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| iQIYI’s Standout Chinese Dramas of 2025 According to Douban Reviews (Photo: iQIYI) |
2025 turned out to be one of iQIYI’s busiest years yet, with the platform rolling out drama after drama — from Chen Xiao’s business-epic Legend of the Magnate (大生意人) to the highly anticipated continuation of Yang Xuwen’s fantasy-mystery world in Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 3: To Chang’an (长安).
Big titles like The Best Thing (Zhang Linghe, Xu Ruohan), Fated Hearts (Li Qin, Chen Zheyuan), Moonlight Mystique (Bai Lu, Ao Ruipeng), and The Demon Hunter’s Romance (Allen Ren Jialun, Song Zuer) also kept viewers glued to their screens. And while popularity doesn’t always guarantee a high Douban score, a surprising mix of genres — mysteries, time loops, spy thrillers, historical sagas, and hometown dramas — rose to the top.
Below is the definitive ranking of iQIYI’s highest-rated Chinese dramas of 2025, based solely on Douban scores. Some are expected champs, others are total dark horses… but all earned their spot.
10. This Thriving Land — Douban 7.2
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Yang Mi steps away from her trademark fantasy-romance roles and dives head-first into a grounded rural narrative alongside Oho Ou.
This Thriving Land sees her playing Ning Xiuxiu, a woman whose life takes a sharp turn after she’s kidnapped on her wedding day.
• ICYMI: This Thriving Land Ending Explained.
When her wealthy family refuses to help, she cuts ties and chooses instead to build a life with Feng Dajiao, the villager who rescued her. The drama explores community struggles, complex family ties, and the quiet endurance of rural women.
With strong performances and down-to-earth storytelling, it became one of iQIYI’s most unexpected sleeper hits of the year.
9. Legend of the Magnate — Douban 7.3
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Chen Xiao once again proves he’s unbeatable in costume dramas. Paired with Sun Qian, he leads Legend of the Magnate, a visually rich historical series set at the end of the Qing Dynasty.
• Read: Legend of the Magnate Ending Recap.
Gu Pingyuan, the protagonist, begins as an exiled man in the icy lands of Ningguta. But the “polite merchant” persona hides ambition and razor-sharp strategy. From tea to salt trades, and later uniting regional merchants, his journey is a full climb from survival to power — all while exposing corruption and helping the local people.
A solid script and elegant production made this one of 2025’s most respected historical releases.
8. Be Her Resilience — Douban 7.5
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Short-form dramas rarely break out on Douban, but this one did.
Be Her Resilience, led by Wang Yifei and Peng Yaqi, tells the gripping story of two girls — one the biological daughter, one the fake daughter — locked in a bitter rivalry until the truth flips everything.
The moment the real identities surface, the two team up to reclaim justice.
With no romance distractions and tight pacing, viewers praised how smart and decisive both leads remained from start to finish. A compact drama with a surprisingly big punch.
7. A Love Never Lost — Douban 7.5
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After years of delay, the Li Xian x Chun Xia drama finally saw daylight — and it did not disappoint.
Set in the final years of the Qing Dynasty, A Love Never Lost presents a group of young people caught in turbulent times. The cinematography is striking, the mood heavy yet poetic.
Li Xian, once known mainly for Go Go Squid!, continues his shift toward more artistic projects. This drama showcases that maturity, blending romance, tragedy, and the harsh reality of a collapsing era.
6. Mobius — Douban 7.5
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If you loved Reset, you’ll feel right at home with Mobius.
Bai Jingting and Janice Man star in this high-tension thriller built around a looping bank explosion that repeats five times.
• Related: Mobius Ending Explained
No slow pacing, no unnecessary fillers — just a constant push forward as police officer Ding Qi realises he’s trapped inside a time cycle. Every loop reveals new clues, new threats, and eventually, new players who also understand what’s happening. A lean, gripping mystery that holds its tension from beginning to end.
5. The Demon Hunter’s Romance — Douban 7.5
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Ren Jialun teams up with Song Zuer for a supernatural anthology that blends mystery with classic folklore energy.
Each episode stands alone, yet the overarching tone — eerie, thoughtful, slightly nostalgic — stitches the drama into a cohesive whole.
• Read: The Demon Hunter's Romance Ending Review.
Viewers loved the emotional depth and the surprisingly warm chemistry between the leads. Ren Jialun gives a steady, charismatic performance, while Song Zuer brings balance with subtle strength.
For many, this felt like one of the most atmospheric dramas of the year.
4. Trident Season 2 — Douban 7.7
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The veteran trio — Chen Jianbin, Dong Yong, and Hao Ping — return with a new case, new criminals, and a refreshed tone in Trident Season 2.
Where the first season was heavy and intense, the second feels more accessible while still tackling modern crime complexities.
The drama shines in portraying experienced officers navigating a rapidly changing world, adjusting their methods while holding onto their principles. A quietly confident crime series that earned its high score through solid acting and grounded storytelling.
3. The Hunt — Douban 7.7
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Noon Sunshine once again drops a mystery thriller that slowly but surely becomes addictive.
• ICYMI: The Hunt Finale Recap
The Hunt, starring Huang Xuan and Li Gengxi, follows a messy case involving a missing person, a mysterious wooden trunk, and a woman whose statements never quite line up.
The story unravels piece by piece as investigators dig through conflicting testimonies and long-buried secrets. By the midpoint, audiences were completely hooked, praising its pacing and increasingly layered suspense. A standout mystery title in iQIYI’s 2025 catalogue.
2. Silent Honor — Douban 8.0
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Yu Hewei and Wu Yue deliver powerhouse performances in the spy drama Silent Honor, which is set in 1949 and inspired by real events.
• Related: Silent Honor Ending Explained
The drama earned strong ratings during broadcast and won viewers over with its detailed character portraits and steady, gripping script.
The supporting cast is equally impressive, with Zeng Li and Wei Chen adding weight to the ensemble.
At 8.0 on Douban, it stands firmly as one of the year’s most well-regarded releases.
1. Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 3: To Chang’an — Douban 8.0
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The crown jewel of 2025 belongs to the Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty franchise. Season 3 — To Chang’an — continues the series’ streak of scoring above 8.0 on Douban, a rare achievement for multi-season Chinese dramas.
ICYMI: Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 3 Ending Recap.
The third season expands the world even further. Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming escort a mysterious “Golden Peach” from the Kang Kingdom to Chang’an, all while navigating political shifts and supernatural disturbances across the city.
No filler, sharp character work, atmospheric worldbuilding, and polished storytelling — it’s no wonder a fourth season is already confirmed, with a fifth in development.