Chinese TV series have created a solid niche for themselves in the international network of drama fans. Mainland China’s most famous television series include historical dramas and fantasies, many of which draw on the country’s rich cultural history and the surrounding regions. This includes implementing elements of Chinese mythology and costuming to create extravagant sets in historical periods.
While South Korea has become well-known for school dramas, Chinese-language dramas can have a unique approach to the genre. While some series adapt television or literature from abroad, others draw inspiration from regional talent. These 12 Chinese school dramas about university and high school life should be on your to-watch list next, especially if you’re a fan of other East Asian dramas.
15
‘Youth’ (2018)
Youth is a remake of the South Korean series Hello, My Twenties! It focuses on a group of five young college students living together and attending university. Despite sharing a house and having these commonalities, they still have their own lives and issues to sort through during this time of significant change. The series focuses on each girl, how they cope with life as it is, and other problems that pop up throughout the twenty-six episodes.
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14
‘Meteor Garden’ (2018)
Meteor Garden is an adaptation of a popular Japanese manga called Boys Over Flowers, which was also adapted into a pretty iconic Korean drama of the same name. In the Chinese version, Dong Shancai is a lower-income girl who has been accepted into an elite university but finds herself crossing paths with a group of boys known as the F4. Wealthy and elitist, these four boys are led by Daoming Si, an arrogant, rich boy who thinks he can get away with whatever he wants. When Shancai and Daoming continue to clash, he falls in love with her even after realizing she has a crush on another member of the F4.
13
‘Skate Into Love’ (2020)
Janice Wu and Zhang Xincheng star in the 2020 drama Skate Into Love, which is about two individuals who were classmates as kids. They had something significant in common: they loved ice sports. But the boy saw the girl as a bully and antagonist in his life, and when they moved on with their lives, they thought nothing of each other. But after meeting at the same university, they discovered they had taken completely different paths. And, after all, kids grow up and become adults, so when he realizes she’s changed, his feelings about her will drastically shift.
12
‘Somewhere Only We Know’ (2019)
The drama Somewhere Only We Know aired in 2019, and takes place at a university. The male lead, Mu Chenghe, is a physics PhD candidate who catches one of his students, Xue Tong, cheating while taking an exam. That puts him on her radar, as she’s not too happy that he caught her being dishonest. But when he becomes the substitute teacher for her Russian class, Xue Tong’s hatred grows. Some might say that hate quickly turns into love in many situations, and that’s what happened to these two throughout the series.
11
‘My Huckleberry Friends’ (2017)
My Huckleberry Friends is a vastly underrated drama, one that typically doesn’t receive a lot of attention from international viewers. Released in 2017, it tells the story of a math prodigy who realizes that maybe she doesn’t want to do math for the rest of her life. Despite everyone’s expectations, she ends up deciding she is going to study liberal arts. When she starts high school, she meets an old best friend whose bond was severed from her years ago, and they reconnect. At the same time, as they try to navigate youth, they learn more about themselves along the way.
10
‘A Love So Beautiful’ (2017)
A massive hit when it first came out, A Love So Beautiful has become a staple in the Chinese drama world. Shen Yue and Hu Yitian portray neighbors and classmates who have known each other all their lives. The girl isn’t academically inclined and admires her neighbor and classmate, but her crush is unrequited — or at least that’s what it seems on the outside. As it turns out, he has some feelings for her, too, and as they prepare for the next big steps in their lives and the gaokao, things will change between them quickly.
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9
‘When We Were Young’ (2018)
Although it was released in 2018, When We Were Young is a throwback to decades before, as it takes place in 1996. It is based on the romance novel of the same name. Taking place among a group of high schoolers that year, a student named Yang Xi ends up getting caught in a lab explosion after chasing down a bike thief. Now injured, she is devastated to realize she can no longer participate in a long-distance run. However, upon returning to school, she learns the culprit is in her class now. The beloved child of the science department, he now has to deal not only with her but also earn the trust of their class.
8
‘Master Devil Do Not Kiss Me’ (2017)
Despite its English name being a bit eccentric, Master Devil Do Not Kiss Me is a lighthearted comedy that serves well in the school drama world. The main character is Chu Xia, a milk courier in strange circumstances. She has been paired up with a business heir named Han Qi Lu, who can act like an incarnation of the devil at times. The two constantly end up antagonizing each other, but, as seen with other dramas, this can quickly turn into something completely different.
7
‘Accidentally in Love’ (2018)
Guo Jun Chen stars in 2018’s Accidentally in Love, a romantic comedy set in Shanxi. She portrays Chen Qing Qing, a young woman from a wealthy family who runs away after realizing she no longer wants the luxurious life or her marriage. Her grandfather sends his employees after her to try and get her to return home, but Qing Qing is smart — she develops a series of aliases and disguises to escape from his henchmen. But after running into a musical star named Situ Feng, her act of rebellion is about to take a new turn.
6
‘With You’ (2016)
With You came out in 2016 and garnered extensive praise upon its release for how well it adapted the school drama concept for the small screen. Its protagonist is Geng Geng, who has just entered her first year of high school. She attends a prestigious high school and is dealing with impostor syndrome because of it, and despite her anxieties, she becomes friends with her deskmate. After making a solid group of friends with her classmates, she becomes the object of affection from the school’s rebel, Lu Xing He. The series was based on a novel.
5
‘Go Go Squid!’ (2019)
A very popular series when it came out, Go Go Squid! tackles the subject of e-sports within a rom-com context. The main character is Tong Nian, a computer science major at a university who has a side gig as a popular singer on the Internet. When she meets Han Shangyan at a café one day, she is very impressed by his passion for winning a world championship. Together, they’re going to learn to love each other and unlock the hidden potential inside of them to achieve their dreams, even when it seems hopeless.
4
‘Le Coup de Foudre’ (2019)
Released in 2019, Le Coup de Foudre was impressive, especially as it managed to get a hundred million views less than a day after its premiere. Two students promise to study abroad together when they graduate, but life has different plans for them. An incident causes this promise never to end up happening, and when four years pass, they meet again at a high school reunion. This time, as adults, things will be different for them — and they’ll make sure of it.
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3
‘When I Fly Towards You’ (2023)
Su Zaizai is a cheerful transfer student at Yucai Middle School, whose school life is turned upside-down when she falls in love with a cool, academically thriving student, Zhang Lurang. Yet, Zhang’s bravado hides an insecurity that Su slowly gets drawn into, helping him while building into the romantic relationships she desires. The simple yet sweet approach of When I Fly Towards You is where the series’ charm lies, making for a perfect comfort watch for those who want some drama with heartwarming romance.
2
‘Bright Time’ (2024)
Lan Jinghui is a rebellious student who is struggling in school. To combat this, Lan is paired with the academically gifted Ling Dong under the guidance of their parents and the school. This pairing brings together many friends who find common ground while navigating school events like exams and festivals. A coming-of-age comedy, Bright Time won over fans for its sincere portrayal of the challenges students can face while going through school. The series also excels in its use of lighthearted pranks the students play on each other, making this one of the best Chinese school dramas for those who want a laugh.
1
‘Reopen My Journals’ (2025)
Set in the 1990s, Reopen My Journals follows dutiful 15-year-old student Qian Jiayue, who is overwhelmed heading into a prestigious school. Her academic challenges become complicated when she finds herself caught between two men: a neighbor she has long had feelings for and a rebellious classmate. The love triangle draws in the families of each student, who all play an active role in their children’s lives. Exploring intergenerational differences in the setting of 1990s Shanghai gives Reopen My Journals a unique background for this thoughtful Chinese drama.
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