The year 2024 was not a good year for costume drama in the Chinese drama industry. There were several releases from this genre last year but only a few managed to live up to the expectation. So, we are hoping this year, there are costume series that will really impress us in the real sense of the word.
Here are 15 of the most anticipated costume series from China expected to air in 2025. We arranged them alphabetically for easy reference:
1. A Moment But Forever (iQIYI). Genre: Fantasy/Xianxia. Main Leads: Tiffany Tang and Liu Xueyi
This is Tiffany Tang's first costume drama in five years after The Legend of Xiao Chuo in 2020. Background of the story: The heavenly maiden, Wu Shuang, descends to the mortal realm to retrieve the Heavenly Realm’s treasure and assassinate Yuan Zhong, the high priest of Youhu Clan.
To fulfill her mission, she enters the household of Yuan Zhong as his maid. However, along the way, Wu Shuang discovers other secrets, and the two fall in love and join hands to save the world.
2. Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Love in Pavilion (iQIYI). Genre: Fantasy/Xianxia Main Leads: Liu Shishi and Zhang Yunlong
The first edition of Fox Spirit Matchmaker (Red Moon Pact) aired in 2024 did not leave an impressive footprint and most drama viewers were disappointed with the outcome so we are excited to see how Love in Pavilion chapter was made. But with the ability of Liu Shishi and Zhang Yunlong, we are confident this is going to be good.
3. Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Sword and Beloved (iQIYI). Genre: Fantasy/Xianxia Main Leads: Cheng Yi and Li Yitong
We are anticipating this third installment of the Fox Spirit Matchmaker drama franchise to be excellent! After all, it's Cheng Yi who has been known for his charisma in the costume drama genre. He will portray Wangquan Fugui and based on several clips we saw about this drama, he has so many stunning action scenes!
4. Fu Shanhai/Go To The Mountains and Sea (iQIYI/Tencent). Genre: Martial Arts/Wuxia. Main Leads: Cheng Yi and Gulinazha
This is the most anticipated costume series in the two platforms: iQIYI and Tencent for 2025. The story is exciting because Cheng Yi played three characters: Xiao Mingming, Xiao Qiu Shui, and Li Chenzhou, what a treat!
The drama tells the story of Xiao Ming Ming, a laid-back individual who loves martial arts novels but has been worn down by reality. Through the perspective of the novel's protagonist, Xiao Qiu Shui, he embarks on a journey through the martial arts world, evolving from a young, impulsive swordsman with limited skills into a great hero driven by loyalty and a sense of duty to his family and country. Afterward, Xiao Ming Ming continued writing in his spare time, using his novels to convey the belief that people come together because of righteousness.
7. Kill My Sins (Youku). Genre: Suspense/Investigative. Main Leads: Liu Shishi and Shawn Dou
Another exciting Liu Shishi costume drama this year! Background of the story: The wandering physician Ye Ping An, entangled in an old and secretive case, arrives in Chang'an. Accused of mystical medical interventions, she manipulates minds and evokes fear, while the low-born magistrate Yuan Shao Cheng, craving power, seizes the opportunity to rise. A murder in Chang'an implicates Ye Ping An, but is she truly an innocent scapegoat or a mastermind plotting revenge? The first move in her intricate scheme has already unraveled.
8. Lament of the River Immortal (iQIYI). Genre: Fantasy/Xianxia. Main Leads: Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng
Plot: Li Qing Yue, a powerful immortal blessed by the Four Spirits, and Bai Jiu Si, a revered master of Dacheng, find themselves drawn together. However, a cruel twist of fate leads to a misunderstanding that ignites a heartbreaking conflict, even resulting in their demise. Granted a second chance, they mend their broken bond and join forces as champions.
9. Legend of the Hidden Sea (Youku). Genre: Suspense. Main Leads: Xiao Chan and Ju Jingyi
One fateful night, Zhi Nu's entire family was wiped out. He held off on revenge and began learning architecture and political strategy. Ten years later, he returned to the capital under the pseudonym Zang Hai and greeted his enemy, Marquis Ping Jin. To gain Marquis Ping Jin's trust, Zang Hai solved many difficult cases such as the joint burial of the emperor and empress.
10. Legend of the Female General (Tencent). Genre: War/Revenge. Main Leads: Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei.
To protect her family's noble title, He Yan, the eldest daughter of the He family, is forced to don a mask and pose as the family's eldest son, "He Ru Fei." As a young girl, He Yan first meets the brilliant scholar Xiao Jue at Xianchang Academy. Determined to escape her family's fate, she leaves the academy and heads to the battlefield.
Years later, He Yan returns home as a celebrated hero, only to be betrayed by her family when her brother He Ru Fei reappears. Surviving the treachery, He Yan assumes a new identity as He Yan, the daughter of a city gate officer, and disguises herself as a man to join the military in Yezhou, vowing to reclaim everything that was taken from her.
11. Phoenix Stage (Youku). Genre: Historical/War. Main Leads: Ren Jialun and Peng Xiaoran.
The heroine, Ling Cang Cang, relied on her heroic courage and surprising martial arts skills to establish Fenglai Pavilion, a sect that supports justice in the world. Xiao Huan, the young emperor of the Nanqi Dynasty, devoted himself to serving the people. However, the chief and assistant ministers united with Jianghu forces to control the government and bring trouble to the people.
In order to save the people from suffering, Xiao Huan changed his name to "Bai Chi Fan" and travelled around the world in private. He met Ling Cang Cang, the chivalrous and righteous master of Fenglai Pavilion. The two of them fought together to save the world and cherish each other. Unexpectedly, Ling Cang Cang was the daughter of the chief minister and was about to become his queen.
12. The Immortal Ascension (Youku). Genre: Wuxia/Xianxia. Main Leads: Yang Yang and Jin Chen
This is the story of an ordinary mortal who, against all odds, clashes with devilish demons and ancient celestials in order to find his own path toward immortality.
A poor and ordinary boy from a village joins a minor sect in Jiang Hu and becomes an Unofficial Disciple by chance. How will Han Li, a commoner by birth, establish a foothold for himself in his sect? With his mediocre aptitude, he must successfully traverse the treacherous path of cultivation and avoid the notice of those who may do him harm.
13. The Golden Hairpin (Tencent). Genre: Investigative/Suspense. Main Leads: Yang Zi and Peng Guanying
This long-shelved drama (since 2021) is adapted from a very popular Chinese novel so lots of drama fans are anticipating this one since it got shelved in 2021. This was indefinitely put on hold because the main male lead, Kris Wu, was involved in a scandal, and later jailed. He was replaced by Peng Guanying.
Investigative prodigy Huang Zi Xia had been helping her father in solving many crimes. But years later, she was on the run when accused of murdering her family to escape an arranged marriage.
Now, she is out to unmask the killer and clear her name. Seeking the help of Li Shu Bai, Prince of Kui, he asks her to go undercover as his eunuch to stop a serial killer and defy a curse destroying his life.
Zi Xia is put to the test when Li Shu Bai’s betrothed vanishes. With a distinct golden hairpin as her sole clue, Zi Xia investigates—only to discover that she isn’t the only one in the guarded kingdom with a dangerous secret
14. Tales of Dark River (Youku). Genre: Martial Arts. Main Leads: Gong Jun and Chang Huasen
"The Dark River" is the most mysterious assassin organization in the martial arts world, consisting of the Su, Xie, and Mu families, with the leaders of the three families collectively referred to as the Grand Elders.
The Grand Elders are currently in critical condition due to a strange poison, putting their lives at risk. Upon hearing this news, the forces of the three families within the Dark River seize the opportunity to launch a rebellion.
Su Mu Yu, the leader of the Grand Elder's guard unit, Spider Shadow, seeks the help of the divine healer Bai He Huai from the Medicine King Valley to treat the Grand Elders while also fending off attacks from assassins sent by the other families to protect the Grand Elders.
15. Take Me Where The Clouds Rise (iQIYI). Genre: Fantasy/Suspense. Main Leads: Joseph Zeng, Li Yitong, and Deng Wei
We don't know what happened to this drama this was supposed to air in 2024 but we have not heard any update after its wrap-up ceremony.
The production did not release a trailer or new posters of the drama. Hopefully, everything will be fixed. Looking forward to the airing. This has so many popular cast.
Based on the Japanese novel series, ”Saiunkoku Monogatari”, this drama talks about the legendary Nine Cities and follows the noblewoman Fan Yun and the cunning lord Qi Zheng who join forces to overcome a looming crisis. As they fight for the people's welfare, their bond deepens into friendship and love to bring peace and prosperity to the realm.
Which among these are you most excited about?
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