Manhua or web comics have inspired many popular Chinese dramas. Written by well-known artists, they have been adapted into some of the most well-received shows of all time. From Hidden Love to Till the End of the Moon, here’s a list of must watch manhua based Chinese dramas:
Hidden Love (2023)
It is an adaptation of Zhu Yi’s famous manhua, Secretly, Secretly, But Unable to Hide It. As seen in the official trailer, the drama tells the story of Sang Zhi (Zhao Lusi), who falls for her elder brother’s friend, Duan Jia Xu (Chen Zheyuan). However, they lose contact over the years. But, the duo comes face to face once again when they end up living in the same city. As they revisit their childhood memories and continue to get to know each other better, they develop feelings for each other and start dating. Jia Xu convinces Sang Zhi’s family and in the end, they get married.
Hidden Love is available for streaming on Youku and Netflix.
Till the End of the Moon (2023)
In this romantic Chinese drama adapted from Teng Luo Wei Zhi’s web comic Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script, Bai Lu plays the character of Li Susu, who goes back in time. She possesses the body of Ye Xixu and marries the mortal demon king Tantai Jin (Luo Yun Xi). Moreover, she is tasked with finding out the true intentions of the demons and stop the demon king’s resurrection by extracting the evil bone from his body. Although he is wicked in nature and she wishes destroy him, the two end up falling in love.
Till the End of the Moon is available for streaming on Youku, Viki and Netflix.
The Untamed (2019)
This well-known Chinese BL series is an adaptation of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s famous manhua Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. After Wei Wu Xian (Xiao Zhan), a legendary martial arts expert and swordsman, dies under mysterious circumstances, Lan Wang Ji (Wang Yibo) performs a demonic self-sacrificing ritual to bring him back to life. Wu Xian conceals his identity behind a mask and lives under the name of his benefactor. After Wang Ji comes back to life, they form an alliance to unveil the mysteries surrounding Wu Xian’s death. While investigating side by side, they fall for for each other.
The Untamed is available for streaming on Netflix, Tencent Video, We TV and Viki.
Eternal Love (2017)
It is an adaptation of Tang Qi Gong Zi’s web novel Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. It is a Xianxia drama that tells the story of Bai Qian (Yang Mi), a nine-tailed fox who reincarnates and ends up in the mortal realm. Bai Qian meets the crown prince Ye Hua (Mark Chao), who resembles her former lover from her past life. The duo end up falling in love.
Viewers can stream Eternal Love on Netflix and Viki.
The King’s Avatar (2019)
Adapted from Hu Dielan’s web novel of the same name, the drama tells the story of Ye Xiu (Yang Yang), a gaming prodigy who plays under the name Ye Qiu in the multiplayer online game, Glory. After he is forcefully expelled from his professional team, he ends up taking up the job of a manager at an Internet Café and decides to stay away from gaming. But when Glory comes back with their tenth server, he rediscovers his passion and decides to reclaim his position as the top player.
The King’s Avatar is available to stream on Netflix and We TV.
Additionally, Link Click (adapted from the donghua of the same name), The First Frost (an upcoming drama based on Zhu Yi’s First Frost), You Are Desire (based on Qi Jian’s Bai Ri Meng Wo), Eternal Faith (an upcoming drama based on Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s Heaven Official’s Blessing), Lighter & Princess (adapted from Twentine’s manhua The Lighter and the Princess’s Gown) etc., are other popular Chinese dramas adapted from the web comics.
