Ever scrolled past a drama on iQIYI and noticed that mysterious “heat index” number ticking upward like a stock price? Well, turns out it’s not just eye candy. That heat index actually tracks how hot a show really is — and these 15 titles didn’t just get warm. They blew the lid off, crossing the legendary 10,000 mark.
So what exactly is the iQIYI Heat Index, and why does hitting 10000 matter? Let’s break it down — and then dive into the dramas that joined the exclusive 10K Club since 2021.
💡 So... What Is the iQIYI Heat Index Anyway?
iQIYI's Heat Index (sometimes called "热度" in Chinese) is the platform’s in-house popularity scoring system. It’s a live data metric that pulls from:
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Total number of views
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Viewer interaction (barrages, comments, likes, shares)
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Search volume within iQIYI
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Viewer retention (how many stay for multiple episodes)
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External buzz (social media chatter, reposts, articles)
The index updates in real-time and reflects a show's overall traction rather than just raw view counts.
A score of 10,000 is considered mega hit territory — the kind of drama that grabs attention across platforms, builds loyal followings, and gets everyone (from fans to execs) talking.
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| The 15 Chinese Dramas That Smashed 10K+ Heat Index on iQIYI (Weibo/iQIYI) |
📈 16 Dramas That Hit the 10K+ Club (2021–2025)
Here’s the rundown of the elite few that crossed the line:
1. My Heroic Husband (Feb 22, 2021)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,745
🧠 Fun Fact: Was the No.1 show for drawing in new users in 2021 — strong blend of comedy, time-travel, and power-couple goals.
👥 Average Yunhe popularity: 112.01 million
2. A Lifelong Journey (Mar 1, 2022)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,098
🧠 Rich in family, history, and social change, this one quietly became a slow-burn success.
👥 Yunhe avg: 63.7M | Kuyun avg: 56.9M
🏆 No.2 for new user growth in 2022
3. Love Between Fairy and Devil (Aug 21, 2022)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,572
🧠 Fantasy romance with gorgeous visuals and strong CP appeal — massive crossover hit.
👥 Yunhe avg: 62.92M | Kuyun avg: 60.93M
🏆 No.3 in new user attraction 2022
4. Chasing the Undercurrent (Sep 14, 2022)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,082
🧠 Crime thriller that built up quiet loyalty — not flashy, but highly sticky.
👥 Yunhe avg: 51.53M | Kuyun avg: 52.08M
🏆 No.5 in new user draw 2022
5. New Life Begins (Nov 16, 2022)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,477
🧠 A fluffy yet witty historical romcom that kept audiences hooked.
👥 Yunhe avg: 79.73M | Kuyun avg: 74.29M
🏆 No.1 in new users 2022
6. Wild Bloom (Dec 7, 2022)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,263
🧠 Gritty period drama led by Zhao Liying — a more mature role that paid off.
👥 Yunhe avg: 55.23M | Kuyun avg: 53.86M
🏆 No.4 in new user draw 2022
7. The Knockout (Jan 20, 2023)
📈 Peak Heat: 11,800 (Record Breaker!)
🧠 2023’s breakout king — crime, corruption, and killer pacing.
👥 Yunhe avg: 178.65M | Kuyun avg: 159.87M
🏆 No.1 in 2023 for user growth
8. Destined (Jun 20, 2023)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,353
🧠 Romantic historical drama that surprised everyone with strong word-of-mouth.
👥 Yunhe avg: 57.17M | Kuyun avg: 61.24M
🏆 No.2 in 2023
9. Mysterious Lotus Casebook (Aug 9, 2023)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,118
🧠 Wuxia meets detective storytelling — niche but beloved.
👥 Yunhe avg: 53.55M | Kuyun avg: 54.66M
🏆 No.4 in 2023
10. Story of Kunning Palace (Sep 19, 2023)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,310
🧠 Twisty palace intrigue with strong female lead — blew up on social.
👥 Yunhe avg: 53.36M | Kuyun avg: 54.59M
🏆 No.3 in 2023
11. A Journey to Love (Dec 3, 2023)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,106
🧠 Martial arts romance with a slow-burn charm.
👥 Yunhe avg: 49.51M | Kuyun avg: 51.92M
🏆 No.6 in 2023
12. War of Faith (Apr 6, 2024)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,017
🧠 Finance and revolution — not for everyone, but made its mark.
👥 Yunhe avg: 35.71M | Kuyun avg: 40.03M
13. Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II: To the West (Jul 28, 2024)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,205
🧠 Dark fantasy with a loyal niche audience.
👥 Yunhe avg: 40.52M | Kuyun avg: 45.02M
14. We Are Criminal Police (Dec 7, 2024)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,457
🧠 Realistic crime procedural — flew under the radar but delivered.
👥 Yunhe avg: 48.38M | Kuyun avg: 52.87M
15. Drifting Away (Jan 22, 2025)
📈 Peak Heat: 10,356
🧠 Quiet and emotional — found big love among drama purists.
👥 Yunhe avg: 51.14M | Kuyun avg: 64.35M
16. Feud (June 15, 2025) - New!
🔍 What’s Yunhe and Kuyun?
Both Yunhe and Kuyun are third-party data platforms tracking online media popularity in China. They offer external verification of a drama’s performance, like Nielsen ratings for TV. Having high Yunhe and Kuyun scores alongside iQIYI’s internal heat proves a drama’s impact isn’t just in-house hype — it’s nationally visible.
🧠 TL;DR
Crossing 10,000 on the iQIYI Heat Index = major win. These dramas weren’t just big; they were industry-shaking. Whether through sizzling romances, political thrillers, or martial arts showdowns, these 16 shows proved they’ve got what it takes to become part of C-drama history.
Got a fave from the list? Or waiting for your beloved underrated gem to hit that 10K? Either way — stay tuned, the next chart-topper might just drop tomorrow.