Where to Watch Chinese Dramas, Movies & TV Shows
Watch Chinese dramas, movies, TV shows and live TV through streaming services, China-based platforms and YouTube channels. Find both free and paid options, including many available in the U.S. Along the way, build your listening skills and become more familiar with everyday Chinese.
Entries marked ✓ U.S. Access do not require a VPN.
Find Your Next Watch
★ A useful database for finding, organizing, and keeping track of Chinese dramas and other Asian entertainment. MyDramaList covers Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, and other Asian dramas, films, and variety shows, with cast information, ratings, reviews, recommendations, watchlists, viewing progress, episode calendars, and information about where titles can be watched. One of its most useful features is its recommendations. MyDramaList does not stream shows or movies itself. It is free to use with ads and offers optional paid VIP features and in-app purchases. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Free Database & Tracking PlatformStreaming Platforms - ✓ U.S. Access
★ Includes Mandarin-language movies and TV shows as part of its large international catalog. Amazon’s streaming service offers movies, TV series, and other video content, including Mandarin-language titles and programs with Chinese subtitle or audio options. Some content is included with a Prime Video subscription, while other titles require an additional subscription, rental, or purchase. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Paid
★ Stream Chinese movies and dramas alongside a large selection of entertainment from across Asia. AsianCrush offers films, TV dramas, anime, and other Asian programming, including titles from China. Much of the service is free with ads, while a Premium subscription provides access to additional exclusive content with a more limited ad experience. Captions are available on supported titles. Available on the web, Android, and iOS.
Free With Ads / Paid
★ Select donghua are available in original Mandarin with multiple subtitle options. Crunchyroll is a large anime streaming service with series, movies, simulcasts, and a growing selection of Chinese donghua. Crunchyroll is primarily a paid subscription service with a 7-day free trial, while its separate Crunchyroll Channel offers free 24/7 streaming on select platforms. Available on the web, Android and iOS. Please Note: Crunchyroll also offers other apps and services, including manga, games, and shopping, but these do not provide the same Mandarin-learning benefit as its main streaming service.
Free Trial / Paid
★ Some Hulu titles offer Mandarin audio with English subtitles. Hulu is a paid streaming service with thousands of TV shows, movies, Hulu Originals, and international programming. Hulu offers ad-supported and ad-free streaming plans, with Live TV available on higher-priced plans. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Paid
★ Large selection of Mandarin dramas, movies, variety shows, and Chinese animation with multilingual subtitles. The international version of iQIYI is an Asian streaming service with a particularly strong selection of Chinese-language entertainment, including popular C-dramas, original series, movies, variety programs, and animation. A large selection can be watched for free, while VIP memberships unlock additional content, early access, fewer ads, and other premium features. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Free With Ads / Paid
★ Mandarin dramas, variety shows, and reality programs. The international version MangoTV is a Chinese streaming service with a large selection of dramas, variety shows, reality programs, short dramas, and other entertainment, with multilingual subtitles available on supported titles. Some content is available free, while VIP subscriptions unlock additional premium content and higher-quality streaming. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Free / Paid
★ Browse by original language, audio, or subtitles to find content that supports Mandarin listening and reading practice. Netflix is a paid streaming service offering movies, TV series, documentaries, anime, and other programming from around the world. Netflix offers ad-supported and ad-free subscription plans, and language availability varies by title and region. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Paid
★ Free access to Chinese dramas, films, and other international programming. Tubi is a free, ad-supported streaming service with movies, series, live TV, and international programming, including a Chinese Drama category with Chinese films and other titles that may be of interest to Chinese learners. No subscription or credit card is required, though the catalog changes over time. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Free With Ads
★ Specializes in Asian entertainment, including Chinese and Taiwanese dramas and movies. Rakuten Viki is a streaming service featuring dramas, movies, variety shows, and other entertainment from Mainland China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and other parts of Asia, with subtitles available in many languages. Some content can be watched free with ads, while Viki Pass subscriptions provide access to exclusive titles, ad-free streaming, and HD video. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Free With Ads / Paid
★ Features Chinese dramas and variety shows alongside a wider selection of Asian entertainment. WeTV is a streaming service offering TV series, movies, variety and entertainment programs, anime, and documentaries, with content from China as well as Korea, Japan, Thailand, and other regions. It offers a mix of free content, paid VIP programming, and rentals, with VIP membership adding benefits such as ad-free viewing and faster downloads. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Free / Paid
★ A major Chinese streaming platform featuring dramas, films, variety shows, anime and more. YOUKU is the international streaming service from the Chinese video platform Youku, offering Chinese dramas, short dramas, movies, variety shows, anime and other Asian entertainment, with multilingual subtitles and dubbing available on many titles. The service includes free content as well as VIP subscription and other paid content. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Free / PaidChinese Drama YouTube Channels - ✓ U.S. Access
★ Offers a large collection of Chinese-language dramas and full series on YouTube. Caravan中文剧场 features romance, historical, crime, and other drama series, with many episodes organized into playlists and many videos offering English subtitles.
Over 1m Subs!
★ Offers a large collection of Mandarin-language Chinese dramas, including full episodes and complete series playlists. China Huace TV Official Channel is the official YouTube channel of Huace Film & TV, featuring Chinese television dramas across genres such as romance, modern drama, historical series, crime and more. Many programs are available with English subtitles, along with trailers, clips and other drama-related videos.
Over 2m Subs!
★ Offers a large collection of mainland Chinese TV dramas, including many complete series with English subtitles. CN DRAMA is a YouTube channel featuring modern, historical and costume dramas from China, with thousands of episodes and full-length series available to watch for free. Its catalog includes both older and more recent Chinese television dramas, and many uploads include English subtitles.
Over 702k Subs!
★ Croton Media’s official YouTube channel for Chinese TV dramas, with English subtitles available on selected series and episodes. Croton MEGA HIT 克頓傳媒 史詩傑作 features full episodes and series from Croton Media’s catalog, including romance, modern, and historical Chinese dramas. Most videos are free to watch, with an optional channel membership that provides early access to select episodes.
Over 2.6m Subs!
★ Chinese dramas span fantasy, romance, historical, and modern settings, with many titles offering English subtitles. Fresh Drama is a free YouTube channel from Huashi TV featuring Chinese drama episodes, full-length releases, and other drama content across historical and contemporary genres. Many videos include English subtitles, although subtitle options vary by title.
Over 2.5m Subs! ★ Many full Chinese drama episodes are available with English subtitles. iQIYI CDrama is iQIYI’s dedicated Chinese-language drama channel, featuring full episodes, series playlists, clips and highlights from a wide selection of C-dramas. They also offer an English channel that contains movies as well.
Over 1m Subs!
★ An official source for Chinese dramas, variety shows, and movies, with English subtitles available on some titles. Letv Official Channel is LeTV’s official YouTube channel, featuring Chinese dramas, variety programs, movies, full episodes, clips, and series playlists. Some programs include English subtitles, while others are available only in Chinese.
Over 1.7m Subs!
★ An official source for Chinese donghua series, episodes, trailers and clips with English subtitles. Made By Bilibili is Bilibili’s official YouTube channel for original Chinese animation, featuring full episodes and other content from a wide range of donghua series. Most videos are free to watch, while optional channel membership provides access to some exclusive content and early releases
Over 2.6m Subs!
★ This official channel features Mandarin-language Chinese dramas, with many full episodes available with English or multilingual subtitles. 芒果TV青春剧场 MangoTV Drama is MangoTV’s YouTube channel for Chinese dramas, offering full episodes, clips, trailers and playlists from a variety of series. Much of the content can be watched free, while an optional paid channel membership provides early access to additional full episodes.
Over 4.8m Subs!
★ This official channel offers a large collection of Chinese dramas, animation, variety shows, and other entertainment, often with multilingual subtitles. Tencent Video is the official YouTube channel for the Chinese streaming platform, featuring full episodes, clips, trailers, and other video content across historical dramas, modern series, mysteries, romance, donghua, and variety programs. Most content can be watched free on YouTube, while optional channel memberships may provide early access or exclusive content.
Over 9m Subs! ★ Short Chinese dramas include individual episodes and full-series collections across romance, fantasy, crime and other genres. Tencent Video - Mini Drama is an official Tencent Video YouTube channel dedicated to Chinese mini dramas, with short-form series, full versions and binge-ready collections. Most videos can be watched free, while an optional paid channel membership provides access to additional content.
Over 1.4m Subs! ★ An official source for romance-focused Chinese dramas, with many full series and English-subtitled episodes organized into playlists. Tencent Video - Romantic is an official Tencent Video YouTube channel featuring Chinese romance and youth dramas, including modern, workplace, school, and relationship-centered series. Many titles are available as full English-subtitled versions, while some newer releases may use AI-translated subtitles before human translations are added. Videos can be watched for free, with optional paid YouTube channel membership and links to WeTV for additional content.
Over 1.4m Subs! ★ This official channel features Chinese dramas, full episodes, clips and behind-the-scenes content with English subtitles for international viewers. WeTV English is WeTV’s English-language YouTube channel, featuring Chinese drama series, highlights, trailers and other entertainment from the streaming service. The channel is free to access on YouTube, although some titles direct viewers to WeTV for additional or complete episodes.
Over 4m Subs! ★ This official channel features Chinese dramas, including many videos with English subtitles. YOUKU-Get APP now is YOUKU’s main YouTube channel, with full episodes, clips, trailers and other videos from Chinese drama series across a range of genres. Many uploads are marked ENG or ENGSUB, although the channel itself is multilingual rather than exclusively English. The channel is free to watch, with some videos promoting additional or early-access content through YOUKU’s paid services.
Over 6m Subs!
★ Specializes in Chinese television dramas, with full episodes and organized series playlists. 优优独播剧场 YoYo Television Series Exclusive includes a variety of drama series, along with clips and other related videos. Some titles offer English subtitles, although subtitle availability varies by series.
Over 2.6m Subs!Chinese Movies YouTube Channels - ✓ U.S. Access
★ Full-length Chinese movies with English subtitles across a wide range of genres. China Movie Channel ENGLISH is the official CCTV6 YouTube channel for English-subtitled Chinese films, with free movies spanning action, martial arts, historical stories, crime, suspense, drama, romance and more. CCTV6 also runs two additional movie channels: CCTV6 Movie Theater, which has a much larger selection of Chinese films but does not consistently provide English subtitles, and 电视电影 Movie Series.
1.5k+ Uploads!
★ Thousands of Chinese movies are available with multilingual subtitles, including a dedicated English-subtitle collection. Tencent Video-MOVIE is Tencent Video’s official movie channel on YouTube, offering full-length Chinese films and clips across action, fantasy, crime, thriller, martial arts and other genres. Many movies include English or other subtitle options, making the channel useful for longer-form Mandarin listening practice with caption support. Most content is free to watch, but an optional channel membership is available.
2.8m Subs! ★ Streams a large selection of Chinese movies, many with English subtitles. YOUKU Movie is the official movie-focused YouTube channel from YOUKU, featuring full-length films, trailers and clips across action, wuxia, fantasy, suspense, comedy, romance and other genres. Much of the channel is free to watch, with optional YouTube memberships offering early access to some content.
3.4m Subs!Chinese TV & Variety YouTube Channels - ✓ U.S. Access
★ Its extensive archive includes both full-length programs and shorter clips from across CCTV’s television lineup. CCTV中国中央电视台 is China Central Television’s verified YouTube channel, featuring Mandarin-language news, interviews, cultural programs, variety shows, and other television content.
Over 6.9m Subs!
★ Full episodes and clips feature Chinese variety shows, music competitions, reality programs, and other entertainment, with multilingual subtitles available on some videos. 湖南卫视芒果TV官方频道 China HunanTV Official Channel is the official YouTube channel for Hunan TV and MangoTV, featuring programs such as variety shows, music series, reality shows, and other Chinese entertainment. Subtitle availability varies by upload.
Over 5.5m Subs!
★ Offers a broad mix of Mandarin television programming, including variety shows, documentaries, entertainment and current-affairs content. SMG上海电视台官方频道 SMG Shanghai TV Official Channel is Shanghai Media Group’s official YouTube channel, featuring full episodes and clips from a large catalog of Chinese television programs, including reality shows, variety programs, documentaries and entertainment series.
Over 1.9m Subs!
★ Full-length variety shows are available alongside performances, highlights, and special compilations. Zhejiang STV Official Channel is the official YouTube channel of Zhejiang Satellite TV, featuring Chinese entertainment such as reality and competition shows, music programs, documentaries, and popular series including Keep Running (奔跑吧), Ace vs Ace (王牌对王牌), and The Treasured Voice (天赐的声音).
Over 2.5m Subs! ★ Chinese music performances feature English subtitles and Pinyin lyrics. Zhejiang STV Music Global Channel shares Mandopop performances, duets, music-show highlights, artist compilations, and extended playlists from Zhejiang TV music programs. Please Note: Some lyric translations are AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.
Over 1m Subs!China-Based Streaming Platforms — ⚠ VPN May Be Required
Many Chinese streaming platforms restrict access by region. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) can make it appear that you’re browsing from another location, which may help with some regional restrictions. Services limited specifically to mainland China may require a mainland China IP address.
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★ Makes it easy to find Chinese TV dramas from multiple video sources. Baishou Video TV Drama Channel (百搜视频电视剧频道) is a Chinese-language video search and streaming hub featuring current series, complete dramas, and collections organized by theme and genre. The site and app are free to access, although individual titles may be subject to the originating provider’s availability restrictions. Available on the web and iOS.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN ★ Offers live and on-demand programming from 19 CCTV channels. CCTV Program Website is China Central Television’s official program platform, with Mandarin-language news, TV dramas, documentaries, variety shows, animation, sports, cultural programs and other broadcasts. The site also includes channel schedules, program archives and search tools, with much of its content available to watch free. Please Note: Some videos and live broadcasts may be unavailable outside mainland China due to regional licensing restrictions. Available on the web and iOS.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN ★ A Chinese-language streaming platform with a broad mix of mainland dramas, movies, variety shows, animation, documentaries, sports and short dramas. iQIYI China is the mainland Chinese version of iQIYI, offering both free viewing and VIP membership for additional content and viewing privileges. Availability varies by location, and some videos may be restricted outside mainland China due to licensing. There is an international version available on this list.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN
★ Chinese-language cartoons, children’s songs, educational programs, and documentaries are organized by age and topic. iQIYI Children’s Channel is iQIYI’s kids section, offering animation, nursery songs, early-learning videos, science and nature programs, and other children’s content for a range of ages. Many videos can be watched free, while some titles or episodes require an iQIYI membership.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN ★ A large catalog of Chinese television dramas includes both free and members-only titles. LeTV Video is a Chinese streaming service offering TV dramas, movies, animation, variety shows, documentaries, short dramas and other video content. Its TV section features a large selection of mainland Chinese series, with some programs available free and others requiring a paid membership. Available on the web and iPad.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN
★ A major source of Chinese variety shows, dramas, reality programs, and exclusive original productions. Mango TV (芒果TV) is a Chinese streaming platform operated by Hunan Broadcasting System’s internet video service, with programming that includes Hunan Satellite TV shows, dramas, movies, children’s programs, anime, documentaries, and live content. Some videos are free to watch, while VIP membership is required for certain programs and additional viewing features. Content availability can vary by country or region due to licensing restrictions. There is an international version available on this list.
⚠ VPN Likely Required
★ A large Chinese-language streaming library with entertainment and sports in one place. PP视频, formerly PPTV 聚力视频, offers Chinese TV dramas, movies, variety shows, anime, sports, and other video content, with free viewing alongside paid VIP content and membership features. Available on the web and iOS.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN
★ A strong source of native Mandarin across dramas, variety shows, animation, documentaries, and more. Tencent Video (腾讯视频) is a major Chinese streaming platform with a large selection of TV dramas, movies, variety programs, animation, documentaries, music, and children’s content. It offers a mix of free viewing and VIP or other paid content, although some videos may be unavailable outside mainland China because of regional licensing restrictions. Tencent has an international version of their service available on this list. See "WeTV."
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN
★ Offers a large selection of cartoons and educational programs designed for younger viewers. Tencent Video Kids Channel (腾讯视频少儿频道) features Mandarin-language cartoons, children’s series, songs, picture-book stories, science and educational programs, with a mix of free and VIP content. Some videos may be unavailable outside mainland China because of regional licensing restrictions.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN
★ A broad source of authentic Mandarin entertainment, including dramas, movies, variety shows, anime, and documentaries. Sohu Video (搜狐视频) is a Chinese streaming platform with a large selection of professionally produced shows, films, original programs, and other video content. Much of the content can be watched free with ads, while VIP membership and some titles require payment. Some videos are restricted to viewers in mainland China because of licensing rights. Available on the web, Android and iOS.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN
★ Features Chinese animation, entertainment, documentaries, and short-form video. Tudou (土豆视频) is a Chinese video platform with animation, variety shows, educational programs, documentaries, lifestyle content, and short videos. Some content is available free, while other content may require a membership or be unavailable outside China because of regional licensing restrictions. Available on the web and iOS.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN
★ Offers a broad mix of entertainment with free viewing and optional VIP upgrades. Uvod TV (优视频) is an online streaming site with movies, TV dramas, variety shows, anime, sports, and documentaries. It offers free viewing alongside a paid VIP membership that adds benefits such as higher video quality, VIP-only titles, playback-speed controls, and ad filtering. I tested the site and was able to watch quite a bit without a VPN.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN ★ Large selection of Chinese dramas, movies, variety shows, anime, and other entertainment. Youku (优酷) is a Chinese streaming platform with dramas, movies, variety shows, short dramas, anime, children’s programming, documentaries, and more. Some videos and episodes are free to watch, while a VIP membership provides access to additional content and benefits such as ad-free viewing, higher video quality, and early access to some releases. Availability varies by region, and some content on the Chinese site may be unavailable in the US because of licensing restrictions. There is an international version also available on this list.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPN
★ Age labels make it easy to find Mandarin children’s content for different stages. Youku Kids (优酷少儿) offers cartoons, educational programs, audio stories, songs, and Chinese culture content for children, with a mix of free, VIP, and individually paid selections. Some programming may be unavailable in the U.S. due to regional licensing restrictions. Available on the web and through the 小小优酷 iOS app.
Limited U.S. Access / ⚠ VPNChinese Live TV - ✓ U.S. Access
★ Streams a wide range of live Chinese television channels in one place. CCTV Live is CCTV’s official live-streaming page, offering free access to channels covering news, finance, variety shows, sports, movies, documentaries, education, children’s programming, music, and more, making it useful for listening practice with native Mandarin broadcasts. Some channels or individual programs may be unavailable in the United States because of regional broadcasting rights. Available on the web and iOS.
Free Web-Based
★ Browse thousands of free live TV and radio streams from around the world using an interactive 3D globe. Famelack.tv is an ad-free streaming directory that requires no account and lets you find publicly available channels by navigating its globe or browsing country lists. Mandarin-language content includes streams from mainland China and Taiwan, as well as Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Malaysia. Some external streams may occasionally be unavailable or geographically restricted
Free Web-Based