u/Then-Signal-296

Born on 19 August 2000, in the Year of the Dragon.

Pictures from previous events. She looks so beautiful ! 😍

I think experiencing different cultures enriches a person and I find it interesting when I find out an actor studied abroad.

Of course, it might simply be that they're more privileged, but still, I made a list in case others are curious, too.

Liu Yi Fei - attended middle school in New York City, US

Lu Yu Xiao - did A-levels in York, UK, then studied fashion design at the University of Leeds

Esther Yu - studied at LASALLE College of Arts, Singapore

Arthur Chen - was born in US, attended private high school in Massachusetts

He Yu - studied at University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada

Dong Zi Fan - studied at University College London, UK

Shawn Dou - attended elementary and secondary school in Vancouver, BC, Canada, then apprenticed for 3 years and became a hair stylist

Elvis Han - attended high school in Vancouver, Canada

Kido Ma - studied at Rutgers School of Business, US

Do you see any benefits / effects of having spent years abroad on these actors?

A light hearted one. Whenever I check a drama from 5+ years ago, especially costume ones, I notice that their speaking is slower than recent ones.

I can watch recent dramas at 1.25 speed at most, but older dramas are still clear and understandable at 1.5 speed.

* Picture from The Sword and The Brocade (2021) that I recently started watching.

Born on 16 August 1990, in the Year of the Horse.

Wish her a great life ahead with her husband and daughter 💝

You can share a link - this is my MDL list
Or a screenshot or a list of your top / recent dramas

We might discover new dramas to watch, and notice the users whose preferences align with ours, so we can pay more attention to their recommendations / comments.

1-2

Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE)

Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE)

3-4

Wei (220–265 CE) during Three Kingdoms Period (220–280 CE)

Jin Dynasty (266–420 CE)

5

Southern and Northern Dynasties (420–589 CE)

6-7

Sui Dynasty (581–618 CE)

Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE)

8-11

Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE)

12-16

Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 CE)

The Chinese texts on the pictures are the names of dynasties and clothing items.

Pictures from: 馒猫子 manmaozi1111
Explanations from: What Does “Men’s Hanfu” Mean?

I think it'd be great to be friends with Qi Si Le, the FL of Please Be My Family.

We could have play dates together and she'd give me parenting advice, as she's one of the best mother of young children characters I've seen on TV, especially since the actress Jade Cheng actually majored in preschool education.

The only problem is it'll be a challenge to keep my eyes off of her husband. 😄 /jk

Who is a modern FL you want to make friends with? Why?

Becoming a CDrama fan means mastering the art of patience. From the moment a drama is announced, we have to brace our hearts for changes in casting melons and a long wait of 1-2 years for the drama to be filmed, edited, approved and aired.

But some dramas never get to release because of regulation changes or actor scandals etc and this can be quite heartbreaking for the fans who've been following the drama from the beginning and looking forward to watching it.

For me, I haven't been a long-enough CDrama fan to experience this whole process. I recently started to wait for upcoming dramas and I imagine I'd also be disappointed if they didn't make it to my screens eventually.

But I was quite upset to find out my favourite actors filmed dramas years ago with my favourite settings but there's no sign of them airing anytime soon:

Light My Way - Wan Peng & Kido Ma - Modern / Pilot FL doing rescue missions

Su Ji - Li Landy & Zhu Zhengting - Historical / Businesswoman FL

Are there any shelved dramas you desperately want to see?

They co-starred in Lie to Love (2021).

The song is Only Have Feelings for You by Fahrenheit. So nostalgic~ ❤️

(credit: cdramastation)

I like rebirth stories, and I was especially interested in The Princess Royal since both leads have their past life memories. But when I checked the trailer it gave a more serious vibe with politics / war focus so I decided to pass on it.

Until I saw a picture from the drama by chance, was mesmerised by it's beauty and decided to give the drama a go, then became hooked from the first second !

The warm colour palette, the attention to details, the wholesome second chance romance of a bickering old couple... It's such a feast to the eyes and the heart.

Main characters are interesting with more room to showcase their acting compared to other dramas I've seen them in. I also like how some female supporting characters have deep voices to showcase their strong personalities.

There were other times when a drama description or trailer didn't click with me, but a comment or social media clips convinced me. So I guess I need to update my drama selection method.

Did you have a similar experience? What changed your mind?

I'm Turkish myself, so I can understand some common words with Uyghur. I noticed these actresses' names had such lovely meanings and thought of sharing it.

Do you know the meaning of any other actor / actress names?

1,2 Jiu Lu Fei Xiang

Fated Master and Disciple (2026)
Shadow Love (2025)
The Legend of Shen Li (2024)
Love You Seven Times (2023)
Back from the Brink (2023)
Love between Fairy and Devil (2022)
The Blue Whisper: Part 1/2 (2022)
The Legends (2019)

3 Kennedy Xu

Archives: The Nanyang Mystery (2026)
Legend of Zang Hai (2025)
Time Raiders (2025)
Reunion: The Sound of the Providence (2020)
Tomb of the Sea (2018)
Mystic Nine (2026)
The Mystic Nine (2016)
Ultimate Note (2020)
The Lost Tomb 2: Explore with the Note (2021)
The Lost Tomb 2 (2019)
The Lost Tomb (2015)

4 Ma Bo Yong

River of No Return (2026)
Under the Microscope (2023)
The Wind Blows from Longxi (2022)
Luoyang (2021)
The Longest Day in Chang'an (2019)
Secret of Three Kingdoms (2018)

5 Mo Bao Fei Bao

Amidst a Snowstorm of Love (2024)
Love Me, Love My Voice (2023)
Road Home (2023)
One and Only (2021)
Forever and Ever (2021)
Go Go Squid 2: Dt. Appledog's Time (2021)
Go Go Squid! (2019)

6 Zhu Yi

When I Meet the Moon (2026)
The First Frost (2025)
Hidden Love (2023)
When I Fly Towards You (2023)
The Best of You in My Mind (2020)

7 Jiu Yue Xi

The White Olive Tree (2025)
As Beautiful as You (2024)
Tender Light (2024)
Fireworks of My Heart (2023)
Better Days (2019)

8 Shi Si Lang

The Eternal Fragrance (2026)
Fate Chooses You (2026)
A Moment but Forever (2025)
Love and Redemption (2020)
Love of Thousand Years (2020)

9 Priest

Derailment (2023)
Justice in the Dark (2023)
Word of Honor (2021)
Legend of Fei (2020)
Guardian (2018)

10 Zhi Zhi

The Road to Splendor (2026)
Blossom (2024)
Rebirth for You (2021)
The Sword and the Brocade (2021)

11 Mo Shu Bai

Fight for Love (2025)
Light beyond the Reed (2025)
The Princess Royal (2024)
Destined (2023)

12 Chen Zi Jin

Born with Luck (2026)
The Long Night (2020)
The Bad Kids (2020)
Burning Ice (2017)

13 Xing Ling

Moonlight Mystique (2025)
The Last Immortal (2023)
The Legend of Anle (2023)
Ancient Love Poetry (2021)

14 Tong Hua

Stand by Me (2023)
Lost You Forever Season 2 (2024)
Lost You Forever (2023)
Sound of the Desert (2014)
Scarlet Heart (2011)

15 Qian Shan Cha Ke

Empress Reborn (TBA)
Legend of the Female General (2025)
The Glory (2025)
The Double (2024)

16 Bai Lu Cheng Shuang

The Days of Seclusion and Love (2026)
Love in the Clouds (2025)
The Princess's Gambit (2025)
Romance of a Twin Flower (2023)

17 up Mao Ni

Joy of Life Season 2 (2024)
Joy of Life (2019)
Ever Night Season 2 (2020)
Ever Night (2018)
Fighter of the Destiny (2017)

17 down Zhou Mu Nan

Blood River (2025)
Dashing Youth (2024)
The Blood of Youth (2022)

18 up Kuang Shang Jia Kuang

Cuo Shi Lu (TBA)
Love of the Divine Tree (2025)
Are You the One (2024)

18 down Qing Mei

Ski into Love (2025)
Falling into Your Smile (2021)
Moonlight (2021)

19 up Twentine

Lighter & Princess (2022)
Falling into You (2022)

19 down Teng Ping

Whispers of Fate (2025)
Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023)

20 Fu Hua

Moonlit Reunion (2025)
When Destiny Brings the Demon (2025)

These are some authors whose novels got adapted into popular dramas, including a few upcoming ones. Of course, screenwriters can change the story, but they're the creators of the original ideas.

Did any of them write your favourites? Do you have a favourite not listed here?

* For information about directors check out:
Do you have a favorite Cdrama director?

Three-Body (2023)
Douban: 8.7 from 536,163 users
MDL: 8.3 from 1,274 users 

Swords into Plowshares (2026)
Douban: 8.6 from 170,414 users
MDL: 8.3 from 593 users

Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 2 (2024)
Douban: 8.6 from 341,406
MDL: 8.5 from 1,276 users

Hikaru no Go (2020)
Douban: 8.6 from 346,065 users
MDL: 8.7 from 4,392 users

Be With You (2023)
Douban: 8.6 from 130,152 users
MDL: 7.6 from 162 users

Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023)
Douban: 8.5 from 943,696 users
MDL: 8.9 from 12,386 users

Ripe Town (2023)
Douban: 8.5 from 243,267 users
MDL: 8.1 from 810 users

Word of Honor (2021)
Douban: 8.5 from 614,129 users
MDL: 8.5 from 27,345 users
* censored BL adaptation

I Am Nobody: The Showdown Between Yin & Yang (2025)
Douban: 8.4 from 123,921 users
MDL: 8.4 from 2,911 users

The Blood of Youth (2022)
Douban: 8.3 from 185,503 users
MDL: 8.8 from 10,262 users

Ultimate Note (2020)
Douban: 8.2 from 323,394 users
MDL: 8.6 from 4,491 users

I Am Nobody (2023)
Douban: 8.2 from 175,722 users
MDL: 8.6 from 7,701 users

Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty (2022)
Douban: 8.1 from 435,496 users
MDL: 8.4 from 2,058 users

The Wind Blows From Longxi (2022)
Douban: 8.1 from 131,779 users
MDL 8.2 from 614 users

Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 3 (2025)
Douban: 8.0 from 198,834 users
MDL: 8.2 from 686 users

Joy of Life (2019) * included because of popularity
Douban: 7.9 from 1,170,864 users
MDL: 8.9 from 14,200 users
* romance on MDL, but not on Douban

Reset (2022)
Douban: 7.9 from 983,211 users
MDL: 9.0 from 27,546 users

Under the Microscope (2023)
Douban: 7.9 from 163,202 users
MDL: 8.2 from 1,243 users

Cross Fire (2020)
Douban: 7.9 from 184,404 users
MDL: 8.5 from 3,727 users

The Untamed (2019) * included because of popularity
Douban: 7.7 from 1,842,792 users
MDL: 9.0 from 67,183 users
* censored BL adaptation

Non-romance costume / fantasy / sci-fi dramas, aired in 2020s, ordered by highest rating, with over 100K votes as of 04/08/2026.

How many of them have you seen? Are you surprised by any of them?

(Romance version & MDL List)

To the Wonder (2024)
Douban: 8.9 from 380,828 users
MDL: 8.8 from 2,923 users
* romance on MDL, but not on Douban

Meet Yourself (2023)
Douban: 8.8 from 441,248 users
MDL: 8.8 from 12,534 users 

Blossoms Shanghai (2023)
Douban: 8.7 from 557,895 users
MDL: 7.6 from 213 users

An Ancient Love Song (2023)
Douban: 8.6 from 248,981 users
MDL: 8.2 from 2,065 users

Romance in the Alley (2024)
Douban: 8.4 from 311,414 users
MDL:  8.0 from 435 users
* romance on MDL, but not on Douban

There Will Be Ample Time (2023)
Douban: 8.3 from 105,421 users
MDL: 7.9 from 109 users
* romance on MDL, but not on Douban

Love between Fairy and Devil (2022)
Douban: 8.2 from 839,963 users
MDL: 8.7 from 42,475 users
* romance on MDL, but not on Douban

Fake It Till You Make It (2023)
Douban: 8.2 from 203,186 users
MDL: 8.3 from 5,952 users

Wild Bloom (2022)
Douban: 8.2 from 465,603 users
MDL: 7.8 from 411 users

Nothing But You (2023)
Douban: 8.2 from 178,404 users
MDL: 8.2 from 5,864 users

Hi Venus (2022)
Douban: 8.1 from 156,939 users
MDL: 8.3 from 8,587 users

Remembrance Of Things Past (2021)
Douban: 8.1 from 266,612 users
MDL: 8.4 from 1,817 users

I Don't Want to Be Friends with You (2020)
Douban: 8.1 from 233,154 users
MDL: 8.3 from 1,636 users

Delicious Romance (2021)
Douban: 8.1 from 309,151 users
MDL: 8.2 from 1,171 users

The Story of Ming Lan (2018) * included because of popularity
Douban: 8.0 from 719,016 users
MDL: 8.7/10 from 10,893 users

When I Fly Towards You (2023)
Douban: 8.0 from 161,139 users
MDL: 9.0 from 59,165 users

Lovely Us (2020)
Douban: 8.0 from 195,498 users
MDL: 8.5 from 4,571 users

Winter Begonia (2020)
Douban: 8.0 from 163,299 users
MDL: 8.5 from 2,073 users
* censored BL adaptation

A Dream of Splendor (2022)
Douban: 7.9 from 924,602 users
MDL: 8.4 from 8,486 users

The Imperial Coroner (2021)
Douban: 7.9 from 408,037 users
MDL: 8.4 from 6,717 users

Will Love in Spring (2024)
Douban: 7.9 from 130,812 users
MDL: 8.4 from 9,750 users

Love in Between (2020)
MDL: 7.8 from 1,445 users 
Douban: 7.9 from 97,304 users

Always Home (2025)
Douban: 7.9 from 64,693 users
MDL:  8.6 from 9,188 users * included because of popularity
* romance on MDL, but not on Douban

Ashes of Love (2018) * included because of popularity
Douban: 7.8 from 612,754 users
MDL: 8.5/10 from 25,860 users

Blossom (2024)
Douban: 7.8 from 300,301 users
MDL: 8.8 from 22,556 users 

Flourished Peony (2025)
Douban: 7.8 from 430,071 users
MDL: 8.6 from 8,359 users
* romance on MDL, but not on Douban

Lost You Forever (2023)
Douban: 7.8 from 493,772 users
MDL: 8.6 from 10,472 users

Twelve Letter (2025)
Douban: 7.8 from 56,508 users
MDL: 8.8 from 7,269 users * included because of popularity

Love Like the Galaxy (2022)
Douban: 7.7 from 635,387 users
MDL: 8.9 from 33,518 users

Lighter & Princess (2022)
Douban: 7.7 from 245,225 users
MDL: 8.6 from 28,703 users

Are You the One (2024)
Douban: 7.7 from 131,196 users
MDL: 8.5 from 11,882 users

Dramas with romance genre, aired in 2020s, with over 100K votes, (aside from a few exceptions), ordered by highest rating, as of 04/08/2026.

How many of them have you seen? Are you surprised by any of them?

(Non-Romance Version & MDL List)

The First Frost (2025)
MDL: 8.8 from 43,674 users
Douban: 5.4 from 183,442 users

Guardians of the Dafeng (2024)
MDL: 8.6 from 10,749 users
Douban: 5.6 from 192,912 users

Who Rules the World (2022)
MDL: 8.6 from 27,187 users
Douban: 5.6 from 162,678 users

When Destiny Brings the Demon (2025)
MDL: 8.6 from 13,800 users
Douban: 5.5 from 55,640 users

Sword Snow Stride (2021)
MDL: 8.6 from 6,206 users
Douban: 5.9 from 202,659 users

Till the End of the Moon (2023)
MDL: 8.6 from 26,585 users
Douban: 5.6 from 414,708 users

Fangs of Fortune (2024)
MDL: 8.6 from 12,827 users 
Douban: 5.1 from 112,199 users

Never-Ending Summer (2026)
MDL: 8.6 from 8,969 users
Douban: 4.7 from 22,963 users

Falling into Your Smile (2021)
MDL: 8.6 from 62,124 users
Douban: 3.3 from 421,145 users

Legend of the Female General (2025)
MDL: 8.6 from 24,348 users
Douban: 5.4 from 61,443 users

These are the dramas with a rating greater than 8.5 on MDL but lower than 6.0 on Douban as of 04/08/2026.

Have you seen any of them? Are you surprised by any of them?
What do you think about this gap in the ratings?

at Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden in Kaifeng (Song Dynasty Eastern Capital)
Credit: ikkeuchi