Some info about Republic Of China (ROC) 1912-1949: Summary from wikipedia: Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC). Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland. https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Some info about Republic Of China (ROC) 1912-1949: Summary from wikipedia: Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC). Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland. https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Some info about Republic Of China (ROC) 1912-1949: Summary from wikipedia: Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC). Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland. https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Some info about Republic Of China (ROC) 1912-1949: Summary from wikipedia: Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC). Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland. https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Some info about Republic Of China (ROC) 1912-1949: Summary from wikipedia: Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC). Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland. https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Some info about Republic Of China (ROC) 1912-1949: Summary from wikipedia: Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC). Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland. https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Some info about Republic Of China (ROC) 1912-1949: Summary from wikipedia: Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC). Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland. https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
I'm happy that more recent Chinese drama have variety genres like sci-fi, quick transmigration, horror folklore.
For sci-fi genre, the anticipation for The Infinite 10 days to air is on top because it adapted from famous novel, has good director, screenwriter and of course the talented casts especially the main lead is Xiao Zhan. So I believe the result for this drama will be good!
Chinese drama with interesting theme that I want to watch: Please be good, directors and screenwriters!
Li Yi Tong is giving me auntie vibes :( Please don't hate me but i got the same vibes in "WOACN" :( There's something…
To like or dislike an actor/actress is personal preference. So if you feel Li Yi Tong is giving you auntie vibes, that your personal preference.
But in real life, Li Yi Tong and Liu Yu Ning are in same age since they both were born in 1990.
If Li Yi Tong is auntie, then Liu Yu Ning is uncle. Good, that means they both match each other then.
This remind me that some people complained that Liu Yu Ning don't match with Song Zu Er in The Prisoner Of Beauty because he is 7 years older than her in real life LOL
Some people also complained that thay can't watch The Prisoner Of Beauty because according to them, Liu Yu Ning is ugly and doesn't has the typical handsome anime face like just like usual Chinese actors that become main male lead. Again, everything is personal preferance.
Sorry to interrupt. It may be rare but there are other Chinese dramas whether romance is their main genre or not, produced from original scripts.
From Chinese articles that I read using google translate, the main reason there are less Chinese dramas from original scripts nowadays is because to gain more quick profit in easy way, many producer, director and screenwriter in Chinese entertainment industry especially for romance genre usually adapted popular Chinese novels or Chinese comic (manhua) or Chinese anime (donghua) that already have established fanbase to dramas so they could attracted the fans of those novels/manhua/donghua to their dramas.
I hope there will be more Chinese dramas that produce from original scripts but entertainment industry is a business after all and nobody want to gain loss when making business.
I'm still watching Chinese dramas that are adaptions from novels/manhua/donghua but I won't deny that I get more excitement when watching dramas from original scripts although to be honest, there no such thing as 100% spoiler free in current world because we get to see many spoiler on international social media like Tiktok, X, IG or Chinese social media like Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu.
List of some Chinese dramas that I know they are from original scripts, they are not adapted from any novels/manhua/donghua and are not remakes from any another dramas, movies or short stories.
Romance is the main genre: 1) Costumes: *xianxia, xuanhuan: fantasy with elements like magic, demon, immortal, fairy *historical: not historically accurate but no elements like magic, demon, immortal, fairy
Feud (2025) with Bai Lu & Zeng Shun Xi *will be on air starting from 6th June 2025 *Iqiyi *xianxia *32 episodes
Perfect Match (2025) with Lu Yu Xiao and Wang Xing Yue *finished airing on 11th February 2025 *MangoTv *historical, multiple couples *36 episodes https://kisskh.at/760155-perfect-match
2) Republican Era (1912 - 1949) *Began in 1912 with the end of the Qing dynasty, when the Xinhai Revolution and the formation of the Republic of China (ROC) put an end to 2,000 years of imperial rule *Ended in 1949 when the KMT-led government was defeated in the Chinese Civil War and lost control of the mainland to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Romance is not main genre: 1) What A Wonderful World (2025) with Yin Fang and Zhao Li Ying *finished airing on 1st June 2025 *Iqiyi *modern, mystery *8 episodes https://kisskh.at/761589-zai-ren-jian
2) Legend Of Zang Hai (2025) with Xiao Zhan and Zhang Jing Yi *finished airing on 3rd June 2025 *Youku *historical, male centered *40 episodes https://kisskh.at/56835-cang-hai-xi-lin
Another Youku new policy: First shoot a preview episode, and then shoot a 10-minute pilot preview short film. The plan is to select and train new directors, and the artists will be coordinated by Alibaba Entertainment Agency, but whether the project can pass the review is another matter. In addition, if the preview episode is well shot, it is still unknown whether the main creators will have the opportunity to officially join the project. https://x.com/ultra_melons/status/1914932869069521253 https://x.com/kpopsmileshop1/status/1915055792514039965
I don't encounter any similar rumor for Tencent or MangoTv new policy that they also will be like this so right now both of them still producing dramas with 40 episodes and 45 minutes based from their government rule. But I'm not surprised if they will implement similar new policy by reducing number of episodes like Iqiyi and Youku plan to do later if Tencent and MangoTv feel this new policy could gain more profits.
I'm hoping with new policy of reducing episodes, this also could means these Chinese entertainment platform will produce more original scripts later LOL
But I'm sure there will be more novel reader get piss off because less episodes means destroying their beloved novels with deleting many plots and characters since dramas with less episodes couldn't including many parts of Chinese novels that have hundreds sometime until thousand of chapters haha
Btw, other than kisskh, one of English webpage updated by fans that I use to check about info whether this Chinese drama is an original scripts or not is DramaWiki.
For example: for drama The Prisoner Of Beauty with Song Zu Er and Liu Yu Ning, on the "Production Credits" that located at the bottom, there was part: -Original Writing: Zhe Yao (折腰) by Peng Lai Ke- So I know this drama was adapted from novel. https://wiki.d-addicts.com/The_Prisoner_of_Beauty
while for drama A Dream Within A Dream with Li Yi Tong and Liu Yu Ning, it is an original scripts since there was no part about - Original Writing: ... by ... - https://wiki.d-addicts.com/A_Dream_Within_a_Dream
But not all dramas get completed info since this website is updated by fans so usually it is popular Chinese actors and actresses or popular Chinese dramas get more updated quickly than non popular actors and actresses and non popular dramas.
So if there's no update on DramaWiki, then my second choice will be translating Chinese website, Baidu, from Mandarin to English using Google Translate.
Really looking forward to A Dream Within A Dream!!!Li Yi Tong X Liu Yu ning ❤️
Yes, Liu Yu Ning get forced to marry again, this time with Li Yi Tong even when the main theme is "time travel into the novel" LOL
Song Zu Er also get into contract marriage with Chen Xin Hai in her next costume drama.
Yeah, main couple married each other because of forced/contract/arranged marriage before completely fall in love with each other is my top favourite trope in romance genre since I'm a teenager haha
Ming dynasty, not my favorite era but we'll see. Lol
Even Chen Xin Hai (born in 2001) that will pair with Song Zu Er (born in 1998) in her next costume drama is 3 years younger than her, I like him because to me he is not only depend on his tall height and good looking face but he also can act. https://kisskh.at/people/83319-chen-xin-hai
The problem is that drama screenwriter. According to people that already watch the screenwriter previous dramas, her dramas are just so so.
Also according to Song Zu Er fans comments that I read, she chosen that drama for her comeback as actress at the time before The Prisoner Of Beauty get to air. At that time, she just recovered from tax evasion accusation and she also willing lowered her fees so people in Chinese entertainment industry willing to hire her again.
And maybe it's not impossible that there not much offer so she just accepted it because she grateful there still drama production company that willing to hire her as main female lead.
https://kisskh.at/754577-swords-into-ploughshares
The Unseen Qin Empire
https://kisskh.at/778058-qin-mi
Northern Wei Dynasty
https://kisskh.at/770153-the-reign-of-northern-wei
These are among recent non idol dramas set in historical times that have casts with ACTING SKILLS from main roles to support roles.
https://kisskh.at/754577-swords-into-ploughshares
The Unseen Qin Empire
https://kisskh.at/778058-qin-mi
Northern Wei Dynasty
https://kisskh.at/770153-the-reign-of-northern-wei
These are among recent non idol dramas set in historical times that have casts with ACTING SKILLS from main roles to support roles.
https://kisskh.at/754577-swords-into-ploughshares
The Unseen Qin Empire
https://kisskh.at/778058-qin-mi
Northern Wei Dynasty
https://kisskh.at/770153-the-reign-of-northern-wei
These are among recent non idol dramas set in historical times that have casts with ACTING SKILLS from main roles to support roles.
Summary from wikipedia:
Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC).
Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland.
https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Recent Chinese dramas set in Republic Of China (1912-1949):
Overdo (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/779376-zhe-yi-miao
Archives: The Nanyang Mystery (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/700335-cases-of-the-south
Mystic Nine (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/692399-the-mystic-nine-2
A Prophet (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/789538-jiang-xiang
The Lament Of Autumn (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/776525-yu-dian-qiu
Reading Bones Identifying Hearts (transmigration, suspense, romance)
https://kisskh.at/804106-reading-bones-identifying-hearts
The Way You Come Back:
Based on the life of Dong Zhujun, a female entrepreneur, who founded the precursor to the Jin Jiang Hotel in Shanghai.
https://kisskh.at/76431-yu-lan-hua-kai-jun-zai-lai
Summary from wikipedia:
Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC).
Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland.
https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Recent Chinese dramas set in Republic Of China (1912-1949):
Overdo (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/779376-zhe-yi-miao
Archives: The Nanyang Mystery (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/700335-cases-of-the-south
Mystic Nine (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/692399-the-mystic-nine-2
A Prophet (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/789538-jiang-xiang
The Lament Of Autumn (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/776525-yu-dian-qiu
Reading Bones Identifying Hearts (transmigration, suspense, romance)
https://kisskh.at/804106-reading-bones-identifying-hearts
The Way You Come Back:
Based on the life of Dong Zhujun, a female entrepreneur, who founded the precursor to the Jin Jiang Hotel in Shanghai.
https://kisskh.at/76431-yu-lan-hua-kai-jun-zai-lai
Summary from wikipedia:
Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC).
Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland.
https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Recent Chinese dramas set in Republic Of China (1912-1949):
Overdo (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/779376-zhe-yi-miao
Archives: The Nanyang Mystery (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/700335-cases-of-the-south
Mystic Nine (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/692399-the-mystic-nine-2
A Prophet (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/789538-jiang-xiang
The Lament Of Autumn (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/776525-yu-dian-qiu
Reading Bones Identifying Hearts (transmigration, suspense, romance)
https://kisskh.at/804106-reading-bones-identifying-hearts
The Way You Come Back:
Based on the life of Dong Zhujun, a female entrepreneur, who founded the precursor to the Jin Jiang Hotel in Shanghai.
https://kisskh.at/76431-yu-lan-hua-kai-jun-zai-lai
Summary from wikipedia:
Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC).
Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland.
https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Recent Chinese dramas set in Republic Of China (1912-1949):
Overdo (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/779376-zhe-yi-miao
Archives: The Nanyang Mystery (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/700335-cases-of-the-south
Mystic Nine (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/692399-the-mystic-nine-2
A Prophet (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/789538-jiang-xiang
The Lament Of Autumn (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/776525-yu-dian-qiu
Reading Bones Identifying Hearts (transmigration, suspense, romance)
https://kisskh.at/804106-reading-bones-identifying-hearts
The Way You Come Back:
Based on the life of Dong Zhujun, a female entrepreneur, who founded the precursor to the Jin Jiang Hotel in Shanghai.
https://kisskh.at/76431-yu-lan-hua-kai-jun-zai-lai
Summary from wikipedia:
Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC).
Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland.
https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Recent Chinese dramas set in Republic Of China (1912-1949):
Overdo (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/779376-zhe-yi-miao
Archives: The Nanyang Mystery (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/700335-cases-of-the-south
Mystic Nine (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/692399-the-mystic-nine-2
A Prophet (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/789538-jiang-xiang
The Lament Of Autumn (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/776525-yu-dian-qiu
Reading Bones Identifying Hearts (transmigration, suspense, romance)
https://kisskh.at/804106-reading-bones-identifying-hearts
The Way You Come Back:
Based on the life of Dong Zhujun, a female entrepreneur, who founded the precursor to the Jin Jiang Hotel in Shanghai.
https://kisskh.at/76431-yu-lan-hua-kai-jun-zai-lai
Summary from wikipedia:
Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC).
Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland.
https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Recent Chinese dramas set in Republic Of China (1912-1949):
Overdo (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/779376-zhe-yi-miao
Archives: The Nanyang Mystery (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/700335-cases-of-the-south
Mystic Nine (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/692399-the-mystic-nine-2
A Prophet (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/789538-jiang-xiang
The Lament Of Autumn (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/776525-yu-dian-qiu
Reading Bones Identifying Hearts (transmigration, suspense, romance)
https://kisskh.at/804106-reading-bones-identifying-hearts
The Way You Come Back:
Based on the life of Dong Zhujun, a female entrepreneur, who founded the precursor to the Jin Jiang Hotel in Shanghai.
https://kisskh.at/76431-yu-lan-hua-kai-jun-zai-lai
Summary from wikipedia:
Began when the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, establishing the Republic of China (ROC).
Led initially by Sun Yat-sen, the era was marked by immense political turmoil, foreign invasion, and civil war before ending with the Communist victory on the mainland.
https://www.chinesehistorydigest.com/republic/overview-republic
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Rep/rep.html
Recent Chinese dramas set in Republic Of China (1912-1949):
Overdo (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/779376-zhe-yi-miao
Archives: The Nanyang Mystery (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/700335-cases-of-the-south
Mystic Nine (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/692399-the-mystic-nine-2
A Prophet (thriller)
https://kisskh.at/789538-jiang-xiang
The Lament Of Autumn (melodrama romance)
https://kisskh.at/776525-yu-dian-qiu
Reading Bones Identifying Hearts (transmigration, suspense, romance)
https://kisskh.at/804106-reading-bones-identifying-hearts
The Way You Come Back:
Based on the life of Dong Zhujun, a female entrepreneur, who founded the precursor to the Jin Jiang Hotel in Shanghai.
https://kisskh.at/76431-yu-lan-hua-kai-jun-zai-lai
Please be good, directors and screenwriters!
1) Sci-fi:
The Infinite 10 Days
https://kisskh.at/760855-shi-ri-zhong-yan
Us In Wonderland:
https://kisskh.at/754423-ming-ri-le-yuan
Red Moon Appeared:
https://kisskh.at/778078-red-moon-appeared
The Doll Game:
https://kisskh.at/807546-jin-tian-ye-mei-bian-cheng-wan-ou-ne
2) Quick transmigration
(transmigration from one manhua world to another world)
Executor Across Worlds:
https://kisskh.at/760681-wan-hua-shi-jie
3) Horror folklore:
Liao Zhai:
https://kisskh.at/778880-liao-zhai
Please give suggestion to me if you know another recent Chinese drama with interesting theme.
Please be good, directors and screenwriters!
1) Sci-fi:
The Infinite 10 Days
https://kisskh.at/760855-shi-ri-zhong-yan
Us In Wonderland:
https://kisskh.at/754423-ming-ri-le-yuan
Red Moon Appeared:
https://kisskh.at/778078-red-moon-appeared
The Doll Game:
https://kisskh.at/807546-jin-tian-ye-mei-bian-cheng-wan-ou-ne
2) Quick transmigration
(transmigration from one manhua world to another world)
Executor Across Worlds:
https://kisskh.at/760681-wan-hua-shi-jie
3) Horror folklore:
Liao Zhai:
https://kisskh.at/778880-liao-zhai
Please give suggestion to me if you know another recent Chinese drama with interesting theme.
Please be good, directors and screenwriters!
1) Sci-fi:
The Infinite 10 Days
https://kisskh.at/760855-shi-ri-zhong-yan
Us In Wonderland:
https://kisskh.at/754423-ming-ri-le-yuan
Red Moon Appeared:
https://kisskh.at/778078-red-moon-appeared
The Doll Game:
https://kisskh.at/807546-jin-tian-ye-mei-bian-cheng-wan-ou-ne
2) Quick transmigration
(transmigration from one manhua world to another world)
Executor Across Worlds:
https://kisskh.at/760681-wan-hua-shi-jie
3) Horror folklore:
Liao Zhai:
https://kisskh.at/778880-liao-zhai
Please give suggestion to me if you know another recent Chinese drama with interesting theme.
Please be good, directors and screenwriters!
1) Sci-fi:
The Infinite 10 Days
https://kisskh.at/760855-shi-ri-zhong-yan
Us In Wonderland:
https://kisskh.at/754423-ming-ri-le-yuan
Red Moon Appeared:
https://kisskh.at/778078-red-moon-appeared
The Doll Game:
https://kisskh.at/807546-jin-tian-ye-mei-bian-cheng-wan-ou-ne
2) Quick transmigration
(transmigration from one manhua world to another world)
Executor Across Worlds:
https://kisskh.at/760681-wan-hua-shi-jie
3) Horror folklore:
Liao Zhai:
https://kisskh.at/778880-liao-zhai
Please give suggestion to me if you know another recent Chinese drama with interesting theme.
Please be good, directors and screenwriters!
1) Sci-fi:
The Infinite 10 Days
https://kisskh.at/760855-shi-ri-zhong-yan
Us In Wonderland:
https://kisskh.at/754423-ming-ri-le-yuan
Red Moon Appeared:
https://kisskh.at/778078-red-moon-appeared
The Doll Game:
https://kisskh.at/807546-jin-tian-ye-mei-bian-cheng-wan-ou-ne
2) Quick transmigration
(transmigration from one manhua world to another world)
Executor Across Worlds:
https://kisskh.at/760681-wan-hua-shi-jie
3) Horror folklore:
Liao Zhai:
https://kisskh.at/778880-liao-zhai
Please give suggestion to me if you know another recent Chinese drama with interesting theme.
For sci-fi genre, the anticipation for The Infinite 10 days to air is on top because it adapted from famous novel, has good director, screenwriter and of course the talented casts especially the main lead is Xiao Zhan. So I believe the result for this drama will be good!
Chinese drama with interesting theme that I want to watch:
Please be good, directors and screenwriters!
1) Sci-fi:
The Infinite 10 Days
https://kisskh.at/760855-shi-ri-zhong-yan
Us In Wonderland:
https://kisskh.at/754423-ming-ri-le-yuan
Red Moon Appeared:
https://kisskh.at/778078-red-moon-appeared
The Doll Game:
https://kisskh.at/807546-jin-tian-ye-mei-bian-cheng-wan-ou-ne
2) Quick transmigration
(transmigration from one manhua world to another world)
Executor Across Worlds:
https://kisskh.at/760681-wan-hua-shi-jie
3) Horror folklore:
Liao Zhai:
https://kisskh.at/778880-liao-zhai
Please give suggestion to me if you know another recent Chinese drama with interesting theme.
So if you feel Li Yi Tong is giving you auntie vibes, that your personal preference.
But in real life, Li Yi Tong and Liu Yu Ning are in same age since they both were born in 1990.
If Li Yi Tong is auntie, then Liu Yu Ning is uncle.
Good, that means they both match each other then.
This remind me that some people complained that Liu Yu Ning don't match with Song Zu Er in The Prisoner Of Beauty because he is 7 years older than her in real life LOL
Some people also complained that thay can't watch The Prisoner Of Beauty because according to them, Liu Yu Ning is ugly and doesn't has the typical handsome anime face like just like usual Chinese actors that become main male lead. Again, everything is personal preferance.
From Chinese articles that I read using google translate, the main reason there are less Chinese dramas from original scripts nowadays is because to gain more quick profit in easy way, many producer, director and screenwriter in Chinese entertainment industry especially for romance genre usually adapted popular Chinese novels or Chinese comic (manhua) or Chinese anime (donghua) that already have established fanbase to dramas so they could attracted the fans of those novels/manhua/donghua to their dramas.
I hope there will be more Chinese dramas that produce from original scripts but entertainment industry is a business after all and nobody want to gain loss when making business.
I'm still watching Chinese dramas that are adaptions from novels/manhua/donghua but I won't deny that I get more excitement when watching dramas from original scripts although to be honest, there no such thing as 100% spoiler free in current world because we get to see many spoiler on international social media like Tiktok, X, IG or Chinese social media like Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu.
List of some Chinese dramas that I know they are from original scripts, they are not adapted from any novels/manhua/donghua and are not remakes from any another dramas, movies or short stories.
Romance is the main genre:
1) Costumes:
*xianxia, xuanhuan: fantasy with elements like magic, demon, immortal, fairy
*historical: not historically accurate but no elements like magic, demon, immortal, fairy
Feud (2025) with Bai Lu & Zeng Shun Xi
*will be on air starting from 6th June 2025
*Iqiyi
*xianxia
*32 episodes
The Unclouded Soul (Tan Song Yun & Hou Ming Hao) -still not on air
*Iqiyi
*xianxia
*40 episodes
https://kisskh.at/761021-xiao-yao
A Dream Within A Dream (Li Yi Tong & Liu Yu Ning) -still not on air
*Iqiyi
*historical
*38 episodes
https://kisskh.at/70247-jiang-dui-dui-chong-sheng-ji
Sweetest Rebellion (Xu Ruo Han & Zhou Ke Yu) -still not on air
*Iqiyi
*historical
*36 episodes
https://kisskh.at/777912-yi-zhen-chun-hua
Glory (Gulnezer Bextiyar and Hou Ming Hao) -still not on air
*MangoTv
*historical
*36 episodes
https://kisskh.at/772283-ming-men-shi-jia
Perfect Match (2025) with Lu Yu Xiao and Wang Xing Yue
*finished airing on 11th February 2025
*MangoTv
*historical, multiple couples
*36 episodes
https://kisskh.at/760155-perfect-match
2) Republican Era (1912 - 1949)
*Began in 1912 with the end of the Qing dynasty, when the Xinhai Revolution and the formation of the Republic of China (ROC) put an end to 2,000 years of imperial rule
*Ended in 1949 when the KMT-led government was defeated in the Chinese Civil War and lost control of the mainland to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Burning Night (Wang Yu Wen & Tian Jia Rui) -still not on air
*Youku
*30 episodes
https://kisskh.at/773139-ran-shuang-wei-zhou
Romance is not main genre:
1) What A Wonderful World (2025) with Yin Fang and Zhao Li Ying
*finished airing on 1st June 2025
*Iqiyi
*modern, mystery
*8 episodes
https://kisskh.at/761589-zai-ren-jian
2) Legend Of Zang Hai (2025) with Xiao Zhan and Zhang Jing Yi
*finished airing on 3rd June 2025
*Youku
*historical, male centered
*40 episodes
https://kisskh.at/56835-cang-hai-xi-lin
3) The Vendetta Of An (Cheng Yi) -still not on air
*Youku
*historical, male centered
*30 episode
https://kisskh.at/769667-chang-an-er-shi-si-ji
4).Born To Be Alive (Yang Zi) -still not on air
*Iqiyi
*modern, life
*40 episodes
https://kisskh.at/700343-life-tree
It seems that majority of dramas that produced from original scripts are from Iqiyi.
I read that Iqiyi and Youku have lost many profits so to gain back more profits they will implement new policies starting from 2026(?). One of Iqiyi and Youku new policy is from producing many dramas based from their government rule that is 40 episodes per a drama and 45 minutes per an episodes to reduce it themselves to maximum 36 episodes per a drama and 45 episodes per an episodes.
https://x.com/yueyawans/status/1916802595978387552
https://x.com/eaturmelon/status/1878866217374773263
https://x.com/rosyholp/status/1895302771286646947
https://x.com/eaturmelon/status/1895435843290255479
Another Youku new policy:
First shoot a preview episode, and then shoot a 10-minute pilot preview short film. The plan is to select and train new directors, and the artists will be coordinated by Alibaba Entertainment Agency, but whether the project can pass the review is another matter.
In addition, if the preview episode is well shot, it is still unknown whether the main creators will have the opportunity to officially join the project.
https://x.com/ultra_melons/status/1914932869069521253
https://x.com/kpopsmileshop1/status/1915055792514039965
I don't encounter any similar rumor for Tencent or MangoTv new policy that they also will be like this so right now both of them still producing dramas with 40 episodes and 45 minutes based from their government rule. But I'm not surprised if they will implement similar new policy by reducing number of episodes like Iqiyi and Youku plan to do later if Tencent and MangoTv feel this new policy could gain more profits.
I'm hoping with new policy of reducing episodes, this also could means these Chinese entertainment platform will produce more original scripts later LOL
But I'm sure there will be more novel reader get piss off because less episodes means destroying their beloved novels with deleting many plots and characters since dramas with less episodes couldn't including many parts of Chinese novels that have hundreds sometime until thousand of chapters haha
Btw, other than kisskh, one of English webpage updated by fans that I use to check about info whether this Chinese drama is an original scripts or not is DramaWiki.
For example:
for drama The Prisoner Of Beauty with Song Zu Er and Liu Yu Ning,
on the "Production Credits" that located at the bottom, there was part:
-Original Writing: Zhe Yao (折腰) by Peng Lai Ke-
So I know this drama was adapted from novel.
https://wiki.d-addicts.com/The_Prisoner_of_Beauty
while for drama A Dream Within A Dream with Li Yi Tong and Liu Yu Ning, it is an original scripts since there was no part about
- Original Writing: ... by ... -
https://wiki.d-addicts.com/A_Dream_Within_a_Dream
But not all dramas get completed info since this website is updated by fans so usually it is popular Chinese actors and actresses or popular Chinese dramas get more updated quickly than non popular actors and actresses and non popular dramas.
So if there's no update on DramaWiki, then my second choice will be translating Chinese website, Baidu, from Mandarin to English using Google Translate.
Baidu page for The Prisoner Of Beauty
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%8A%98%E8%85%B0/55718527
Baidu page for A Dream Within a Dream
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E4%B9%A6%E5%8D%B7%E4%B8%80%E6%A2%A6/63583440
Song Zu Er also get into contract marriage with Chen Xin Hai in her next costume drama.
Yeah, main couple married each other because of forced/contract/arranged marriage before completely fall in love with each other is my top favourite trope in romance genre since I'm a teenager haha
https://kisskh.at/people/83319-chen-xin-hai
The problem is that drama screenwriter. According to people that already watch the screenwriter previous dramas, her dramas are just so so.
Also according to Song Zu Er fans comments that I read, she chosen that drama for her comeback as actress at the time before The Prisoner Of Beauty get to air. At that time, she just recovered from tax evasion accusation and she also willing lowered her fees so people in Chinese entertainment industry willing to hire her again.
And maybe it's not impossible that there not much offer so she just accepted it because she grateful there still drama production company that willing to hire her as main female lead.