The best series I have watched so far
I genuinely cannot stop talking and this series. The Acting, Story, Screenplay, Storytelling, Direction everything is on point. Chang Yang is greenest green flag you’ll ever see. I personally did not like the second couple’s story that much but Chang Yang and Qing Lang are the best. This story talks about love, life and death in a very unique way than other any other drama I’ve watched till now. I have seen a lot of people giving bd reviews after a certain incident in ep13 but in my opinion that is what the story is about, true love is always raw and if you are someone who only expects happy endings for all stories it isn’t for you. I wanna say this to main cast Jingyu and Kuma - You guys fucking amazing keep up the good work guys. This story is written for you. LoveWas this review helpful to you?
Feels like watching a Stage Play on screen......with a lot of uncomfortable silence
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75About ⅓ of the drama, a sudden thought came to me….I feel like I am watching a stage play on screen.
This might explain why I didn’t quite connect with this Director’s style. I also didn’t love “Secrets Happened on the Litchi Island” as much as many viewers.
I came in with high expectations as everyone is raving about “A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Springs Hill’s Dream” (this is a mouthful and I’ll just call it A Winter Sun), and you can see it from the high ratings. Not loving this drama is definitely a “me” problem and my review is very subjective and you might disagree with everything I say.
The reason why I felt I was watching a stage play is because of the large amount of silence, and the choppy and disconnected scene transition. Silence when used well, is impactful and gives viewers a chance to feel what the characters are feeling. J-dramas do a very good job with silence. But for “A Winter Sun”, I feel prolonged discomfort and a lack of action and plot. But then, once in a while, it would play some funny sound bites. The sound editing in this drama is weird to me. It really feels like I am watching a stage play. Additionally, the scene transition sometimes feels all over the place. It doesn’t flow very well, and this affected the storylines for me. But this drama has some interesting music. It feels like I am watching a wuxia drama. LOL
However, I enjoy the cinematography. I love that we explore the village, the forest, scenes of the ocean and cliffs. I love that the drama explores nature in such a realistic yet beautiful way. I also really like the lack of dubbing. You can hear the actors speaking their own lines, and often recorded live (of course I could be totally wrong). No dubbing is always better than dubbing to me. But, I do need to point out the volume is inconsistent. Some lines are spoken louder than others, and not all actors enunciate clearly.
What about the plot itself? I think the story is good. There’s enough interesting stories happening within these 16 episodes. Do I think they are all equally good? Not at all. I dislike the secondary couple very much. I don’t like their storyline, their acting and adding to my dislike of the filming style, it’s not enjoyable at all.
I do like that both male leads have love brains. One can scheme for years for a chance or planned encounter. One can drop everything at the drop of a hat and fly to his lover’s side. They are made for each other. They are obsessed with each other. It took me a while to buy into their love story, but once I am in, I am all for it. Execution may not be perfect, but I love seeing the lovebirds together. Their chemistry is great. And did you see their kisses? Best in CBLs. Both are actively participating, passionate and loving, hungry and gentle. Oh, if you love kisses, you gotta check out the other ‘theater series’ on Gagaoolala and I heard they are also behind YouTube’s paywall. There are soooo many more passionate kisses that were not included in the drama. I guess that’s how they make money.
I have another ship, but that didn’t sail. In fact, that ship gave us some of the most emotional scenes. I was hoping for a different ending, but the drama definitely gives us a very memorable one.
The acting is OK to me. The leads aren’t bad, but not excellent. The supporting cast isn’t that great. Kuma is the most experienced of the bunch. For a few of them, this is their first drama, so I wasn’t expecting much. But I do have to say, even the veteran actors aren’t that impressive.
Despite liking some elements of “A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hill's Dream”, I can’t say I had an excellent time watching it (it was an OK time). I do enjoy the later episodes more than the early ones. Maybe I got used to the style, or maybe there are more engaging storylines. As I said, I fully acknowledge this could be a “me” problem, as apparently, many viewers are rating this a high 9-10. I just don’t vibe with this style very much. If I try to recall how I feel about “Secrets Happened on the Litchi Island”, my gut feeling was more positive then. Therefore, I am going to rate this a 7.75 based on my enjoyable level.
Drama Completed: 8/20/2026 Review #715
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Stunning, Immersive, and Emotionally Rich
FINAL UPDATE — 16/16The final three episodes confirmed everything I already felt about this drama.
Out of nearly 145 dramas I have completed, this is now one of only three I would place at the very top.
The finale stayed true to everything that made the series extraordinary: beautiful visual storytelling, emotional restraint, layered themes, meaningful callbacks, and characters whose choices felt earned.
The five-year wait between Qinglang and Changyang was painful, but it made their reunion — simply, “I’m back” — incredibly powerful. Their quiet wedding in the mountains was the perfect final image.
The “Moths to a Flame” sequence was also a stunning culmination of the drama’s themes around fame, public opinion, fandom, and destruction.
Beautiful. Immersive. Deeply emotional. Stunning.
One of the best dramas I have ever watched.
Original review:
I keep seeing people call A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills’ Dream one of the best BL dramas they have ever watched, or one of the best Chinese BLs. For me, that is way too limiting.
This is simply one of the best dramas I have watched. Ever.
I have completed more than 140 dramas across multiple genres and countries, and only a tiny handful have ever reached what I personally consider my absolute top tier. Unless something goes terribly wrong in the final three episodes, Winter Sun is headed there.
The best word I can find for this drama is stunning. Another is immersive.
There is something almost melodic about the way it tells its story. The overall tone is gentle and atmospheric, sometimes almost peaceful, even while enormous and life-changing events are happening. It never feels as though the drama is shouting at the audience, THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART. CRY NOW. It trusts silence, scenery, music, framing, expressions, and the audience’s ability to understand what is happening beneath the dialogue.
The cinematography is extraordinary, but not merely because the mountains, tea fields, forests, lakes, and snow-covered landscapes are beautiful. The camera itself participates in the storytelling.
A reflection in tea.
A face appearing in a small makeup mirror while another reflection blurs.
Fog swallowing someone from view.
A character framed alone in a place that was once filled with another person.
Again and again, the visual composition adds meaning rather than simply making the drama pretty.
And then there is the writing.
There are multiple couples and several major storylines, yet none of them feels like filler. The secondary relationships are not decorative romances inserted between scenes of the main couple. They have their own histories, conflicts, emotional trajectories, and consequences. An episode can spend relatively little time with Qinglang and Changyang and still be completely engrossing because the other characters are carrying equally meaningful stories.
Small conversations from much earlier episodes return later with entirely new emotional significance. Objects and ideas become motifs. A philosophical conversation about time that initially seems almost casual can later become devastating. A flower mentioned repeatedly becomes part of a character’s final story. The drama remembers what it has told us.
The acting has also impressed me tremendously. There are quiet performances here that could easily be overlooked because nobody is screaming or dramatically collapsing every five minutes. Characters communicate through hesitation, eye movement, posture, silence, restraint, and physical distance. When the emotional explosions finally come, they feel earned because the emotion has been accumulating underneath the surface for so long.
And yes, the chemistry between the couples — especially Qinglang and Changyang — is exceptional.
This drama contains a surprisingly high level of physical intimacy, including some very intense kissing scenes and additional “Small Theater” scenes. But that is not why I love it. In fact, if the same level of intimacy existed without this story underneath it, I would probably lose interest.
The physical intimacy works because it belongs to the relationships being portrayed. It grows naturally from the characters, their emotional closeness, their longing, their reconciliation, their fear of losing one another. It never feels as though the plot has stopped so the production can insert a scene designed only to create a viral clip.
That distinction matters.
I have loved other BL dramas with far fewer intimate scenes because fewer scenes were appropriate for those particular stories. Here, the physicality fits. It enhances relationships that were already compelling without it.
What I perhaps admire most about Winter Sun is its atmosphere. This is one of the rare dramas I actively choose not to binge.
Not because I am bored.
Not because I have to convince myself to continue.
Quite the opposite.
I desperately want the next episode, but I often watch only one and then wait a day or two because each episode requires so much emotional engagement. There is too much to absorb — the plot, performances, scenery, visual motifs, music, relationships, and the things characters do not say aloud.
I need time to come back out of its world before I enter it again.
That is an extraordinarily rare experience for me.
I originally began watching this as a BL. Somewhere along the way, the genre label stopped being remotely sufficient to describe what I was watching.
A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills’ Dream is romantic, painful, intimate, beautifully acted, visually breathtaking, layered, emotionally intelligent, and profoundly atmospheric.
Three episodes remain.
If it lands the ending, this will not be one of my favorite BL dramas.
It will be one of my favorite dramas ever.
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Beautiful poetry
The majority of this series is pure art, like beautifully captivating poetry. I already know I will be rewatching this many times.There are just a couple of things that, for me, dragged the story down to an 8.5
- Secondary couple? Absolutely unnecessary. Their pairing/plot contributed nothing to the overall story of the series; I basically skipped almost every single one of their scenes.
- Qianliang's past pairing? Too much power. They presented him as an actor with no longer any significant fame and no future, so how is it that he seemed to have so much power for practically the entirety of the series? Even in his death at the end, I mean, we kinda see it coming, which is fine, but then why all the implied hate towards Qianliang at a point where it no longer brings any weight or meaning to the plot?
- Too many tragedies. I understand that the first death was necessary for the individual development of all the other characters. But Qiantian's? That felt unnecessarily cruel towards his pain-filled character, who seems to finally be finding peace, and even asks for time to grieve a bit before starting his new story. Also, the way he died felt very muddy; I don't really understand the mystery surrounding it. And then the third death... it felt unnecessary and meaningless. I understand why his character would have done that earlier in the series: he had no fame left, no genuine people left, and even realised he was truly in love with Qianliang when he himself saw it was waaaaay too late; but to do it after everything has passed? After his redemption arc, plus 5 years into the future, where he even seems to be on good terms with Qianliang and is even mentioned to have retired? Make it make sense.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this series, and I do plan to rewatch it multiple times in the future, but I will be skipping over what seems to be about a quarter of the series.
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A Poignant Disappointment
If you are expecting this review to be one of glowing expressions and falling in line with the vast majority of people who think this series is some masterpiece, then you had best move on. You will be disappointed. I separated the presentation of this series, which is phenomenal, from the story itself because for me the presentation overwhelms what is a very weak, confusing, and disjointed story. I could never put my finger on exactly what it was we were to be concentrating on. And therefore, I found my emotions being scattered and torn in all different directions. I was truly surprised by my reaction to this series. Although I liked it more than I disliked it, not by much, however. Its visual presentation is stunning. Its screenplay is first-rate. Its cinematography is top-notch. Its story lacked conviction. I say this not to be condemnatory but the whole idea of trying to find a commonality to pampered privileged individuals who are in a world completely unrelated to my own in which one can retire at an age between 20 to 30 something and wait around for his lover for 5 years in a paradise world so carefree is completely alien to me and one no tugging-at-heart-strings can make me feel I can relate. I cannot. To even promote that is counterproductive, excessive, and solipsistic. That is why I disliked the story. It was just too overindulgent for me to enjoy. Surprisingly as it sounds, I am deeply affected on a personal level by the intent on a BL story. I found very little to this story romantically beautiful or emotionally enriching. This one left me feeling very empty and sad.Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful and confounding
I love this drama. It's cinematography is one of the best in the business. You can tell a lot of love went into making this.However, I absolutely detest when I watch something and then have to go do homework to understand what I just watched because of writing or directorial decisions. It feels manipulative at best, and incompetent at worst. There were so many gaps in the story that I let go of because I love this drama. I gave it thee benefit of the doubt so often, that by the end I just shrugged and said maybe I'm too stupid to get it so why bother. An unfortunate conclusion to quite the thrilling watching experience.
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So close to perfection, but unfortunately fell short for me
I feel like this could have so easily been a 10/10 for me, or at least a 9/10 except for a few major issues.One, this is a deeply philosophical drama. Everything has more than one layer. But because I don't speak Chinese, it was frustrating to constantly feel like I'm missing out on the depth. A lot of things I could only understand by reading people's explanations on Reddit. The most egregious example is not even understanding what Hunter School was until after the series was over, because it was just never explained. While anyone can enjoy this drama, it was primarily made for Chinese people steeped in Chinese culture, so I always felt like I was participating from the sidelines.
Secondly, the 2nd couple didn't really feel like they added much to the story. I understand them thematically as a parallel to Qing Lang & Shi Yuhao, but they weren't that well written. We didn't get to know them as much as our main characters, so it was a struggle to understand their motivations. (e.g. why did Han Lu bring his boss' daughter to a meeting with his sugar daddy?????) I think they could have been removed without anything really changing.
Lastly, I hate, hate, hate how the show handed Qing Tian's death. I appreciated his death, even though it broke my heart, and I thought Zelia was very brave for allowing her story to go there. But I can't lie: I got whiplash from the next episode. After spending so much time with Qing Lang, following his every emotion, it felt odd for us not to grieve with him. By the next episode Qing Tian is basically gone from the story and the show keeps on moving. It felt inauthentic and created a disconnect that I just couldn't recover from. Lan Jie got more mention than Qing Tian after both of their deaths, and I don't like that one bit.
I really thought this would be a 10/10 show, but alas. Not sure it's one I'll revisit, but it was beautiful while it lasted.
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I Don’t Know What Happened, But Damn… It Was Beautiful.
I genuinely don’t know how to rate this because, what the fuck was going on?When I first saw the title 'A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring’s Hills Dream', I was like… excuse me??? But the more I watched, the more I understood why the title felt so strange. This entire drama feels like a dream.
The cinematography, the lush green landscapes, the endless tea fields in Molie, the sound design, the soundtrack, the visual effects — EVERYTHING was beautiful. Zelia deserves enormous credit because you can feel how much of her creative hand is in this production. Some of those songs had me running to Spotify immediately.
And the love story? Beautiful. Dreamy. Almost surreal.
But here’s my problem: I don’t think the story was told properly. 😂
I finished the entire drama and, if you asked me to explain exactly what happened, I genuinely could not. There are past lives, future lives, lifetimes ago, people recognizing each other from previous existences, an unexplained “hunter school,” an eight-year-old heartbreak that is treated like it happened last Tuesday, multiple timelines, and an ending where I’m still sitting here wondering: Are they alive? Are they dead? Is this Earth? Is this heaven? Is this a dream? WHAT IS HAPPENING?
And somehow… I still loved it.
That might actually be the wildest thing about this drama. It is so beautifully made that sometimes you stop noticing that you have no idea what is going on. 😂 You become so absorbed in the atmosphere that your brain goes, “Don’t worry about the plot. Look at the grass- Just look at MOLIE!"
And the grass was BEAUTIFUL. 😭
But I also have to talk about the deaths because… three??? Why??? Two suicides, and both were heavy. One character’s death especially left me wondering what exactly we were supposed to take from it. The dreamlike presentation made everything even more ambiguous, but I’m not sure all of that ambiguity worked in the story’s favour.
There are definitely flaws here. Some things felt underdeveloped, some things felt like they had been cut out, and some explanations were simply missing. I think the production is much stronger than the storytelling.
But the production is SO strong.
This is one of those dramas where I can completely understand someone giving it 10/10 because they were swept away by the experience. I may not give the story a 10, because, babes, I need answers. But visually? Sonically? Atmospherically? It is something else.
And honestly, the fact that I can sit here saying, “I don’t understand this story,” while simultaneously saying, “WOW, that was beautiful,” is impressive in itself.
So, huge respect to Zelia. This was not a perfect story, but it was an unforgettable experience.
Especially at the ending, I don’t know what happened. I don’t know who was alive. I don’t know who was dead. I don’t know whether they were dreaming, remembering, or existing in some kind of afterlife.
But damn…
It was dreamy.
And one more thing: MOLIE 🥹
I NEED to go there now. That place was BEAUTIFUL. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I watched this drama and apparently came out wanting to abandon my entire life and become a tea farmer. 🤣
But not just anywhere.
I want to dream of being a tea farmer in Molie.
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Would have been a Solid 10 if they didn't kiss so much
Would have been a 10/10 butTL;DR -
Changyang kinda creepy.
They kiss too much.
Hated the 2nd lead.
ShuTian my babies :((
This was one of those shows that comes in like a soft breeze but leaves like a storm. I loved every aspect of this show. From the cinematography to every last drop of tear that this series made me shed. The characters were well written. Their complexities definitely drove me deeper into the series.
I love Feng QingLang so much. I wish I could protect him with my entire being.
Xu Changyang, well he was something. I loved him the most through the first 8 episodes. I mean, who doesn't love a straightforward man who is amazing with his words and worships the ground you walk on?
But, after a while, Xu ChangYang came off as creepy/obsessive to me rather than likeable. I don't think he was a green forest. He monopolized QingLang's entire life since the moment they had that incident at the hotel. I personally would be hella irked.
But, who am I to say? QingLang definitely loves a little possessive boy. QingLang was out of his pants as soon as Changyang revealed another one of borderline criminal offense.
However, man, they kiss too much! It was hot as fuck in the first few eps. But then it got too repetitive, didn't add to the plot, became quite anticipatory. So much so, it made me groan in boredom the moment they got closer than 5 inches. I don't think queer romances need to imitate corn to stay relevant.
Albeit the actors having gorgeous chemistry, after a point the NC scenes felt like they were being played out for an audience — an audience of straight women.
And the 2nd couple — didnt even bother getting their names tbh — WAS SUCH A MESS??
What was even happening with them. I would hit the forward button as soon as they appeared on screen. The dude who played the bottom among them definitely had potential though.
And, oh Lord, I cannot emphasize enough on how hard QingTian and Xu Wenshu CRUSHED me. Hello?? That was so unnecessary. I don't even wanna talk about it tbh. They weren't even the main couple, why did he have to suffer like that.
I wish they were the 2nd couple atleast, because they genuinely had great chemistry as well and I was invested in their story.
All in all, it was amazing. BLs like this come once in a while and leave yoh recommending them for a long long time until something else comes and fills their spot.
I will forever appreciate the skills and the eye for art that this production house has. They managed to capture the beauty of nature and the mess within it so captivatingly. Definitely made me want to stop everything and start a life in a secluded tea forest.
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One word. Masterpiece
A series that is SO hard to let go.Multiple weeks of watching you, my love. 16 episodes of pure magic and awe. If you could marry a TV show, I would definitely marry you. There wasn't a single dull episode that I can remember. Not one.
A lot of people may not understand you, and honestly, I don't even know how I would explain to them what they're missing. A masterpiece. A work of art. I don't even know what else to call you anymore. Zelia, you have all of our respect. 🥹
If you're looking for beautiful cinematography, breathtaking shooting locations, incredible casting, and an OST that feels like magic, here it is. I'm serving this masterpiece to you.
This is not your normal series. You'll fall in love with the depth of the love they show. The kind of love that is pure, but not innocent. Is that even possible? Because somehow, this series made it possible.
Green-forest characters? YES. Angst? Absolutely. Romance? Deeper than I expected. And do you know how many times I cried, smiled, laughed, and just completely got lost in space while watching this?
And somehow, beneath all the magic, this series also feels like a subtle documentary about what really happens in the entertainment industry behind the cameras. The reality it carries, especially in China, where queer media has so many limitations, makes this story hit even harder.
The script was beautifully written. It may feel magical, but somehow, it still serves you reality. Lines filled with meaning that just slap you right in the heart.
And NC? Honestly, it's optional at this point. Most of their intimate scenes are just kissing, but damn, I'm NOT complaining. It fits them. It's enough. Sometimes, a kiss can say everything.
While watching, you might find yourself wondering, "What is happening?" You might even think some scenes are random.
But NO.
Everything is calculated. Everything has its place. Every detail eventually makes sense. Everything feels cinematic, yet somehow realistic.
What else can I even say?
This might be my first 10/10 series. And I'm putting it straight to my #1.
Zelia, you created something I don't think I'll be able to let go of anytime soon. ❤️
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a place i'll return to forever (*˘︶˘*).｡*♡
well, i never write reviews here, but this one wouldn't let me stay silent...i feel like no words are enough to describe what it feels like to watch 'A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hill's Dream', at first i was captivated by the title alone, it felt unique, poetic, and full of meaning, even though i wasn't familiar with 'a winter sun's games, then i fell in love with the cinematography, the way it captures the beauty of nature is simply mesmerizing, after that i started to fall in love with the characters, how xu changyang could be so young and so mature, incredibly aware of how things should be, how life works, and so connected with nature, and how feng qinglang was so intense yet so calm, powerful with nothing more than a single glance and loved to see his growth, how lan jie brought such warmth and steadiness, they just got my heart warmer everytime they show us the bond between lan jie and qinglang, it was beautiful to see how their love and care for each other was genuine... and qingtian, such a pure soul, i can only hope that in another life he lives a long and a beautiful one with the one he loves, i got so emotional when i saw that whenshu ge came back to the great snow mountain to see the flower, and to remember him... and what can i even say about changyang and qinglang? they are truly everything to each other, it felt like a blessing to witness a relationship built on patience (a lot!), understanding, and quiet devotion, their bond became so deep that they barely needed words to understand one another, in the end they left who they were to become who they chose to be, together, lovingly marrying in the woods, where they belong, it was insanely beautiful... <3
I was overall in love with this production, the script so rich in every tiny detail, the background music and ost's was always gorgeous even if i didnt understand a single thing i could feel that it was heavily meaningful, all the 16 episodes are so strongly emotional we just went from 1 to 100 emotions in 40 minutes, i completely gave myself to this drama, each ep i was even more amazed and more grateful to be alive to watch it, it may not be for everyone but definitely the masterpiece of the century for me, definitely the most beautiful, unique, meaningful, poetic, utopic and emotionally honest thing i watched in my whole life, even at the very devastating moment it was the most incredible day i could experience... I know I'll be coming back to this story for the rest of my life!
It may look messy but i wrote this from the bottom of my heart, i hope it feels like what i felt while watching, i just have to say thank you Zelia, and thank you 'A Winter Sun Wakes The Wind In Spring Hill's Dream'! <3
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if only there wasn't so much silence....
I will give this show a biased 6.5 mainly because the big thing dragging this show down for me is the lack of any music but many other viewers may not agree with the weight at which music holds in a show as I view it. I think the plot of the show was rather logical and does showcase more realistic aspects of the c-drama and c-actors industry. Maybe one exception would be how okay many people were with the leads being a couple when that would not fly in reality but over the plot and actors did a rather satisfactory job.Now I'm going to move onto what completely dragged this show down for me. When I realised the production company and director was that of 'Secrets that happened on lichi island' I already knew I was not going to enjoy this show. For me personally I could not get past episode 2 of SHOLI purely due to the silence that the audience was left with. Although I did enjoy the cinematography, I felt like I was watching a documentary when watching both bls this company has produced. Honestly I am not impressed at all with the way post-production was completed. You cannot have the background be silent 99% of the time. For me personally, it left me feeling claustrophobic and uncomfortable the whole time which then affected my ability to enjoy the beautiful shots of the tea forests and nature. Honestly it felt like my ears got chopped off and aside from the main leads, NONE of the supporting leads knew how to act. I could literally imagine the blocking of how each seen worked because the side and background characters were unnecesseraly stiff and unnatural. The music and background characters really ruined a show I think has great potential but it just fell short on what it could actually offer unfortunately.
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