iQiyi and stars Ariel Lin, Mike He, Tiffany Tsu, and others.
Synopsis:
The story begins with a clothing dispute. Two women born on the same day and month not only fall for the same man but also often buy the same clothes. They are young rivals in love, and for ten years, they use Facebook clues to imagine better lives for themselves and feel jealous. Unexpectedly, they meet again.
7. The City of Sunlight
This drama scores 8.5. Consisting of 21 episodes, The City of Sunlight airs on MGTV and Tencent Video. It stars Zhou You, Yangshik Tso, Zhang Tong, and Wang Zhou Cuo.
Synopsis:
The story unfolds between two generations of three families in modern Lhasa. Thubeng, an opera performer dedicated to a Tibetan opera group, faces a series of setbacks: his eldest son, Suo Lang, resigns from public office and starts a business without support, accumulating significant debt; his youngest son, Ta Shi, declares he does not want to be a doctor and wishes to sing Tibetan opera; and his eldest daughter, Qu Zong, also faces difficulties in love.
Tibetan doctor Ten Zin plans to go to the mainland to enjoy retirement with his wife, Qiao Yan Ru, who is about to retire. However, unexpectedly, his wife files for divorce, and their daughter, Da Zhen, who returns to Tibet to run a business, faces dual pressures from family and career.
Jiu Mei, a soon-to-retire equestrian team member, confronts a final choice in her career as an athlete. Her younger sister, Gesang, escapes from pastoral areas to Lhasa, insisting on enrolling to become a pilot.
6. Heroes (2024)
The wuxia drama Heroes stars Qin Jun Jie, Liu Yuning, and Pang Han Ceng. It scores 8.8 and consists of 36 episodes, airing on WeTV and Tencent Video.
Synopsis:
The story follows a group of individuals from different backgrounds who unexpectedly become involved in a mysterious treasure hunt during the late Qing Dynasty. Amidst the grand and tumultuous historical currents, will they succeed, will their ultimate goals be achieved, and will they become heroes of their generation?
5. Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II: To the West
This drama scores 8.6 on Douban, slightly lower than Heroes, but interestingly, Strange Tales ranks higher. The reason for this is unknown. Consisting of 40 episodes, Strange Tales airs on iQiyi.
Synopsis:
Set in 712 AD during the reign of Emperor Rui Zong of the Tang Dynasty, the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty continues, but beneath the prosperity, hidden dangers lurk, and a storm is brewing. Various forces are at play, triggering frequent mysterious incidents among the common people. What supernatural mysteries will Lu Ling Feng and Su Wu Ming, the deputy minister of the Grand Court of Justice and the registrar of Qianling, encounter on their perilous journey? The road to the west is unpredictable.
4. Blossoms Shanghai
This drama scores 8.7, but like Strange Tales, it ranks higher than Heroes, which has a score of 8.8. Consisting of 30 episodes, Blossoms Shanghai airs on WeTV and stars Hu Ge, Ma Yili, and Tiffany Tang.
Synopsis:
Set against the backdrop of rapid economic growth in the 1990s, this drama follows A Bao, a self-made millionaire, as he transforms from a young opportunist with a troubled past into a figure of remarkable wealth in Shanghai. The story also follows his entanglement with four women who represent the pursuits of his life: adventure, honor, love, and innocence.
3. The Forerunner
Consisting of 32 episodes, The Forerunner airs on MGTV and Youku. This drama scores 9.0 on Douban. One possible reason for its high score is that it discusses the story of the founder of the Communist Party.
Synopsis:
This drama chronicles Mao Ze Dong's transformative journey from a participant in the First Congress of the Communist Party of China (1921-1927) to a pioneering leader. Fueled by an unwavering commitment to Marxism, Mao evolves from a follower to a trailblazer, grappling with the destiny of China.
Embodying the spirit of an "early traveler," he navigates the complex landscape of the Chinese revolution, fostering the growth of party members, mobilizing workers, and forging alliances with the Kuomintang. Mao's resolute stance against the right wing of the Kuomintang and his immersion in the peasant movement underscore his dedication to Marxist principles and the essence of Hunan culture.
The narrative captures Mao's audacity to be a front-runner, combining knowledge and action as he explores the uncharted path of the Chinese revolution, leaving an indelible mark on history.
2. To the Wonder
Scoring 8.9, slightly lower than The Forerunner, To the Wonder takes the second position. Consisting of 8 episodes, this drama airs on iQiyi and stars Ma Yili, Zhou Yiran, and Yu Shi.
Synopsis:
Li Wen Xiu, a girl from a small town in Altay, dreams of becoming a writer in the big city but faces constant setbacks. After returning home and working at her mom's store, she meets a Kazakh boy, Batay. As she connects with him and a nomadic Kazakh family, Wen Xiu starts to appreciate the beauty of the northern Xinjiang countryside. Despite the hardships of pastoral life, she finds inspiration in nature and slowly falls for Batay while continuing to chase her literary dreams.
1. She and Her Girls
With an impressive score of 9.6, this drama takes the top spot. Consisting of 23 episodes, She and Her Girls airs on WeTV and stars Song Jia.
Synopsis:
Zhang Gui Mei, a female teacher in Huaping County, Yunnan Province, encounters poverty-driven school dropout cases among girls during her home visits. Determined to make a difference, she establishes a tuition-free all-girls high school with the help of various supporters. Despite facing challenges in staffing, enrollment, and funding, Zhang Gui Mei's unwavering beliefs lead the school to overcome obstacles and achieve excellent academic results. With her selfless dedication, she inspires more students to apply. Despite declining health, she persists in her mission, leaving a lasting impact on mountain education.