Watching TV can be one of the best ways to learn a language, gain insight into a culture and can give you something to chat about around the water cooler. Chinese language shows can also offer a much needed break from CCTV 9. With channels full of war dramas and screechy soap operas, finding something decent can be a daunting task. Luckily, with this handy guide to the best Chinese TV shows you won’t need to waste hours channel surfing. Even better, all the shows mentioned below can be viewed online at your leisure as well. In order to watch these shows simply copy and paste the Chinese name into your online streaming site of choice and have at it! While none of these shows have subtitles the Chinese level required for viewing varies from basic to advanced, so even if you’re not fluent, give watching Chinese TV a shot!

Photo: Marc van der Chijs

1) Take Me Out 我们约会吧
A quintessential Chinese dating show during which 18 women interrogate one man and decide whether or not he is Mr. Right. After several rounds of questioning the man decides between the women who have chosen him. This show often features rather clueless foreign contestants and is worth watching for that factor alone, because when one of our own decides to appear on this show hilarity often ensues. Also interesting are the often cringeworthy questions and comments from the men and the women (one man last week rejected a gorgeous NICU pediatrician saying that he preferred women who “can’t do anything”) which should give the viewer a bit of insight into Chinese dating culture.

2) Blossoming Flowers 花儿朵朵
The latest installment of the Super Girl singing competition which launched the career of “Chris Lee,” Li Yuchun, the 2010 version Blossoming Flowers is just now kicking off with the preliminary rounds. As anyone who has watched American Idol knows, the preliminary rounds of these nationwide talent competitions are always the best as they bring out the truly bizarre and delusional folks that would never otherwise make it to our TV screens. Later in the year be sure to check out the male competition, Happy Boy. In both competitions the winner is chosen by the viewers through text messaging.

3) Rural Love Story 乡村爱情故事3
The newest installment of Zhao Benshan’s hit comedy series, this year’s Rural Love Story 3, also features his protege Xiao Shenyang, the rather feminine fellow with an amazing singing voice who burst onto the scene in 2009 and has been busy ever since. With a cast jammed full of Chinese superstars, Rural Love Story is full of wry observations about life in the countryside of Northeast China and the series was a must see over the Chinese New Year holiday.

4) Red Cradle 红色摇篮
While most of us would groan at the idea of yet another Red Army melodrama, Red Cradle should be interesting for history buffs in that it tells the story of Mao Zedong’s early years, when the Communist party was at its most idealistic. Red Cradle also touches on subjects which were previously taboo in China, notably Mao Zedong’s struggles during the revolutionary period against an international communist party which wanted to protect Soviet interests in China. While the portrayal of Mao as a big old softie who loved kids and his wife might be a bit over the top for some, Red Cradle takes place during arguably one of the most interesting times during Chinese history and provides a fresh look at some old stories.

5) Happy Sheep and Big Bad Wolf 喜羊羊与灰太狼
Happy Sheep and Big Bad Wolf (also known as Pleasant Goat and Big Bad Wolf) is arguably China’s most successful homegrown animated series to date. It has spawned a movie, spin-off merchandise, and even a line of Happy Meal toys. Little Chinese kids, boys and girls alike, are crazy about the show and for Chinese learners young and old the simple, formulaic storylines (each episode is centered around the wolf’s attempts to capture and eat the sheep) should make for easy watching. Those looking for an easy show to watch in order to improve Chinese listening skills need look no further. Children’s shows are great learning tools!

6) Remembrance of Dreams Past 故梦
Based on a Taiwanese novel of the same name, if you’re looking for a show to push your Chinese skills to their limit, this costume drama is it. Loaded with rather antiquated Chinese and chengyus, the story takes place at the end of the Qing Dynasty and continues to the founding of the Republic, following the fortunes of a wealthy imperial family and their sons and daughters. Arranged marriages, love marriages, old values versus modern ideas – all of these feature prominently. The sets and costumes are beautiful and this show is a feast for the eyes even if you can only understand every other word.

7) West Yunnan: 1944
Chinese war shows are a dime a dozen and what sets this one apart isn’t the acting or the special effects, but rather the rather interesting choice of subject matter – the battle for West Yunnan that took place near the end of World War II, as the Japanese were advancing from Burma through Tengchong. Last year’s hit, My Chief and My Regiment (我的团长我的团) also dealt with this as-till-now often neglected period of Chinese history. Tengchong was the site of fierce fighting and many Chinese and foreign soldiers lost their lives fighting to stop the Japanese advance in West China. Because the soldiers fighting in West Yunnan were Nationalist forces, Chinese TV producers have often skipped over the battles there in favor of opportunities to portray brave Communist soldiers, but recently the fighting in West Yunnan is finally getting a bit of recognition, and for that reason alone West Yunnan: 1944 (as well as My Chief and My Regiment, if you haven’t seen it yet) is worth watching.

8) Rent a Girlfriend 租个女友回家过年
The name of this one pretty much says it all: Rent a Girlfriend to Take Home for the New Year. You may have read about the ad posted outside of a Beijing dormitory advertising 10,000RMB for a man to act as a boyfriend over the holidays, and this TV series acts out that scenario, but in reverse. In China the pressure to get married and have kids is fairly immense, especially once grown-up children reach a certain age, and this romantic comedy series takes a lighthearted stab at the topic. If you’re not up for melodrama or war epics or politics and just want to watch something fun then try Rent a Girlfriend.
 

Related Links
Quick and Easy Guide to China's Video and Movie Viewing Sites
Big in Asia: China's Hottest Female Stars
Banned in Beijing: Chinese Movies That Didn't Make the Cut

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