As 2026 approaches, Chinese television is gearing up to deliver some of the most highly anticipated dramas, ranging from historical epics to romantic thrillers. Here’s a preview of five standout projects to watch for in the new year.
1. City Builders
Starring: Zhao Liying, Huang Xiaoming
Genre: Political drama, Romance
Adapted from Zhu Xiaojun’s novel “The Peasant City of China”, City Builders brings to life the story of pioneers in the 1980s who dared to transform barren land into a thriving modern city. Characters like Li Chubin, Zheng Dusheng, and Xue Mei face immense challenges—economic, technical, and social—while battling internal power struggles.
Blending political drama with heartfelt romance, the series showcases perseverance, ambition, and the human spirit behind urban transformation. It’s poised to be one of the most compelling Chinese dramas of 2026.
2. The Family Trade
Starring: Yang Zi, Han Dongjun
Genre: Historical, Traditional craftsmanship
Set during the Ming Dynasty, The Family Trade follows Li Trinh Nuong, a resilient young woman determined to revive her family’s declining ink business. She must outwit rival clans and foreign threats, forming an alliance with strategist Luo Wenqian (played by Han Dongjun) to restore the prestige of Huizhou ink.
Amid intrigue and rivalry, love blossoms, and together they work to preserve and innovate traditional craftsmanship, contributing to cultural heritage.
3. Martial Soul Order
Starring: Yang Yang, Zhang Ruonan
Genre: Wuxia, Mystery, Romance
This wuxia-mystery hybrid centers on Zhan Zhao (Yang Yang), a righteous martial artist solving cases in a treacherous underworld. He meets the clever and vivacious noblewoman Huo Linglong (Zhang Ruonan), who is drawn into a fight against dark forces.
As secrets unravel and a deadly conspiracy emerges, the duo must rely on each other to survive. Martial Soul Order blends thrilling investigations with emotional stakes, promising both intensity and romance.
4. Mu Si Si
Starring: Dilraba Dilmurat, Chen Feiyu
Genre: Fantasy, Tragic romance
In this fantasy tale, ghost queen Xia Simu (Dilraba) and mortal general Duan Si (Chen Feiyu) cross paths between realms. Simu, who has lived over 400 years, strikes a fateful deal with Duan Si: in exchange for his human senses, she grants him a wish.
Their bond grows as they confront ancient curses, personal traumas, and the fragile boundary between life and death. Mu Si Si is a poignant, star-crossed love story wrapped in mysticism and sorrow.
5. Jade Path
Starring: Zhang Linghe, Tian Xiwei
Genre: Historical romance, Revenge
In this pre-marriage-then-love trope, Tian Xiwei plays Fan Changyu, a butcher’s sharp-witted daughter, who proposes a fake marriage to a wounded marquis, Xie Cheng (Zhang Linghe), to help him hide from enemies.
What starts as a partnership of convenience deepens into genuine affection as they confront secrets, family vengeance, and political plots. Jade Path offers a rich mix of romance, suspense, and heartfelt drama.