Nothing beats watching a good old action drama to get you worked up! With Chinese action dramas, you’re in for a ride filled with intense action scenes and exciting plots. While it’s an underrated genre, you won’t regret checking it out.
The 15 Best Chinese Action Dramas You Need To Check Out
To get you started, here are some of the best Chinese action dramas you need to know. Read on to find out more!
- Ultimate Note (2020)
- Psych Hunter (2020)
- Arsenal Military Academy (2019)
- Ever Night (2018)
- Princess Agents (2017)
- The King’s Avatar (2017)
- Glory of the Special Forces (2022)
- Reset (2022)
- Battle of Changsha (2014)
- The Justice (2021)
- Never Say Never (2019)
- Age of Legends (2018)
- Day Breaker (2022)
- Humans (2021)
- Fights Break Sphere (2018)
1. Ultimate Note (2020)
Follow Wu Xie’s adventures as he tries to unearth grave discoveries about the past. Together with his friends, he explores ancient tombs to uncover hidden treasures!
But their adventures don’t come without any setbacks. With the help of an ancient blueprint, they go on an expedition at Zhang Manor, an ancient site.
At the climax of their adventure, something unexpected happens. The group, including his good friend Xiao Ge, vanishes! Their disappearance devastates Wu Xie who is left alone at the manor.
Will he regain his strength and hope to find his friends?
2. Psych Hunter (2020)
Jiang Shuo and Qin Yi Heng are real estate partners who make a profit in an unusual way. They buy haunted houses and resell them at a higher price! But things start to go wrong when new horrors enter the picture.
Each haunted house they’ve purchased turns out to be part of a bigger and horrific puzzle. Together with policewoman Yuan Mu Qing, they try to solve this grim mystery.
For fans of horror combined with some action, this drama is definitely for you!
3. Arsenal Military Academy (2019)
To fulfill her deceased brother’s dreams, Xie Xiang pulls off the ultimate facade. She dresses as a guy and enters the all-boys military academy. With her new appearance, she sneaks in to attend classes and training.
Here she meets like-minded friends and two people of interest: Gu Yanzhen and Shen Junshan. As a team, they face different battles. On top of that, they have to deal with a struggle between their country’s biggest political powers.
4. Ever Night (2018)
Thirteen years ago, a massacre destroyed Ning Que’s family. Now a general of the Tang Dynasty, he returns to the capital to investigate the truth about what happened. Sang Sang, a seemingly ordinary maidservant, joins him on his quest for the truth.
Through his grit, Ning Que earns the strength to become one of the nation’s strongest warriors. But his greatest trial comes when Sang Sang falls ill with a mysterious sickness.
In the process, he discovers her true identity. As she recovers, he has to uncover her connection with the darkness looming over the horizon.
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5. Princess Agents (2017)
In the time of conflict in Northern Wei, people’s lives were worth less than money. Many, including Chu Qiao, were captured as slaves. Fortunately, before she could become prey for the rich lords, Yan Xun decides to save her.
She vows to regain her freedom and escape the palace with her sisters. Due to her abilities, she catches the eye of Yuwen Yue. He takes her in as a disciple and starts a strict regimen.
Through this training, she becomes closer with Yan Xun, her savior and prince.
But peace doesn’t last long. The Western Wei Emperor decides to slaughter Yan Xun’s family. As the sole survivors, they were imprisoned together.
This doesn’t stop them from hatching their own scheme. Yan Xun, Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue join hands to mount a rebellion against the emperor. Will they succeed?
6. The King’s Avatar (2017)
Ye Xiu used to be the top-tier player of the popular MMORPG, Glory. Due to an incident, he gets kicked off his professional ESports team. He decides to quit the pro gaming scene and quit playing the game altogether.
At present, he works as an Internet Cafe employee. His past soon catches up with him when the Glory launches their tenth server. Without anything to lose, he throws himself back into the game.
This time, he starts out with newfound teammates. Together, they rise the ranks to win glory.
The drama does a slightly different take on the action genre, as most battles happen online. But, that won’t keep you from being on the edge of your seat when watching Ye Xiu play!
7. Glory of the Special Forces (2022)
Despite his talents, Yan Po Yue finds that becoming a soldier isn’t smooth-sailing. Getting on his superior’s bad side lands him in the kitchen crew, where he meets his future comrades.
When the time to select soldiers for the Special Forces arrive, Yan Po Yue only has his success in mind. But skills aren’t everything in the military. Yan Po Yue soon realizes his personal shortcomings. Joined by his comrades, he starts his journey to become the soldier he wants to be.
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8. Reset (2022)
While riding the bus, college student Li Shi Qing becomes trapped in a strange phenomenon. When the bus she was riding on suddenly explodes, she thought she’d be a goner. Instead, she wakes up to find herself on the same ride, still ending in death and destruction.
Unable to escape the time loop, she involves fellow passenger Xiao He Yun out of desperation. The two try to find a way to alter their fate and prevent the deaths of everyone onboard.
But stopping a time-loop and changing the course of fate isn’t easy. Ultimately, the path to their survival becomes a rocky one.
9. Battle of Changsha (2014)
Battle of Changsha is a vivid memoir of the second Sino-Japanese War. It retells the conflict through the eyes of 16 year old Hu Xiang Xiang and Hu Xiao Man. The two are twins born into the simple Hu family, one of many trying to survive the war.
On a fateful day, Hu Xiang Xiang encounters Gu Qing Ming. The latter is an Intelligence Officer longing to serve in the war. The two start off on the wrong foot, but they eventually find companionship in each other.
Will their story bloom in the gray landscape of war? Or will the smoke and ashes tear them apart?
10. The Justice (2021)
Cheng Yi Zhu is a man of humble beginnings, yet destined for a greater life. He earns a meager wage working in factories and shops in the middle of Shanghai. A fateful encounter with Wu Ru Fu, a well-established banker turns his life upside down.
Leaving his life as an exploited employee behind, he enters the elite world of finance. As it turns out, Yi Zhu has a natural talent in his new career. He piques the interest of Boss Huang, a big shot in the banking industry.
Yi Zhu quickly becomes Boss Huang’s closest confidant. But when he discovers a shocking revelation, he leaves the big boss’s side. Boss Huang doesn’t let that slide easily, and he’s driven to bring Yi Zhu and his secrets down with him.
The drama follows this exciting turn of events. Once you start this series, you’ll be drawn by the action and Yi Zhu’s righteous resistance!
11. Never Say Never (2019)
Fang Hen’s lover, an undercover agent named Luo Fei, is killed in action. To make matters worse, the police still fail to stop the criminals involved in Luo Fei’s death. Unable to cope with her death, he decides to enact justice on his own terms.
With the approval of the police chief, he goes undercover to finish the mission Luo Fei started. He must put an end to the smuggling ring destroying their city, and bring Luo Fei’s killer to justice.
If you’re a fan of crime dramas, this one’s definitely for you. It has lots of action, on top of a good revenge story.
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12. Age of Legends (2018)
Liu Zi Guang has no memories of his own past for the last 8 years. Wanting to find his roots, he goes back to his hometown and reunites with his father figure, Uncle Guo. But he ends up in serious trouble when he seriously injures a tenant who hurt his uncle.
Arrested by the police, he soon meets the fiery detective Hu Rong. She has her hands full dealing with an international crime organization. Led by Nie Wan Feng, the organization continues to make trouble in the city.
Liu Zi Guang and Nie Wan Feng are not unrelated. They used to be close brothers, but they went their own ways after the latter changed for the worse. Hu Rong doesn’t know about this history, and offers to work with Liu Zi Guang.
Together, Hu Rong and Liu Zi Guang work together to put an end to Nie Wan Feng’s crimes. But, when Hu Rong starts to catch feelings for Liu Zi Guang, she has to choose between principle over love.
13. Day Breaker (2022)
During an undercover operation, Luo Xiang, a former narcotics agent, fakes his death. To prevent his pursuers from catching onto his mission, he goes underground.
After 5 years, he returns with a new name but with the same goal. He resumes his mission to infiltrate the drug cartel and find out who’s pulling the strings. In the process, he has to deal with his former lover, and both friends and foes.
This drama is not for the faint of heart. It’s packed with crime, violence, and fighting. Make sure you brace yourself for the suspense!
14. Humans (2021)
In 2035, humans now depend on and coexist with human-like androids. A man buys a model called “synth 2035” to help do chores and care for his children. His wife opposed his decision, and this led to a quarrel between them.
The robot, named An Yi, turns out to be a special model invented to have self-awareness and human emotions. An Yi once belonged to Li Yao, the son of her inventor. She was built as a companion for him, and they developed a deep bond.
But an accident occurred, leading to An Yi and three other special “synths” being stolen. At present, Li Yao is searching for An Yi. He must find her before Professor Huo, the villain in their story, catches up to him.
Throughout the story, An Yi fights against enemies who try to harm her family. As time goes by, she evolves to become more and more human. Fans of sci-fi action dramas will surely love Humans!
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15. Fights Break Sphere (2018)
Born with incredible powers, Xiao Yan became known as a child genius. Due to an unknown cause, he suddenly lost his powers. In a world controlled by power and skills, Xiao Yan becomes shunned for his lack of talents.
At 15, he accidentally summons Yao Lao, an ancient martial arts master. With his help, Xiao Yan starts to build up his strength and regain his powers.
Tragedy strikes Xiao Yan’s life when his entire family is assassinated. Driven by revenge, Xiao Yan embarks on a long journey. With his newfound strength, he’s determined to find his family’s killer and bring peace to the world.
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Chinese action dramas deserve a lot more recognition. They’re all well-made, and are up to par with more mainstream action series.
Which drama are you most excited to watch? What are some of the best action dramas you know? Let us know in the comments below!