20 Highest-Rated and 9 Lowest-Rated Chinese Drama in Douban in 2023

UPDATED TODAY: September 1, 2023

We have compiled the 20 highest-rated Chinese dramas in Douban this year, and we will update this list as soon as there are changes. We have also included the lowest-rated dramas this year starred by popular C-Drama stars based on their Douban rating.

But first, let's discuss what is Douban and why this is China's most reliable media review platform and most influential drama rating platform.

Douban website version 

According to The Global Times, in December 2021 Douban cleaned up 10,707,256 abnormal ratings and dealt with 199,667 illegal accounts on the platform after some fans clubs of popular Chinese stars were detected to be inflating the drama ratings of their idol's dramas. 

The action was based on the complaints of other users regarding the anomalies and behavior of most dedicated fans of traffic stars.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) then ordered Douban to immediately rectify and deal with the serious situation at the beginning of December after the company repeatedly failed to conduct a scrutiny of their content.

The orders were given in a meeting after the CAC summoned the platform in December 2021. A fine of 1.5 million yuan ($235,000) was also handed down by Beijing's cyberspace administration to Douban.

Since then, Douban tightened its verification process of users to prevent "click armies" (people who are paid or encourage to give high rating to a drama of a particular star) and misbehavior of fans to purposely rate the drama shows of their favorite stars to get a higher rating.

All users who want to register in Douban will now be required to provide a mainland China mobile phone number or an official identity document to continue using the site, as it comes under growing pressure from Beijing to strengthen content control. 

Drama fans outside China have no chance anymore to register on the platform unless they have mobile phone numbers issued from the mainland. This is to prevent fans from overseas who will attempt to give a bias rating to dramas. 

Additionally, the platform's rating system has continuously been updated to tackle behaviors that impact fairness in the rating of movies and TV shows.

Thus, Douban in China now becomes the most reliable and influential drama-rating media review platform. Journalists, networks, producers, and strategists are now partly relying on Douban to get the pulse of Chinese citizens on many issues.

Douban is sometimes referred to as the online home of China’s literati (well-educated people who are interested in literature), thus, it's no surprise that a report from Amazon's Alexa shows that most Douban users are college educated with a large proportion browsing the site while at work.

It has over 60 million registered users and 150 million unregistered frequent visitors.  Most of them are degree holders who live in major cities and lead a middle-class lifestyle. They use Douban to share their views and ideas on topics they’re interested in.

So if you want to see what Chinese people think about a book, a movie, or a series, or read their opinions on politics and social issues, Douban is a great resource to start. You can also gain a deeper insight into the views of the Chinese public through the blog posts found in Douban. 

Contents in Douban are more niche-focused than other Chinese social media platforms. And ratings are more accurate and reliable because most users are not affiliated with fans clubs of popular Chinese stars. Most users are individual professionals.

So here, we are sharing the list of highly-rated dramas, including the lowest-rated, this year. We only included dramas rated by more than 50,000 users to have a fair list. Below 50,000 is not enough to get a credible rating result.

20 Highest-rated Chinese dramas in Douban in 2023

1. The Long Season - 9.4 rated by 831,738 users. Dominant star rating:  5 stars. Premiered on April 22, 2023. Episodes: 12 Genre: Crime/Suspense/Family. Where to watch: Tencent/WeTV. Main cast: Fan Wei, Qin Hao, and Chen Minghao. 

• 5 stars 75.8%
• 4 stars 20.3%
• 3 stars 3.3%
• 2 stars .04%
• 1 star 0.2%

2. Three Body - 8.7 rated by 410,008 users. Dominant star rating: 5 stars. Premiered on January 15, 2023. Episode: 30 Genre: Science-Fiction. Where to watch: Tencent. Main Cast: Zhang Luyi, Yu Hewei, Chen Jin, Wang Ziwen, and Lin Yongjian.

• 5 stars 54.2% 
• 4 stars 31.6%
• 3 stars 9.9%
• 2 stars 2.9%
• 1 star 1.4%

3. Meet Yourself - 8.7 rated by 293,868 users. Dominant star rating: 5 stars. Premiered on January 3, 2023. Episode: 40 Genre: Romance/Rural Life. Where to watch: Tencent/WeTV. Main Cast: Liu Yifei and Li Xian.

• 5 stars 52.5% 
• 4 stars 32.8%
• 3 stars 11.1%
• 2 stars 2.4%
• 1 star 1.1%

4. An Ancient Love Song - 8.6 rated by 136,965 users. Dominant star rating: 5 stars. Premiered on June 22, 2023. Episode: 14. Genre: Costume/Fantasy/Time Travel. Where to watch: Mango TV and Viki. Main cast: Zhang Yaqin and Guo Jian Nan. Read our review: HERE

•  5 stars 47.2% 
• 4 stars 38.1%
• 3 stars 12.1%
• 2 stars 2.0%
• 1 star 0.6%

5. The Knockout - 8.5 rated by 861,655 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on April 1, 2023. Episode: 39. Genre: Crime/Suspense/Police Investigation. Where to watch: iQIYI. Main cast: Zhang Yi,  Zhang Songwen, Li Yitong, Zhang Zhijian, and Wu Gang.

• 5 stars 40.4%
• 4 stars 45.4% 
• 3 stars 12.5%
• 2 stars 1.3%
• 1 star 0.5%

6. Mysterious Lotus Casebook - 8.5 rated by 419,296 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on July 23, 2023. Episodes: 40. Genre: Costume/Wuxia/Investigation. Where to watch: iQIYI. Main cast: Cheng Yi, Joseph Zeng, and Xiao Shunyao. Read our review HERE.

• 5 stars 37.8%
• 4 stars 41.1% 
• 3 stars 16.1%
• 2 stars 3.0%
• 1 star 2.0%

7. Nothing But You - 8.2 rated by 140,141 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on March 27, 2023. Episode: 38 Genre: Modern/Romance. Where to watch: Tencent WeTV. Main cast: Wu Lei and Zhou Yutong.

• 5 stars 35.2%
• 4 stars 43.4% 
• 3 stars 18.4%
• 2 stars 2.0%
• 1 star 0.9%

8. Thirteen Years of Dust - 8.1 rated by 120,981 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on April 6, 2023. Episode: 24. Genre: Crime/Suspense. Where to watch: iQIYI. Main cast: Chen Jianbin, Chen Xiao, Shui Ni, and Liu Mintao.

• 5 stars 27.9%
• 4 stars 50.8% 
• 3 stars 18.2%
• 2 stars 2.3%
• 1 star 0.8%

9. Under the Microscope - 7.9 rated by 125,251 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on February 9, 2023. Episode: 14 Genre: Costume/Suspense. Where to watch: iQIYI. Main cast: Zhang Ruoyun / Wang Yang / Qi Wei.

• 5 stars 25.7%
• 4 stars 46.5% 
• 3 stars 23.2%
• 2 stars 3.5%
• 1 star 1.2%

10. Ray of Light - 7.9 rated by 79,195 users. Dominant star rating: 5 stars. Premiered on June 29, 2023. Episode: 30. Genre: Youth/Campus. Where to watch: Youku. Main cast: Guo Jingfei, Ren Min, Wang Yuan.

• 5 stars 37.4% 
• 4 stars 34.7%
• 3 stars 17.5%
• 2 stars 5.9%
• 1 star 4.4%

11. Fearless Blood - 7.9 rated by 58,019 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on July 15. Episode: 18. Genre: Suspense-Thriller. Where to watch: Tencent/WeTV. Main cast: Dong Zijian / Zhang Yi / Zhang Luyi / Liao Fan / Tong Liya.

• 5 stars 32.6%
• 4 stars 40.0% 
• 3 stars 20.7%
• 2 stars 5.0%
• 1 star 7.1%

12. Young Blood season 2 - 7.9 rated by close to 50,000 users. Dominant rating: 4 stars. Premiered on July 29, 2023. Episode: 27. Genre: Costume/Wuxia/ Where to watch: Mango TV. Main cast: Zhang Xincheng, Zhou Yutong, Wang Youshuo, Su Xiaotong, and Zeng Wei.

• 5 stars 35.0%
• 4 stars 36.0% 
• 3 stars 21.9%
• 2 stars 5.4%
• 1 star 1.6%

13. When I Fly Towards You - 7.8 rated by 96l,326 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on June 13, 2023. Episode: 24 Genre: Youth Romance. Where to watch: Youku/Viki/Netflix. Main cast: Zhou Yiran and Zhang Miaoyi, Bian Tianyang, Jiang Zhinan, and Guo Zhe.

• 5 stars 32.1%
• 4 stars 36.2% - dominant
• 3 stars 22.9%
• 2 stars 6.2%
• 1 star 2.7%

14. Lost You Forever season 1 - 7.6 rated by 332,145 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on July 24, 2023. Episode: 39 Genre: Costume/Fantasy. Where to watch: Tencent/WeTV. Main cast: Yang Zi / Zhang Wanyi / Deng Wei / Wang Hongyi / Tan Jianci 

• 5 stars 29.2%
• 4 stars 37.4%
• 3 stars 22.4%
• 2 stars 6.7%
• 1 star 4.4%

15. Why Try to Change Me Now - 7.6 rated by 62,943 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on January 1, 2023. Episode: 6 Genre: Crime/Suspense. Where to watch: iQIYI. Main cast: Dong Zijian / Qiu Tian.

• 5 stars 24.9%
• 4 stars 40.6% 
• 3 stars 27.1%
• 2 stars 5.7%
• 1 star 1.7%

16. Falling Before Fireworks - 7.5 rated by 51,775 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on March 31, 2023. Episode: 23 Genre: Modern/Office/Romance. Where to watch: iQIYI. Main cast: Lu Yangyang / Chen Xinhai.

• 5 stars 22.8%
• 4 stars 40.1% 
• 3 stars 29.6%
• 2 stars 5.9%
• 1 star 1.6%

17. Where Dreams Begin - 7.5 rated by 293,149 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on June 1, 2023. Episode: 38  Genre: Romance Where to watch: Tencent/WeTV. Main cast: Xiao Zhan and Li Qin.

• 5 stars 26.2%
• 4 stars 37.1% 
• 3 stars 26.8%
• 2 stars 5.9%
• 1 star 4.0%

18. Imperfect Victim - 7.5 rated by 69,885 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on July 17, 2023. Episode: 29 Genre: Crime/Suspense. Where to watch: iQIYI.  Main cast: Zhou Xun / Liu Yijun / Lin Yun. 

• 5 stars 26.7%
• 4 stars 38.1% 
• 3 stars 23.7%
• 2 stars 7.2%
• 1 star 4.2%

19. The Ingenious One - 7.3 rated by 106,885 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on May 1, 2023. Episode: 36. Genre: Costume/Wuxia. Where to watch: iQIYI. Main cast:  Chen Xiao and Mao Xiaotong.

• 5 stars 19.4%
• 4 stars 37.2% 
• 3 stars 33.6%
• 2 stars 7.3%
• 1 star 2.6%

20. Starry Love - 7.2 rated by 115,365 users. Dominant star rating: 4 stars. Premiered on February 16, 2023. Episode: 40 Genre: Costume/Fantasy. Where to watch: Youku. Main cast:  Chen Xingxu / Li Landi / Chen Muchi / He Xuanlin / Zhou Lijie.

• 5 stars 19.6%
• 4 stars 35.7% 
• 3 stars 34.3%
• 2 stars 7.7%
• 1 star 2.7%

21. Back From the Brink - 7.1 rated by 91,742 users. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Premiered on May 9, 2023. Episode: 40 Genre: Costume/Fantasy. Where to watch: Youku. Main cast: Neo Hou and Zhou Ye. Read our review HERE

• 5 stars 19.3%
• 4 stars 32.4%
• 3 stars 36.9% 
• 2 stars 8.5%
• 1 star 2.8%

Note: We didn't include the below series in the list, despite having a high score because of the low number of users rating the drama (below 50,000).

• Never Give Up starring Dylan Wang and Chen Yuqi - rating: 8.0

Most Popular Series (based on the # of reviewers):

• The Knockout 
• The Long Season 
• Mysterious Lotus Casebook
• Fireworks of My Heart 
• Three Body 
• Till The End of the Moon 
• Lost You Forever

Dramas done airing this year but no rating yet: The Longest Promise (Xiao Zhan and Ren Min), Twilight (Angelababy and Ren Jialun), The Princess and The Werewolf (Wu Xuanyi and Chen Zheyuan).

Series of popular C-Drama stars with a moderate rating. Not poor but not good also. They need to tip the scale of 7.0 to be considered good. 

1. Warm on a Cold Night - 6.9 rated by 24,000+ users. Main cast: Li Yitong and Bei Wenjun. Episode: 36 Genre: Costume/Fantasy. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Where to watch: iQiyi 

2. Hidden Love - 6.7 rated by 164,791 users. Main cast: Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan. Episode: 25 Genre: Youth Romance. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Where to watch: Youku 

3. Prosecution Elite - 6.6 rated by 75,040 users. Main Cast: Dilraba Dilmurat and Tong Dawei. Episode: 40 Genre: Legal. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Where to watch: Tencent WeTV. 

4. Destined - 6.5 rated by 142,800 users. Main cast: Bai Jingting and Song Yi. Episode: 40 Genre: Costume/Historical. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Where to watch: iQiyi 

5. Here We Meet Again - 6.4 rated by 39,000+ users. Main cast: Vin Zhang and Janice Wu. Episode: 32 Genre: Modern Romance. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Where to watch: Tencent WeTV. 

List of C-dramas this year starred by popular stars with poor ratings (5.9 below):

1. Fireworks of My Heart - 3.2 rated by 415,453 users. Dominant rating: 1 star. Premiered on July 5, 2023. Episode: 40 Genre: Modern Romance. Where to watch: Mango TV/iQiyi. Main cast: Yang Yang and Wang Churan.

• 5 stars 3.7%
• 4 stars 4.4%
• 3 stars 9.7%
• 2 stars 11.0%
• 1 star 71.2%

2. Gen Z Houlang - 4.0 rated by 92,204 users. Dominant star rating: 1 star. Premiered on May 14, 2023. Episode: 40 Genre: Modern/Romance. Where to watch: Dragon TV/Youku. Main cast: Wu Gang, Zhao Lusi, and Luo Yizhou.

• 5 stars 11.4%
• 4 stars 8.2%
• 3 stars 12.7%
• 2 stars 8.2%
• 1 star 59.5% 

3. Divine Destiny - 4.5 rated by 28,277 users. Dominant star rating: 1 star. Premiered on July 2, 2023. Episode: 36. Genre: Costume/Fantasy. Where to watch: iQIYI. Main cast: Angelababy and Ma Tianyu.

• 5 stars 7.5%
• 4 stars 9.4%
• 3 stars 22.1%
• 2 stars 23.0%
• 1 star 38.0% 

4. Snow Eagle Lord - 4.6 rated by 9,461 users. Dominant star rating:  2 stars. Premiered on June 21, 2023. Episode: 40 Genre: Costume/Fantasy. Where to watch: Tencent/WeTV. Main cast: Xu Kai and Gulinazha.

• 5 stars 6.6%
• 4 stars 5.1%
• 3 stars 27.2%
• 2 stars 34.6% 
• 1 star 26.5%

5. Beauty of Resilience - 5.0 rated by 56,155 users. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Episode: 36 Genre: Costume/Fantasy. Main cast: Ju Jingyi and Guo Junchen. Where to watch: iQiyi.

• 5 stars 5.5%
• 4 stars 8.0%
• 3 stars 37.8% 
• 2 stars 28.7%
• 1 star 19.9%

6. Till The End of the Moon - 5.6 rated by 353,146 users. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Premiered on April 6, 2023. Episode: 40 Genre: Costume/Fantasy. Where to watch: Youku. Main cast: Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu.

• 5 stars 12.8%
• 4 stars 14.9%
• 3 stars 29.7% 
• 2 stars 23.3%
• 1 star 19.4%

7. The Infiltrator - 5.7 rated by 20,000 users. Episode: 37 Genre: Suspense/Republican era. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Where to watch: Tencent/WeTV. Main Cast: Huang Xiaoming, Jiang Xin, Wu Xiaoliang. 

• 5 stars 14.6%
• 4 stars 12.5%
• 3 stars 30.5% 
• 2 stars 28.9%
• 1 star 13.5%

8. Who is He - 5.7 rated by 136,164 users. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Premiered on March 14, 2023. Episode: 24 Genre: Crime/Suspense/Police Investigation. Where to watch: Youku/Viki. Main cast:  Zhang Yi, Chen Yustrontium, and Ding Yongdai.

• 5 stars 8.5%
• 4 stars 13.6%
• 3 stars 43.6% 
• 2 stars 25.0%
• 1 star 9.4%

9. Legend of Anle - 5.8 rated by 102,194 users. Dominant star rating: 3 stars. Premiered on July 12, 2023. Episode: 39 Genre: Costume/Historical. Where to watch: Youku. Main cast: Dilraba Dilmurat and Gong Jun. Read our review HERE.

• 5 stars 12.2%
• 4 stars 14.8%
• 3 stars 35.9% 
• 2 stars 27.5%
• 1 star 9.7%