Slow-burn C-dramas

Romance that builds gradually, with feelings earned over the length of the series. Traits are drafted from published web sources with AI assistance and may be wrong.

How this list is chosen: Tagged slow burn. Traits are drafted from published web sources with AI assistance; dramas without an assessment for it are not included.

A Better Life
蛮好的人生
Completed2025· 36 episodes
Hu Manli, a 39-year-old elite insurance agent, faces a sudden life crisis when she loses both her career and marriage on the same day. After discovering her downfall was triggered by young newcomer Xue Xiaozhou, the two initially clash but eventually form an unlikely professional partnership. Together, they navigate the cutthroat insurance industry and personal growth, rebuilding their lives while bridging the gap between their different generations and perspectives.
Dong Zijian · Gao Xin · Myolie Wu
- Modern
- Drama
- Romance
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →
A Dream of Splendor
梦华录
Completed2022· 40 episodes
Abandoned by her fiancé, Hangzhou teahouse owner Zhao Pan'er heads to the capital in search of justice. Alongside friends Song Yinzhang and Sun Sanniang, she sets out to build a business of her own.
Chen Xiao · Lin Yun · Liu Yifei
- Historical
- Drama
- Mystery
View on WeTV ↗
Official links: Rakuten Viki, WeTVExplore drama →
A Little Thing Called First Love
初恋那件小事
Completed2019· 36 episodes
Xia Miaomiao is an ordinary, shy student who develops a deep crush on the popular and talented senior Liang Younian. Determined to become worthy of him, she embarks on a journey of self-transformation, improving her appearance, grades, and confidence. As she navigates the ups and downs of school life, Miaomiao discovers her own potential while hoping to eventually win the heart of her first love.
Chai Wei · Edward Lai · Wang Runze
- Modern
- Comedy
- Drama
View on WeTV ↗
Official links: WeTVExplore drama →
A River Runs Through It
上游
Completed2021· 36 episodes
After transferring to a new school just before her final exams, Xia Xiaoju struggles to adapt until she befriends a group of classmates, including the compassionate Cheng Lang and the mischievous Lu Shiyi. The story spans their youth into adulthood, exploring the complexities of hidden crushes and enduring friendships. As they navigate university and life's challenges, Xiaoju remains oblivious to the growing feelings of her constant protector, Lu Shiyi.
Chen Bohao · Hu Yixuan · Judy Qi
- Modern
- Comedy
- Drama
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →
Against The Current
兰香如故
Airing2026· 47 episodes
After her noble family is destroyed by a false treason charge, Shen Jialan assumes the identity of a maid, Xu Lanxiang, to survive. Entering the household of her former fiancé, Lin Jinqi, she navigates treacherous mansion politics with her sharp intelligence. As she rises from a lowly servant to a woman of influence, she strives to clear her family’s name and reclaim her destiny while navigating a complicated, evolving romance.
Liu Xueyi · Seven Tan
- Historical
- Drama
- Romance
View on WeTV ↗
Official links: WeTVExplore drama →
Arsenal Military Academy
烈火军校
Completed2019· 48 episodes
During the Republican era, a courageous young woman joins an elite military academy by assuming her late brother's identity. As she navigates the school's brutal training while hiding her secret, she forms deep bonds with a playful rich heir and a disciplined soldier. Together, the students must transition from rivals into comrades to protect their nation from escalating foreign aggression.
Bai Lu · Li Cheng Bin · Wu Jiayi
- Republican era
- Action
- Comedy
View on iQIYI ↗
Official links: iQIYIExplore drama →
Be Your Own Light
做自己的光
Completed2023· 40 episodes
After her husband disappears, leaving her with crushing debt and family crises, news anchor He Huan must rebuild her life from scratch. Alongside her professional struggle to adapt to the digital media era, she finds unexpected support in her friends and a persistent creditor named Jiang Junhao. Through resilience and hard work, she rises back to the top of her industry while discovering her own strength and a chance at new love.
Chai Biyun · Liu Tao · Liu Yuning
- Modern
- Drama
- Romance
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →
Be Yourself
机智的上半场
Completed2021· 24 episodes
Four distinct young women begin their journey at university, navigating the complexities of shared dormitory life while studying journalism. As they face academic challenges and personal growth, they support each other through family conflicts and evolving romantic relationships. Together, they transform from naive freshmen into mature young adults, discovering their true identities and the strength of their friendship during their formative college years.
Shen Yue · Vivienne Tien · Zhang Ruonan
- Modern
- Comedy
- Drama
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →
Blossoms in Adversity
惜花芷
Completed2024· 40 episodes
Blossoms in Adversity is a Chinese television series first released in 2024. The cast includes Hu Yitian, Zhang Jingyi, Caesar Wu.
Caesar Wu · Hu Yitian · Zhang Jingyi
- Historical
- Drama
- Romance
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: YOUKUExplore drama →
Closer To You
我的刺猬女孩
Completed2020· 24 episodes
A surgeon named Wu Jing Hao gets a mysterious chance to travel back to his high school years. Determined to rewrite the past, he attempts to save his classmate Han Fei from a tragic accident that defined her youth. While she is initially defensive and prickly, Wu Jing Hao patiently tries to break through her shell to change their future and heal old wounds.
He Ze Yuan · Li Yi Nan · Wang Rui
- Modern
- Drama
- Mystery
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →
Coroner's Diary
朝雪录
Completed2025· 38 episodes
After her family is massacred, medical prodigy Shen Wan assumes the identity of Qin Wan to investigate the conspiracy behind her father's downfall. Using her advanced forensic and autopsy skills, she partners with Prince Yan Chi to solve a series of eerie criminal cases. As they uncover the truth, they navigate dangerous court politics and a complex web of secrets hidden within the imperial capital.
Ao Ruipeng · Landy Li · Shen Yujie
- Historical
- Drama
- Mystery
View on iQIYI ↗
Official links: iQIYIExplore drama →
Definitely Not Today
今天不是最后一天
Completed2021· 8 episodes
Mi Chong is a young man struggling with severe social anxiety and isolation who decides to end his life. His plan is suddenly interrupted when he saves a rebellious girl named Zhi Liao from drowning. Bound together by this chance encounter, the two marginalized souls embark on an unexpected journey of escape, gradually healing their past traumas and finding a renewed sense of hope through each other.
Leon Leong · Vivienne Tien
- Modern
- Comedy
- Drama
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →
Derailment
脱轨
Completed2023· 30 episodes
Jiang Xiaoyuan, once a wealthy socialite, finds herself thrust into a parallel world where she is a struggling working girl with nothing to her name. Alongside the enigmatic Qi Lian, she embarks on a desperate search for the truth behind her mysterious identity shift and the connection between their two worlds.
Fan Shiran · Huang Shengchi · Lin Yi
- Modern
- Drama
- Mystery
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →
Destined
长风渡
Completed2023· 40 episodes
After a misunderstanding leads her into a marriage with the notorious playboy Gu Jiusi, the cautious Liu Yuru resolves to take control of her destiny. While she masterfully learns the art of business from her mother-in-law, she also manages to inspire her idle husband to pursue a righteous path. Together, they navigate personal growth and severe political upheavals to protect their family and restore peace to the realm.
Bai Jingting · Liu Xueyi · Song Yi
- Historical
- Comedy
- Drama
View on iQIYI ↗
Official links: iQIYIExplore drama →
Don't Leave After School
放学别走
Completed2021· 24 episodes
At Xiangjiang Middle School, repeat student Fang Xue and academic standout Wei Lai, who mysteriously dropped out of a top university, find themselves in the same class. Despite their differing backgrounds and academic standings, the two form a determined study group with their classmates to conquer the college entrance exams. Together, they navigate the pressures of adolescence and academic redemption during their crucial 'fourth year' of high school.
Li Junting · Li Tingting · Xu Mengyuan
- Modern
- Comedy
- Drama
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →
Falling Before Fireworks
最食人间烟火色
Completed2023· 23 episodes
Si Qing is a driven bank loan manager focused on securing a stable future through financial success and property. After a chance encounter with Jing Chen, a stoic traditional craftsman who lives a simple rural life, she impulsively proposes marriage to him on a particularly lonely birthday. Despite their vastly different values and social backgrounds, they enter a contract marriage that begins to transform their outlooks on life and love.
Chen Xin Hai · Lu Yang Yang · Nan Sheng
- Modern
- Comedy
- Drama
View on iQIYI ↗
Official links: iQIYIExplore drama →
Falling into Your Smile
你微笑时很美
Completed2021· 31 episodes
Tong Yao is a talented amateur gamer who makes history by becoming the first female professional player in the top-tier Chinese OPL league. Joining the renowned ZGDX team, she faces heavy scrutiny and skepticism in a male-dominated environment. As she works to prove her worth on the competitive stage, she develops a complex romantic connection with the team's icy but protective captain, Lu Sicheng.
Cheng Xiao · Xu Kai
- Modern
- Comedy
- Drama
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →
Fangs of Fortune
大梦归离
Completed2024· 34 episodes
Set during the Zhenyuan era, the balance between humans and demons is shattered after the death of the governing goddess. Zhao Yuanzhou, a powerful ancient demon seeking his own end, surrenders to the imperial court to lead a specialized demon-hunting bureau. Alongside a wary investigator, a skilled swordsman, and a talented archer, he tracks down supernatural threats inspired by ancient myths while navigating secrets involving his own dark past.
Chen Duling · Cheng Xiao · Neo Hou
- Fantasy
- Action
- Drama
View on iQIYI ↗
Official links: iQIYIExplore drama →
Fated Hearts
一笑随歌
Completed2025· 38 episodes
After injuring Prince Feng Suige with a single arrow and turning the tide of war, legendary archer Fu Yixiao loses her memory in a fall. She eventually crosses paths with Suige, who intends to use her for information about a conspiracy. As they navigate a web of political deception and mutual danger, their initial hostility transforms into a deep alliance and unexpected romance while they protect their respective kingdoms.
Chen Heyi · Chen Zheyuan · Li Qin
- Historical
- Action
- Drama
View on iQIYI ↗
Official links: iQIYIExplore drama →
Genius Girlfriend
天才女友
Completed2026· 28 episodes
Lin Zhixia, a socially awkward genius with an exceptionally high IQ, enters a prestigious high school and becomes desk mates with the popular, outgoing student Jiang Yubai. While he helps her navigate the complexities of friendship and social life, they develop a deep bond rooted in academic competition and mutual support. Their relationship evolves from school-age companionship into a poignant romance as they navigate the transition into adulthood and professional life.
Hu Yitian · Tian Xiwei
- Modern
- Comedy
- Drama
View on iQIYI ↗
Official links: iQIYIExplore drama →
Go Ahead
以家人之名
Completed2020· 40 episodes
Three unrelated children from broken homes grow up as siblings under the care of two single fathers, forming an unconventional but deeply loving family. As they mature, the arrival of their biological parents and the complexities of adult life threaten their bond. They must navigate past traumas and new romantic feelings to preserve the family they chose for themselves.
Seven Tan · Song Weilong · Steven Zhang
- Modern
- Comedy
- Drama
View on WeTV ↗
Official links: WeTVExplore drama →
Hidden Love
偷偷藏不住
Completed2023· 25 episodes
Hidden Love is a Chinese television series first released in 2023. The cast includes Zhao Lusi, Chen Zheyuan, Victor Ma. The recorded series length is 25 episodes.
Chen Zheyuan · Qiu Xinzhi · Victor Ma
- Modern
- Comedy
- Drama
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: YOUKUExplore drama →
Immortal Samsara
沉香如屑·沉香重华
Completed2022· 59 episodes
Yan Dan, an ancient lotus fairy, sacrifices half her heart to save the Sovereign Lord Ying Yuan, only to face heartbreaking misunderstandings that lead her to the mortal realm. Centuries later, they cross paths again as a demon hunter and a spirit, slowly uncovering their shared past while confronting celestial conspiracies. Together with their companion Yu Mo, they seek lost artifacts to restore balance to the realms.
Cheng Yi · Meng Ziyi · Yang Zi
- Fantasy
- Drama
- Romance
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →
In Blossom
花间令
Completed2024· 32 episodes
In the notorious city of Heyang, the ostracized Yang Caiwei is seemingly murdered on her wedding day to the popular magistrate Pan Yue. Surviving by assuming a new identity, she returns to confront her husband, whom she suspects is the killer. As they collaborate to solve intricate local cases, they must navigate dark secrets and find the truth about their past.
Ju Jingyi · Li Geyang · Liu Xueyi
- Historical
- Drama
- Mystery
View on YOUKU ↗
Official links: Youku, YOUKUExplore drama →

Browse with your own filters