Yang Yang and Wang Churan's 'My People, My Country' Isn't the Worst! The 10 Lowest-Rated Chinese Dramas of the Past Decade Revealed: This One Bottoms Out at 2.1, Even Zhang Han and Wang Xiaochen Couldn't Save It

Chinese dramas are released one after another every year, with some gaining popularity due to compelling plots and strong acting, while others are criticized from day one and end with irreparable low ratings. From Zhang Han's self-written and heavily criticized 'The Gentlemen of East 8th District' to 'Thunderbolt Warriors,' which was taken off air for romanticizing wartime scenes, and Yang Yang and Wang Churan's controversial 'My People, My Country,' which sparked debate throughout its run, which Chinese dramas have been the worst-rated over the past decade? This article compiles mainland Chinese TV dramas and long-form web series aired between August 2016 and August 2026, filtering for works with over 10,000 Douban raters, and ranks the bottom 10 based on score and number of raters for ties.

10th Worst Chinese Drama of the Past Decade: Lu Han and Guan Xiaotong's 'Sweet Combat' | Rating: 2.8 'Sweet Combat' is a youth martial arts romance drama. Lu Han plays Ming Tian, a financially struggling youth working multiple jobs to support his siblings, while Guan Xiaotong plays Fang Yu, the martial arts queen of Zhengze Academy. Their relationship evolves from rivalry in training to romance, blending campus life, boxing matches, and love, aiming to attract young viewers with a passionate coming-of-age story. However, many viewers criticized the lack of realism in fight scenes and the clichéd romantic development. Some netizens called the plot 'too old' and 'unrealistic,' while others pointed out that fighters rarely wore mouthguards, undermining the credibility of the supposedly professional martial arts academy setting.

9th Worst Chinese Drama of the Past Decade: Jiang Qinqin and Yang Rong's 'The Mistress' | Rating: 2.8 'The Mistress' is set against the backdrop of Suzhou's textile industry during the Qing Dynasty. Jiang Qinqin plays Shen Cui Xi, the matriarch of the Ren family, while Yang Rong plays Zeng Bao Qin, Ren Xue Tang's childhood friend. Initially at odds due to emotional and familial tensions, the two women eventually unite to protect the Ren family and preserve the art of kesi silk weaving, portraying women's struggles in a feudal household. However, controversy over animal filming quickly overshadowed the plot, drawing heavy criticism toward the production team. Viewers said the drama 'repeatedly lowered the bar,' and many felt that even strong acting and storytelling couldn't redeem the overly melodramatic conflicts, weakening the intended theme of female solidarity.

8th Worst Chinese Drama of the Past Decade: Yang Yang and Wang Churan's 'My People, My Country' | Rating: 2.8 'My People, My Country' is adapted from a novel by Jiu Yue Xi. Yang Yang plays Song Yan, a fire station captain, and Wang Churan plays Xu Qin, an ER doctor. Separated in youth due to family opposition, they reunite years later through firefighting and medical emergencies, with the drama attempting to depict their love overcoming familial pressure. During its run, Song Yan's acting style, Xu Qin's romantic choices, and the 'white porridge' scene became online talking points. Some netizens sarcastically said, 'If you're short on oil, just watch this—it's greasy enough,' while others criticized the female lead for being portrayed as a 'love-brained' character lacking professional judgment, causing the firefighting and medical settings to become mere backdrops for romance.

7th Worst Chinese Drama of the Past Decade: Ding Guansen and Xue Haojing's 'New Smiling Proud Wanderer' | Rating: 2.5 The 2018 version of 'New Smiling Proud Wanderer' is adapted from Jin Yong's wuxia novel. Ding Guansen plays Linghu Chong, a Huashan Sect disciple, and Xue Haojing plays Ren Yingying, the goddess of the Sun and Moon Cult. The plot follows Linghu Chong's entanglement in the Five Mountain Sword Sects' power struggle and his pursuit of freedom with Ren Yingying. Ding Yuxi plays Dongfang Bubai. The new version sparked controversy over casting, costumes, and fight choreography. Viewers admitted they 'clenched their teeth to finish one episode,' and short reviews bluntly called it 'such a terrible drama.' Audiences generally felt the characters lacked the original's martial arts spirit, and the visual style failed to capture the depth of Jin Yong's wuxia world.

6th Worst Chinese Drama of the Past Decade: Yue Lina and Yu Yi's 'The Way of Motherhood' | Rating: 2.5 'The Way of Motherhood' stars Yue Lina as Liu Yingniang and Yu Yi as Long Jizong. The story follows Liu Yingniang, who, after losing her husband and being separated from her children, dedicates her life to finding and protecting them. Centered on motherhood and traditional family ethics, it portrays the heroine's decades-long hardships. The biggest backlash came from the portrayal of female sacrifice and reproductive values, with many scenes glorifying obedience, endurance, and bearing children as female virtues. Netizens criticized the values as 'morally wrong' and 'toxic,' arguing that the heroine's endless suffering and acceptance turned so-called maternal love into a tool of female oppression.

5th Worst Chinese Drama of the Past Decade: Wang Longhua and Zhang Hanyun's 'The Legend of Chong'er' | Rating: 2.4 'The Legend of Chong'er' is set in the Spring and Autumn period. Wang Longhua plays Chong'er, a prince of Jin, and Zhang Hanyun plays Qi Jiang, a princess of Qi. The drama depicts Chong'er's exile from court politics, his years of wandering, and his eventual return to become Duke Wen of Jin, a hegemon of the Spring and Autumn period, with added romantic subplots and personal feuds. Some viewers described it as 'a historical drama with the skin of an idol drama,' criticizing the protagonist for being portrayed as a flawless hero from the start, lacking character growth. The colorful costumes were also criticized as 'overly gaudy,' making the visuals resemble a video game and undermining the historical authenticity expected of a Spring and Autumn period drama.

4th Worst Chinese Drama of the Past Decade: Ma Ke and Guan Xiaotong's 'Aurora Love' | Rating: 2.4 'Aurora Love' stars Ma Ke as Li Jun Tai, a wealthy young man, and Guan Xiaotong as Han Xing Zi, an aspiring stage performer. Starting with mutual dislike, their relationship develops amid entertainment industry competition, family power struggles, and entrepreneurial setbacks, with added elements of virtual reality and musical theater. The drama was heavily criticized for its exaggerated dialogue, over-the-top acting, and cheap-looking sets. Many netizens described the viewing experience as 'full of awkwardness' and 'painful to watch.' Romantic conflicts often relied on misunderstandings and coincidences, and the tech and musical elements failed to integrate naturally, resulting in a jarring, patchwork feel.

3rd Worst Chinese Drama of the Past Decade: Chen Xiang and Guo Xiaoting's 'A Step into the Past' | Rating: 2.3 The 2018 version of 'A Step into the Past' stars Chen Xiang as Xiang Shao Long and Guo Xiaoting as Xing Yun. The protagonist, a space rescue officer from 2050, time-travels to the Warring States period after an accident and seeks to return to the future by finding Qin Shi Huang, but gets caught in political conflicts between Zhao and Qin. The new version drastically altered character settings and introduced spaceships and futuristic tech, making it hard for fans of the original and novel to accept. Some viewers said they 'could no longer bear it and gave it one star just to vent,' criticizing the sci-fi elements for having no connection to the Warring States story, and the costumes, sets, and character designs for resembling a children's fantasy show.

2nd Worst Chinese Drama of the Past Decade: Zhang Yunlong and Lai Yumeng's 'Thunderbolt Warriors' | Rating: 2.1 'Thunderbolt Warriors' is set during the War of Resistance against Japan. Zhang Yunlong plays Wang Yunshan, a PLA battalion commander, Lai Yumeng plays Han Yan, a battlefield nurse, and Gao Weiguang plays Guo Xunkui, a cavalry commander. The drama portrays young soldiers' growth and camaraderie but sparked massive controversy over character styling and living scenes, eventually leading to its cancellation and removal from streaming platforms. Viewers criticized officers for 'using hair gel, smoking cigars, and living in villas,' arguing that such idolized portrayals clashed severely with the harsh realities of wartime resistance. Some netizens stated, 'Respecting history is what matters,' emphasizing that young actors can be used in war-themed dramas, but not at the cost of historical authenticity for the sake of looking cool.

1st Worst Chinese Drama of the Past Decade: Zhang Han and Wang Xiaochen's 'The Gentlemen of East 8th District' | Rating: 2.1 'The Gentlemen of East 8th District,' produced, written, and starred in by Zhang Han, features him as Tong Yu, an AI engineer, and Wang Xiaochen as Duo Duo, a university teacher. The story follows four college friends navigating love, marriage, and career challenges in middle age, aiming to create a male version of an urban coming-of-age story. However, the drama was heavily criticized for its oily dialogue, strong male gaze, and multiple scenes involving inappropriate touching of women's bodies. Some netizens described it as 'so embarrassing you'd want to move into the Mariana Trench,' and others said the entire work reeked of 'dad energy' and self-indulgence. Intended to showcase mature male charm, it was ultimately seen by audiences as an out-of-touch midlife male fantasy.