Cover Before they became streaming sensations, these beloved C-drama adaptations first captured readers one chapter at a time (Photo: Viki)
Before they became streaming sensations, these beloved C-drama adaptations first captured readers one chapter at a time (Photo: Viki)
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From sprawling political epics to heart-fluttering romances, these C-drama adaptations confirm that the journey from page to screen can be just as magical as the original novel
Long before they topped Netflix charts or dominated international fan discussions, many of China’s biggest television hits were already literary phenomena.
Unlike many Western or Korean productions, the C-drama industry has long relied on China’s thriving online publishing ecosystem, where millions of readers flock to platforms such as Jinjiang Literature City and Qidian to follow serialised novels chapter by chapter. The most popular stories don't just become bestsellers—they become cultural events, amassing loyal fanbases long before cameras start rolling.
That popularity comes with enormous expectations. Readers already know every plot twist, favourite line and beloved character, making C-drama adaptations from books one of the riskiest undertakings in Chinese television. Change too much and fans revolt. Stay too faithful and the story may struggle to find its rhythm on screen.
Fortunately, a handful of productions have managed the delicate balancing act. Some remained remarkably faithful to their source material, while others made thoughtful changes that elevated the story for a new medium. Whether you’re looking for your next binge-watch or your next great read, these C-drama adaptations prove that the best stories can shine in both forms.
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1. ‘Nirvana in Fire’ (2015)
Above Twelve years after surviving the massacre of his family and army, a brilliant strategist returns to the imperial capital under a new identity to uncover the truth and reshape the empire’s future
Based on: Lang Ya Bang by Hai Yan
Episodes: 54
Few C-drama adaptations enjoy the advantage Nirvana in Fire had: novelist Hai Yan adapted her own work for television. That intimate understanding of the source material helped preserve everything readers loved about the novel—its intricate political manoeuvring, emotionally restrained characters and painstakingly plotted revenge.
Rather than simplifying the story for mainstream audiences, the drama embraced its complexity. Mei Changsu’s (Hu Ge) elaborate schemes unfold with the precision of a chess grandmaster, while the emotional core remains firmly rooted in loyalty, sacrifice and justice instead of romance. Director Kong Sheng complemented Hai Yan’s writing with restrained cinematography and understated performances that elevated the material into one of Chinese television’s all-time masterpieces.
Whether you read the novel first or discover the story through the drama, Nirvana in Fire stands as the gold standard for literary adaptation.
2. ‘The Untamed’ (2019)
Above Sixteen years after his death, an infamous cultivator returns to unravel an old conspiracy alongside the friend who never stopped believing in him
Based on: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation) by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Episodes: 50
Converting one of China’s most beloved danmei novels was always going to be controversial. Beyond satisfying millions of devoted readers, the production also had to navigate television censorship that prevented the original romantic relationship between its two male leads from being portrayed explicitly.
What emerged was a remarkably elegant retelling. Rather than abandoning the novel’s emotional heart, the series translated its romance into unwavering loyalty, quiet devotion and profound mutual understanding. Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo’s nuanced performances conveyed volumes through lingering glances and understated gestures, allowing readers to notice the original relationship while inviting new audiences into the story.
Combined with unforgettable music, sweeping fantasy landscapes and a richly imagined cultivation world, The Untamed became one of the rare C-drama adaptations that expanded the novel’s global audience far beyond its original readership.
3. ‘Hidden Love (2023)
Above A teenage crush quietly matures into genuine love when a young woman reconnects with her older brother’s best friend years later as an independent adult
Based on: Secretly, Secretly; But Unable to Hide It by Zhu Yi
Episodes: 25
Romance adaptations often struggle to recreate the intimate inner monologues that make novels so addictive. Hidden Love succeeds because it understands that the appeal was never grand plot twists—it was emotional authenticity.
The series carefully preserves the novel’s gentle pace, allowing Sang Zhi’s youthful admiration to mature naturally into adult affection without rushing emotional milestones. Casting also proved to be one of its greatest strengths. Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan captured the warmth, awkwardness and quiet sincerity that readers had imagined for years, helping the adaptation earn praise even among longtime fans of Zhu Yi’s novel.
The on-screen romance feels every bit as comforting on television as it did on the page, demonstrating how sometimes less melodrama makes for an even stronger adaptation.
4. ‘Love Between Fairy and Devil’ (2022)
Above A low-ranking fairy accidentally revives a feared Moon Supreme, setting off an unlikely relationship that could alter the fate of the three realms
Based on: Cang Lan Jue by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang
Episodes: 36
If there is one adaptation that arguably surpassed its source material in mainstream popularity, it may be Love Between Fairy and Devil. Jiu Lu Fei Xiang’s novel already enjoyed a passionate following among xianxia readers, but the television adaptation transformed it into a global phenomenon.
Rather than simply recreating the novel chapter by chapter, the production expanded the emotional depth of its characters while investing heavily in lavish visual effects, memorable costume design and one of the genre’s most distinctive fantasy worlds. Dylan Wang’s commanding performance as Dongfang Qingcang and Esther Yu’s charming portrayal of Orchid gave fresh dimension to characters readers already adored, making their emotional journey resonate with longtime fans and newcomers alike.
The adaptation retained the novel’s irreverent spirit while polishing its storytelling for television.
5. ‘Joy of Life’ (2019)
Above Armed with memories from another life, the witty and unconventional Fan Xian enters a dangerous imperial court where every alliance hides a political agenda
Based on: Qing Yu Nian by Mao Ni
Episodes: 46 (season one)
Mao Ni’s Joy of Life has long been regarded as one of China’s greatest web novels, celebrated for its razor-sharp dialogue, sprawling world-building and endlessly unpredictable protagonist. Bringing a story of that scale to television was no small feat.
Fortunately, the adaptation understood that Fan Xian—not just the politics—was its greatest strength. Zhang Ruoyun's charismatic performance perfectly captures the character’s irreverent humour, modern worldview and uncanny ability to stay one step ahead of everyone around him. While the series inevitably streamlines portions of Mao Ni’s enormous narrative, it preserves the novel’s one-of-a-kind blend of political intrigue, comedy, martial arts and philosophical reflection.
Joy of Life became one of the defining television events of its generation, introducing Mao Ni’s work to millions of viewers who later sought out the novels.
See more: 12 prestige C-dramas that redefined Chinese television
6. ‘The Story of Minglan’ (2018)
Above An overlooked daughter born to a concubine quietly navigates family politics before emerging as one of the Song Dynasty’s most formidable women
Based on: Do You Know? It Should Be Green, Fat, Red, Slim by Guanxin Zeluan
Episodes: 73
Guanxin Zeluan’s novel was already admired for its meticulous portrayal of domestic politics and female resilience, but the television adaptation somehow made it even richer.
Instead of rushing toward palace intrigue or sweeping romance, the series luxuriates in the rhythms of daily life—family dinners, household management, etiquette, inheritance disputes and carefully calculated social manoeuvring. Zhao Liying and Feng Shaofeng anchor the adaptation with mature, understated performances that gradually transform what begins as a family drama into one of television’s healthiest portrayals of marriage.
With a whopping 73 episodes, the adaptation’s greatest achievement is its patience. It trusts viewers to appreciate quiet victories and subtle emotional shifts, much like readers did with the novel, making The Story of Minglan one of the most faithful—and rewarding—historical adaptations in recent memory.
7. ‘The Double’ (2024)
Above Left for dead by the husband she sacrificed everything for, a determined woman assumes a new identity to orchestrate one of C-drama’s most satisfying revenge campaigns
Based on: Marriage of the Di Daughter by Qian Shan Cha Ke
Episodes: 40
By the time The Double premiered, Qian Shan Cha Ke had already earned a devoted readership for her intricate revenge novels featuring intelligent, resourceful heroines. Expectations were understandably high.
The adaptation exceeded them by preserving the novel’s addictive cat-and-mouse plotting while sharpening its visual storytelling. Wu Jinyan delivers a commanding performance as Xue Fangfei, transforming grief into calculated precision without ever losing the character’s emotional vulnerability. The drama also expands several supporting characters and political subplots, giving the revenge narrative greater momentum on screen without sacrificing the novel’s core themes of justice and resilience.
It’s a textbook example of an adaptation understanding exactly what readers loved—and finding cinematic ways to make those moments even more unforgettable.
See more: 5 visually stunning C-dramas with breathtaking cinematography
8. ‘The First Frost’ (2025)
Above Years after an unresolved first love ends in heartbreak, two former classmates unexpectedly become roommates and are forced to confront the feelings they never truly left behind
Based on: The First Frost by Zhu Yi
Episodes: 32
Following the enormous success of Hidden Love, adapting another beloved Zhu Yi novel was always going to invite intense scrutiny. Fortunately, The First Frost proved that lightning could strike twice.
Rather than relying on grand romantic gestures, the series leans into the emotional restraint that made the novel such a sensation. Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan capture the aching vulnerability of two adults weighed down by regret, allowing long silences and fleeting expressions to carry as much emotional weight as the dialogue itself. The adaptation also preserves the novel’s introspective tone, balancing slow-burn romance with thoughtful explorations of trauma, healing, and second chances.
For many readers, The First Frost wasn’t simply one of those run-of-the-mill C-drama adaptations. It was the emotional payoff to a world they had already fallen in love with through Zhu Yi’s writing.
9. ‘Guardians of the Dafeng’ (2024)
Above A modern office worker mysteriously awakens in the Dafeng Dynasty and uses his quick wit, scientific thinking and detective instincts to solve supernatural mysteries while navigating an empire full of political intrigue
Based on: Guardians of the Dafeng by Mai Bao Xiao Lang Jun
Episodes: 40
Long before it became one of the most anticipated fantasy dramas of its year, Guardians of the Dafeng was already a publishing phenomenon. Mai Bao Xiao Lang Jun’s wildly popular web novel amassed hundreds of millions of reads thanks to its irresistible combination of mystery, comedy, cultivation and political adventure—so refreshingly different from traditional xianxia epics.
The television adaptation wisely leaned into the novel’s greatest strength: its genre-bending personality. Rather than treating the story as a straightforward fantasy, it embraces detective fiction, workplace comedy, supernatural horror and imperial intrigue all at once. Dylan Wang brings the irreverent Xu Qi’an to life with effortless charisma, capturing the character's modern sensibilities without undermining the stakes of the historical setting.
Like the novel itself, the series thrives on constant surprises. Every solved mystery opens the door to a larger conspiracy, while the adaptation preserves the sharp humour and fast-paced storytelling that made readers eagerly await every new chapter.
Sasha Lim-Uy Mariposa is a lifestyle journalist who is known for her food writing. Based in Manila, she also covers entertainment and dining, as well as a broad range of topics. She was the former digital editor at Esquire Philippines and was the digital managing editor at Spot.ph, and now writes for the different Tatler Asia markets as a contributing writer for T-Labs.
