Every year on February 14th, Valentine's Day, the world is immersed in a pink wave created by businesses and brands. For those who enjoy appreciating others' love stories in films and television, watching a drama is not just about watching the emotional entanglements of the main characters, but also projecting their own insights, desires, and fantasies about intimate relationships.
The Chinese are often been considered to have a reserved style of emotional expression, but our culture has never lacked expressions of "love." The artistic conception of being subtle, lingering, and enduring is perhaps the main theme in how Chinese people narrate romantic relationships. And Today, as Chinese film and television productions continue to expand into overseas markets, this unique emotional aesthetic has begun to take root quietly on global social media, blossoming with significant cultural influence.
What kind of Chinese dramas are foreign netizens watching? Are their tastes the same as ours? After reviewing overseas bloggers' recommendation videos, netizen comments and feedback one the dramas, we found that overseas audiences not only share the same CPs as us and get hooked on the same OSTs, but even share the same obsession of "wishing I could erase my memory and rewatch it." From urban romance to xianxia fantasy, from ancient costume political intrigue to traditional Chinese medicine healing. On TikTok, netizens from various countries scream for the slow-burn love of Sang Yan and Wen Yifan, shed tears for the fated bond of Bai Shuo and Fan Yue, and hold their breath at the step-by-step scheming of Zang Hai. "Chinese-style emotions" are knocking on the hearts of audiences worldwide.
A Look Back at the "Favorite Points" of Chinese Dramas Recommended by Overseas Bloggers in 2025
1. The First Frost : Slowness isn't a flaw, it is a way of love.
"Even the side characters' storylines aren't perfunctory, the actors are good-looking and their acting is on point." On TikTok, many bloggers have posted videos recording their excited feelings while watching the drama and their evaluations of it.
TikTok blogger @deemalovesdrama, who has 395,000 followers, gave it high praise, stating: "love their love. I love their chemistry, the slow burn, the romance…everything about this to me was a 10 out of 10."
Screenshot of blogger @deemalovesdrama's work
Blogger @kdramakenny, who focuses on the film and television field, initially thought Korean and Chinese dramas would be quite similar. But The First Frost, being the first Chinese drama he watched, completely changed his mind. He also stated, "I will watch more Chinese drama in the future. As I say, The First Frost is definitely worth to watching. If you were new to Cdramas or haven't watch, I will recommend it if you like slow burn."
Screenshot of blogger @kdramakenny's work
Besides the plot and actors, the drama's OST also became a huge success. The English version of the song "Like A Sunny Day, Like A Rainy Day," covered by blogger @justysabelle, went viral on TikTok, with her cover video gaining 7.907 million views. The delicate vocals, accompanied by emotional expression, made viewers who had seen the drama recall sweet moments between the main couple, and even those who hadn't seen it could immerse themselves in this romantic and touching melody.
2. Moonlight Mystique: Xianxia isn't just about cultivation; growth is the highest form of romance
As a dark horse in 2025, this show successfully captivated a large number of domestic and international audiences with its popularity as the first big hit of the new year, breaking into iQIYI International's Top 10 Global Most Popular Chinese Dramas of 2025.
Instagram blogger @shianne.ugc expressed her desire to erase the drama from her memory so she could watch it again with fresh eyes. She said, "I truly have no words to describe this drama, just because it's that good. It truly takes historical, fantasy Chinese drama to the next level."
Screenshot of blogger @shianne.ugc's work
The brilliance of this drama lies in avoiding of complex cultivation settings, focusing instead on growth and companionship, precisely striking an emotional chord with global audiences. Coupled with the visually stunning costumes and props, Moonlight Mystique has made the reputation of Chinese xianxia dramas even stronger overseas.
3. The Prisoner of Beauty: Powerful collaboration, Chinese family aesthetics conquering overseas
The costumes and props in the drama recreate the attire and etiquette of the Eastern Han Dynasty, slowly presenting excellent traditional Chinese culture to the audience; the plot is tight and fast-paced, without the "Damsel in distress" female lead trope. Xiao Qiao is intelligent and strategic, Wei Shao is seemingly cold but warm inside. The emotional lines are delicate, and it also incorporates Chinese family culture, which is very appealing to overseas fans of historical dramas.
Blogger @lizwho_o expressed to her followers via short video that she was once firmly someone who disliked spoilers and would never search for endings online. But The Prisoner of Beauty changed her mind. Before even reaching the ending, she couldn't help but search online for spoilers of what happened later. Besides this, she also stated, " It's a great show. It is a fantastic costume drama. I love Cdramas because I love the way that women are written in Cdramas."
Screenshot of blogger @lizwho_o's work
Many viewers also didn't hide their love for this show. For example, blogger @llucydiaries stated: "This is a 11/10 drama for me. Definitely one I will rewatch in the future. I don't think I'll watch another show that's gonna be this good. Everything about it was so good."
Screenshot of blogger @llucydiaries's work
As a ancient romantic drama, The Prisoner of Beauty centers on "strong male and strong female, powerful collaboration," remaining firmly rooted in the historical context, with the growth and romance of the male and female leads progressing simultaneously. Overseas audiences can enjoy both sweet romance and learn about traditional Chinese culture.
4. The Legend of Zang Hai: You can never guess what happens next, that's its charm
The Legend of Zang Hai boasts a fresh setting and plot. The camera guides you, and you gradually uncover the story's threads. But its most captivating aspect is that you can never predict what will happen next. It's like walking through layers of mountain mist. You think you're almost at the top, only to turn a corner and stumble upon a completely new vista. You've considered many possibilities, but it never seems to go in the direction you expect.
Netizen @snowlovesdramass shared our thoughts exactly. She expressed strong approval for the drama, considering it the best Chinese drama ever made. She also shared with us: "This drama is the drama with no any predictable things. Anything you predicted that will happen in this drama, totally not happen."
Screenshot of netizen @snowlovesdramass's work
5. Love in the Clouds: A romance with hidden identities. I'll eat my hat if they're exposed!
Love in the Clouds boasts a novel premise and is incredibly sweet. Both the leads and supporting characters are visually stunning, leading Chinese netizens to clamor for a reunion. International audiences are no exception, deeply immersed in the "quagmire" of shipping these couples. Blogger @rina_reacts excitedly stated, "I want to see them, even they become the side-character. I love all these characters. This is my favorite Chinese fantasy ever, and I need more."
Screenshot of blogger @rina_reacts's work
The success of a work is never just about the actors and the story. The selection of costumes, sets, and music are also indispensable factors. Many netizens commented that the costumes and makeup in Love in the Clouds were visually stunning, and combined with the actors' exceptionally good looks, countless memorable images emerged, amplifying the reach and impact of the work and its actors. The well-chosen music helped viewers quickly immerse themselves in the emotions, and the music in Love in the Clouds received much praise. Blogger @swammilovesyou used her expertise to play the song on the guzheng, giving it a more classical and moving feel. After the video was posted, it reached 169,000 views on TikTok, with many fans expressing their regret over the show's ending in the comments section.
6. The Best Thing: Traditional Chinese Medicine x Urban Drama, a Healing Slow Life in Spring
This drama premiered in the spring of 2025, a cleverly timed release: it coincided with the peak popularity of The First Frost—Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan were dominating various platforms at the time, and almost everyone thought the landscape of contemporary romance dramas was already decided in February. But what happened? On its 8th day of airing, The Best Thing surpassed 8500 in popularity on iQIYI; on its 18th day, it topped the trending charts in 12 countries and regions on iQIYI's international platform. It was the Top 1 trending mainland drama on Google Trends in Thailand.
Blogger @silviasunw, who has 135,000 followers, evaluated the work after watching it: "This is visually therapeutic. It reminds me of early spring. The cherry blossom is here. All kinds of flowers are coming back to life, and it’s time for you to meet your soulmate. You will about to start another new better chapter of your life together. They will have it all."
Screenshot of blogger @silviasunw's work
Key Takeaways｜What Exactly Appeals to Overseas Audiences? How Can Short Dramas Follow Suit for Overseas Success
Looking at this wave of Chinese drama going global in 2025, what truly moves overseas audiences is far more than just "good looks" or "nice CPs." From The First Frost to The Prisoner of Beauty, from Moonlight Mystique to The Best Thing, the reason these dramas can resonate in different cultural contexts relies on authenticity.
First, there's the authenticity of the emotions. Whether it's the adults' hesitation and retreat in The First Frost, or the exhaustion and healing of an insomniac worker in The Best Thing, overseas audiences aren't just watching foreign stories. They're seeing their own lives reflected in them. If short dramas want to go global, instead of piling up superficial CEO tropes, they should delve into those universally shared emotional pain points: loneliness, missed opportunities, being seen, and being healed. Making someone shed a tear in three minutes is more effective than thirty minutes of family feuds.
Second, there's the authenticity of the aesthetics. Costumes, makeup, and props are no longer just bonuses, but the entry ticket. The meticulous research into Eastern Han Dynasty clothing and etiquette in The Prisoner of Beauty, and the stunning makeup and costume images in Love in the Clouds that overseas netizens have been meticulously screenshotting, all confirm one thing: aesthetics equals discourse power. Overseas audiences are accustomed to the high-quality productions of American and Korean dramas and have extremely low tolerance for rough costumes, makeup, and props. Due to budget constraints, short dramas may not be able to replicate the beauty of major productions, but at the very least, the clothing should fit the historical period and the makeup should suit the character's identity.
Finally, the authenticity of sound. Fitting OSTs are becoming a new medium for cultural export. From the English cover of "Like A Sunny Day, Like A Rainy Day" gaining nearly 8 million views on TikTok to the blogger using the guzheng to interpret the soundtrack of Love in the Clouds resonating with 169,000 drama fans. Music transcends language barriers, becoming a key memory point alongside the plot. For short dramas, carefully crafting a few melodies that can be tied to iconic scenes is a great way to break through.
Ultimately, overseas audiences aren't swayed by formulas, but by sincerity. They can distinguish which dramas are merely piling on clichés and which are genuinely telling a story. Which costumes and props are just for show and which are heartfelt. Which OSTs are emotionally resonant and which are simply mass-produced. The export of short dramas is never about translating domestically overused tropes, but about approaching the world with sufficient aesthetic awareness and emotional sincerity.
