Chinese quality controls

I don't think it passed China's censorship. It's airing on Viki and GagaoLala, none originated from mainland China. BL is still prohibited there, except if it's illogical or has out of this world plot (fantasy) like upcoming omegaverse drama ABO Desire which would air in a few platforms including Youku on 12 July.

Just saying.

 BLLoversLink:

So that some of you can stop obsessing, disturbing others and start enjoying the drama on its own merits:

Revenged Love has already passed China’s censorship process. Everything made in China MUST pass through quality controls whether it will be broadcast on only foreign media streaming platforms or not.

Chinese BL fans and other viewers in China are watching it and loving it, such that it is one of the most popular IPs in CDramaLand today, overshadowing some bigger budget dramas with major actors in the cast.

Hope that helps.  There’s too much negativity in the world right now to spread false information and panic; just sit back and enjoy the show and allow others to do the same.

Since you posted inaccurate information, I have compiled an informative overview that explains why this drama was filmed and distributed under an international rather than a Chinese licence. The drama is only accessible in China via VPN – though this has never deterred fans (see dramas by GMMTV and others).

🇨🇳 Chinese Censorship for TV Series & Online Dramas

Regulatory Process (Since Mid-2022)
According to Chinese censorship regulations for film and television production, all projects – including online dramas – must undergo the following approval stages:

1. Application for project approval
2. Script approval
3. Production-related approvals
    (e.g. filming locations, title)
4. Issuance of a public screening licence
    – the so-called “Dragon Seal” (龙标 for films shown in cinemas
    – the so-called "Red insignia" (网标 for online series)

• For cinema releases, the Dragon Seal is green
• For online series, it is red - the Red Insignia 

Until mid-2022, online series were not subject to the same stringent licensing process as films. A simpler system was in place. This has since changed. The rationale behind this policy shift is that productions are expected to meet higher standards, undergo more refined development, and improve in overall quality (source: Deng Boren, Vice President of Bilibili).

Misconceptions Regarding BL Dramas

Following the legal change, many netizens (particularly on Weibo) began claiming that BL (Boys’ Love) series were now banned.

• The regulation applies equally across all genres
• Many BL dramas had already been filmed in “bromance” format prior to the law change – this remains compliant with current regulations
• There is no law that specifically targets the BL genre

Current Restrictions: What Content is Prohibited?

The censorship guidelines list a wide range of disallowed tropes and themes. The focus lies not merely on genre, but on the ethical and social implications of the storyline.

Sexuality & Relationships

• No graphic sexual or pornographic content
• No physical intimacy shown below the neck
• No explicit kissing, such as fingers in the mouth
• No polyamorous relationships (in modern dramas)
• No incest (including biological, adoptive, or step-relations – unless the marriage is no longer valid)
• No BDSM or fetish content
• No coercive love (e.g. manipulation, imprisonment)
• No teacher–student romantic relationships during school years
   → Former students meeting teachers later in life = permitted
• No adult–minor relationships
   → Exception: if set in ancient times and the minor is 16 or older
• No romances between humans and animals
   → Exception: shapeshifters who appear fully human

Violence, Crime & Moral Order

• Kidnapping, drug dealing, human trafficking:
   → Only permitted in secondary plots
   → Offenders must be punished – no happy endings for perpetrators
• Prostitution: Permitted only in minor roles, and must be depicted negatively
• Cults, occultism, dark rituals: Entirely banned
• Historical mockery: Satirical or disrespectful portrayals of real events or historical figures (e.g. WWII) are prohibited
• Discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion, gender, or nationality is not allowed

Politics & Historical Context

• No depiction of real-life political or military conflicts
• Fictional settings are allowed
   → E.g. countries named “Pumpkin” or “Pineapple” may be used in place of real nations
• Historical dramas must be factually accurate, particularly in relation to key national figures or historical periods

Other Legal & Industry Examples

Censorship of Specific Tropes (with Drama References):

• Immortality – Teacher–student dynamic (Mo Ran was 15 when he developed romantic feelings for his shifu)
• Winner is King – Romance between an adoptive father (Gu Yun) and son (Chang Geng), and highly political content
• Incest – Sibling romances are strictly prohibited
• Pornographic content – Fully banned

Note: These tropes sparked the rumour that BL dramas are banned – yet several “bromance” dramas have aired successfully since.

Notable Controversies

• AO3 – The 227 Incident: A fanfic that shipped actors (Xiao Zhan & Wang Yibo), not their characters, triggered massive backlash and the banning of the platform
• The Legendary Life of Queen Lau: Removed after criticism for Japanese cultural elements (e.g. costumes, cuisine); netizens felt this disrespected China’s wartime history
• Love Never Fails: Lead actress Yuan Bingyan was implicated in a tax scandal; the project was written off by investors
• The Imperial Age: Delayed due to historically inaccurate scenes; Chinese authorities increasingly demand precise historical fidelity

Summary & Recommendation

• The 2022 reforms introduced stricter regulations across all drama types
• The “Dragon Seal” is now compulsory for both films and online series
• The guidelines are not anti-BL, but anti-certain tropes
• Online speculation is unreliable – always verify with credible sources

Reminder: If a drama contains controversial tropes, characters must face real consequences – otherwise, the project risks being denied a licence.

In summary, it can be concluded that the drama does not have a licence from the NRTA (National Radio and Television Administration), as neither the green dragon nor the red insignia are shown before the opening credits, and is therefore not broadcast in Mainland China. 

I'm not saying Chinese drama only air on mainland China platforms. I'm saying Revenged Love (BL drama which air on Viki and GagaooLala) is not airing on any mainland China platform means the BL's ban in mainland China is still exist. It doesn't matter if it's Chinese production, as long as it doesn't air on mainland China platform, the ban is still there.

But if you think I'm wrong, then maybe I misunderstand the BL's ban in China.

Yeah, A Dream within A Dream is iirc iQIYI's production but it exist in WeTV (Tencent outside China) in my country.

To prove the ban is still there:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_China

You can skip into Censorship of LGBT activism and content

This is the latest news regarding BL writers who wrote for a Taiwan BL platform posted 2 days ago:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c056nle2drno

Quoting some words:

"The Chinese government wants to promote traditional family values and liking danmei novels is seen as a factor in making women less willing to have children," Dr Ge explains.

This is the second wave of mass arrests in less than a year - late last year, some 50 Haitang writers were prosecuted. A famous author who earned about 1.85 million yuan was jailed for nearly five years.

The two crackdowns are similar, according to a lawyer who had represented some of the defendants last year, "but this time, even those with minor involvement weren't spared".

This should be the first ban confirmed:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/mar/04/china-bans-gay-people-television-clampdown-xi-jinping-censorship

So BL is still banned in mainland China. The censored adaptation is banned too as it encourages people to read the IP, which usually contains pornographic.

One of Above comment says:

Note: These tropes sparked the rumour that BL dramas are banned – yet several “bromance” dramas have aired successfully since.

This statement is misleading. Of course, "bromances" have successfully aired because they are Bromances (especially if they followed the strict guidelines) and NOT BL. So BL is still essentially banned. 

The regulations are not specific to one genre as mentioned, but among other things it is also anti-LGBTQ representations of any form. Whether it's audio, print, broadcast television, or online streaming as long as they are publicly accessible in China, and are knowingly profiting from Chinese consumers, the anti-LGBT rules apply.

Though the Chinese Regulators cannot in essence do anything to those who consume these works via VPN, they can circumvent these loopholes, if they are so inclined, on Chinese citizens who contributed, participated, or were involved in these International-only release productions, and may or may not detain them on non-existent charges, ban them from certain activities, etc etc. 

CCP will take any means necessary to quell dissenting voices, or any expression of thought that is not in line with their traditional philosophy and values. If recent arrests (and also previous too) are not an indication of a primarily anti-homophobic government, I don't know what is.

Depictions of Homosexuality ARE banned. Stop making disgusting excuses for homophobic policies. Here's proof: http://www.xinhuanet.com/zgjx/2017-07/01/c_136409024.htm. It says in chinese "displaying and showing abnormal sexual relationships and sexual bheaviors, such as incest, homosexuality, sexual perversion, sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual violence" are banned. 

 KG:

Depictions of Homosexuality ARE banned. Stop making disgusting excuses for homophobic policies. Here's proof: http://www.xinhuanet.com/zgjx/2017-07/01/c_136409024.htm. It says in chinese "displaying and showing abnormal sexual relationships and sexual bheaviors, such as incest, homosexuality, sexual perversion, sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual violence" are banned. 

💯 With all the "research" above, the statement specifying anti- LGBT sentiment was glaringly omitted. If it's just rumor mongering, then reputable, legitimate news sites would not have picked up on it.

This information is easily searchable and to be so selective, is just denying the essential fact that homophobic policies DO exist in China (and strictly enforced, compared to non-LGBTQ works).

Case in point, if the problem with these BL authors are their sexually explicit works, then why not also arrest those authors who write straight pornography???? The difference between the two is obvious. I'm hoping people are smart enough to figure it out.