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| The Top 10 Chinese Dramas Dominating Viewership Charts (Photo: Yunhe/Tencent/Weibo) |
As 2025 barrels towards its finish line, the major data platforms have finally started dropping their year-end reports — and it’s already causing a stir across the industry. While Tencent Video warmed everyone up by releasing its “Most Popular Characters” list earlier this month, the spotlight has now swung to Yunhe, which has just unveiled the definitive ranking of 2025’s most-watched Chinese dramas based on average episode viewership.
And leading the pack by a wide margin? Zhao Lusi and William Chan’s urban romance juggernaut Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼) — a drama that not only topped charts but essentially rewrote them.
Love’s Ambition Dominates the Year With Unmatched Numbers
Love’s Ambition didn’t just perform well — it steamrolled the competition. Averaging 65.77 million views per episode, the series outpaced Tan Jianci’s highly respected Under the Skin Season 2, securing an undisputed first place.
The achievements don’t stop there. In just 16 days after launch, the drama became Tencent Video’s most popular title of 2025, with its popularity index rocketing to 32,638 points.
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Total viewership hit 2.1 billion, making it not only the biggest commercial win of the year but a serious image booster for Tencent, which had been stuck in a bit of a rut performance-wise.
The runaway success also amplified the profiles of both leads. Zhao Lusi, in particular, is said to have gained a stronger negotiating position amid ongoing tensions with her management company, Galaxy Cool Entertainment — a situation industry watchers have been keeping a close eye on.
ICYMI: Love's Ambition Ending Recap & Season 2 Rumours.
Under the Skin Season 2 Takes Second by the Narrowest Margin
Hot on its heels was Under the Skin Season 2 (猎罪图鉴2), starring Tan Jianci and Jin Shijia. The crime thriller delivered an absorbing investigation plot and maintained strong momentum across both Tencent Video and iQiyi.
Its average viewership of 65.73 million per episode puts it practically neck-and-neck with Love’s Ambition. Had the difference been any slimmer, we’d be calling it a photo finish.
The franchise’s consistency continues to impress, with many viewers praising the second season for combining tighter pacing with more emotional depth.
Drifting Away Secures Third With Zhao Jinmai’s Strongest Performance Yet
Sliding into third place is iQiyi’s 14-episode crime drama Drifting Away (漂白), starring Zhao Jinmai and Guo Jingfei. The series follows a tense journey to clear an innocent name while unmasking a web of concealed truths, and audiences rallied around its gripping, character-driven storytelling.
Despite a brief promotional hiccup due to controversy surrounding its source novel, Drifting Away still pulled in an impressive 64.61 million views per episode.
Many analysts believe it could have climbed even higher without that pause, which temporarily slowed its online buzz.
Legend of Zang Hai and Guardians of the Dafeng Claim Fourth and Fifth
2025’s fourth and fifth positions are fully claimed by male-led costume dramas — a genre that continues to dominate long-form storytelling in China.
4th: Legend of Zang Hai
Xiao Zhan’s historical strategy epic, directed by the acclaimed Zheng Xiaolong (Empresses in the Palace), averaged 55.11 million views per episode.
Airing on CCTV and Youku, it traced the rise of Zang Hai, a young survivor who transforms into a brilliant tactician bent on reclaiming his family’s honour.
The drama’s strong creative pedigree and cast made its high placement a predictable yet well-earned result.
It also reached international audiences through Disney+ in select regions.
5th: Guardians of the Dafeng
Despite a lukewarm start among domestic viewers, Dylan Wang Hedi’s time-travel fantasy steadily climbed in buzz and viewership once word-of-mouth kicked in.
It eventually achieved 54.67 million per episode, matching the expectations set by its massive pre-release hype — reportedly exceeding even Joy of Life in some circles.
The best part? Producers have already confirmed Season 2 is officially underway.
China’s Most-Watched Dramas of 2025: The Full Top 10 Breakdown
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6. This Thriving Land — Yang Mi
Averaging 51.4 million views, this drama offered a steady blend of romance and realism that resonated well throughout its run.
7. Flourished Peony — Yang Zi & Li Xian
The much-anticipated reunion of Yang Zi and Li Xian drew strong numbers, hitting 50 million per episode.
8. The First Frost — Bai Jingting & Zhang Ruonan
With 42 million per episode, this softer, atmospheric romance carved out its own dedicated fandom.
9. Moonlight Mystique — Bai Lu & Ao Ruipeng
Landing with 41.7 million, this fantasy-infused romance brought a refreshing visual charm to the list.
10. The Prisoner of Beauty — Song Zuer & Liu Yuning
Closing the top ten at 39.7 million, this visually striking and fast-paced period piece maintained consistent traction throughout its broadcast.
2025: A Year That Proved the Power of Genre Variety
If anything, this year’s ranking shows that Chinese drama audiences continue to be wonderfully unpredictable — flipping between romance, crime thrillers, historical intrigue, and time-traveling adventures without hesitation.
But the true headline of 2025? The unstoppable rise of Love’s Ambition, which didn’t just lead the chart — it defined the year.