Top 10 Best-Rated Chinese Dramas by Deng Enxi! 'Long Ballad' and 'Detective Chinatown' Not #1—Champion Scores 7.6 and Gains Momentum in Final Episodes

After gaining recognition through the historical drama 'Long Ballad,' Deng Enxi has expanded her repertoire in recent years, taking on roles in campus romances, mystery investigations, and female growth stories, showcasing her versatility to a wider audience. However, her highest-rated work is not 'Long Ballad'—the top spot instead goes to 'My Grandma's New World,' co-starring Yan Ni and others. Series like 'My Mom Is a School Beauty' and 'Detective Chinatown' also rank among the top contenders. This article compiles all of Deng Enxi's released Chinese TV and web dramas, ranked from lowest to highest based on Douban ratings as of August 4, 2026, presenting her top 10 highest-rated Chinese dramas.

Deng Enxi's 10th Highest-Rated Drama: Xing Shanshan in 'Our Youth Era' | Douban Rating: 5.3 'Our Youth Era' centers on a high school baseball team, following a group of teenagers striving to rebuild their team and face strong rivals. Deng Enxi plays Xing Shanshan, the cheerleader captain and manager of the Zhongjia baseball team. Confident and direct, she admires Wu Tong's baseball skills and even encourages him to pursue a career in the U.S. Though her screen time is limited, this role was one of Deng Enxi's early performances that drew audience attention.

Audience reactions are divided: some praise the youthful campus and baseball themes, appreciating the authenticity of 'students playing students.' Others criticize the plot for prioritizing fan service, with baseball storylines often overshadowed by romance. Some netizens bluntly call it 'a fan-service drama—don’t expect too much,' while others believe the school segments are engaging and could have been stronger with fewer romantic subplots.

Deng Enxi's 9th Highest-Rated Drama: Young Lin Xingran in 'No Secrets' | Douban Rating: 5.5 'No Secrets' is a remake of the Korean drama 'I Can Hear Your Voice,' following Jiang Xia, who possesses mind-reading abilities, as he reunites with Lin Xingran, who once testified for him in a case. They confront unresolved crises from their past. Deng Enxi portrays young Lin Xingran, depicting her courageous testimony that changed Jiang Xia’s fate—a pivotal moment that forms the emotional foundation for the adult protagonists’ reunion.

Many viewers felt the original premise—mind reading, legal cases, and a sibling-like romance—had great potential, but the remake lacked narrative tension. Critics noted the cases were 'not suspenseful or intense,' and character connections felt forced. Others appreciated the cast’s visuals and emotional chemistry, finding it suitable as a light-paced urban romance.

Deng Enxi's 8th Highest-Rated Drama: Wu Zhi’an in 'The Hunt' | Douban Rating: 5.6 'The Hunt' is a drug enforcement crime drama centered on police investigating a new drug network. Deng Enxi plays Wu Zhi’an, a young female officer whose father died in a drug bust. She follows in his footsteps, joining the force and gradually uncovering the case’s core while confronting her father’s secrets and trauma.

Audiences praised certain performances and the real-world relevance of the anti-drug theme, especially the tragic arc of the character Duo Zai, who is repeatedly pulled back into crime. Viewers described it as 'giving hope only to crush it.' Criticism focused on jarring editing, romance subplots overshadowing the main drug enforcement storyline, and unconvincing character motivations. Some likened the series to 'different teams’ work stitched together haphazardly,' resulting in awkward narrative transitions.

Deng Enxi's 7th Highest-Rated Drama: Lu Miao in 'My Time with You' | Douban Rating: 5.9 'My Time with You' is a childhood friends romance set in a school environment, following the energetic Lu Miao and aloof academic Jiang Haoyue as they grow up together, navigating family, school, and teenage struggles. Deng Enxi’s Lu Miao is lively and outgoing, constantly breaking into Jiang Haoyue’s isolated world. Their relationship evolves from sibling-like dependence to a mutually healing romance.

Some viewers found the initial character setup exaggerated, but others said the drama grows more engaging after the first few episodes. Lu Miao’s noisy personality gradually becomes endearing, and the leads’ chemistry improves. Supporters praised 'youth dramas should be played by young actors,' appreciating the cast’s youthful energy and strong couple chemistry. Critics, however, found the 'genius and underachiever' and 'childhood friends' tropes overused and the school life somewhat unrealistic.

Deng Enxi's 6th Highest-Rated Drama: Xiao Ai in 'Detective Chinatown 2' | Douban Rating: 6.0 'Detective Chinatown 2' continues the 'Detective Chinatown Universe' with standalone mystery cases involving Lin Mo and KIKO in plots like a nursing home disappearance, a secret organization, and the Gold City case. Deng Enxi reprises her role as Lin Mo’s adopted sister Xiao Ai, assisting in the 'Melody of an Angel' episode. When Lin Mo is in danger inside the nursing home, she organizes a rescue mission, maintaining her clever and spirited character from the first season.

Many viewers praised the cast and production quality, with the first few episodes dubbed 'a lifesaver during a drama drought.' However, the deductive reasoning and plot twists faced criticism—'suspense without logic'—with stories relying too heavily on visual spectacle and franchise nostalgia. The culprits and plot directions were often too predictable.

Deng Enxi's 5th Highest-Rated Drama: Yan Xing in 'Long Ballad' | Douban Rating: 6.5 'Long Ballad' is a historical drama blending 'marriage first, love later' with mystery investigations. Deng Enxi plays Yan Xing, a female official in the Ministry of Justice, who marries the feared head of the Internal Guard Bureau, Shen Du, to protect her family after her sister flees an arranged marriage. As bizarre cases unfold, they evolve from mutual suspicion to cooperation. Yan Xing uses her skills in autopsies, investigations, and observation to find her place.

Viewers generally noted plot holes and reliance on common historical romance tropes, but the chemistry between Ding Yuxi and Deng Enxi salvaged much of the appeal. Critics said, 'Couple chemistry comes from the actors themselves,' calling Deng Enxi a 'bright spot' with her natural youthful charm. Others found the dialogue, pacing, and performances above average, making it compelling enough to finish.

Deng Enxi's 4th Highest-Rated Drama: Gao Songge in 'Within Eight Hundred Meters' | Douban Rating: 6.8 'Within Eight Hundred Meters' is set in a mining town in the late 1990s, where the discovery of an unidentified female body unravels a web of illegal drug trade and generational grudges. Deng Enxi plays Gao Songge, a terminally ill woman who, with her childhood friend Chen Hui, turns to crime to fund her treatment, spiraling deeper into a life of crime.

Audiences appreciated the small-town setting and complex social dynamics, praising the tension in father-son conflicts and police-criminal standoffs. Some said, 'It’s better than I expected,' with intelligent characters and compelling cat-and-mouse games between veteran cops and suspects. Criticism focused on the latter half feeling contrived, with insufficient buildup for the protagonists’ descent into crime for medical reasons.

Deng Enxi's 3rd Highest-Rated Drama: Xiao Ai in 'Detective Chinatown' | Douban Rating: 7.0 The web series 'Detective Chinatown' consists of three standalone stories—Lin Mo investigates the first two, while the final arc shifts to the Five Spirits Squad. Deng Enxi plays Xiao Ai, Lin Mo’s adopted sister from an orphanage. Clever and spirited, she contrasts sharply with the cold Lin Mo, adding warmth to the dark, tense mystery plots.

The first eight episodes received praise for their crime atmosphere, cinematography, and pacing. Viewers called it 'a rare high-quality Chinese drama,' with tight spaces and eerie music creating oppressive tension. Criticism centered on the final four episodes, where the tone abruptly shifted from mature suspense to a lively game-show style, lowering overall ratings. Some viewers treated the first eight episodes as a complete work, praising the production quality of the first two arcs.

Deng Enxi's 2nd Highest-Rated Drama: Young Kong Guifang in 'My Mom Is a School Beauty' | Douban Rating: 7.2 'My Mom Is a School Beauty' is a fantasy family comedy about college student Kong Xiaocan, who, upon learning his mother Kong Guifang is terminally ill, uses a magical deal to turn her back into a 20-year-old. Deng Enxi plays young Kong Guifang, living as a peer to her son and gradually rediscovering dreams buried under marriage, parenting, and family duties.

Viewers noted that beneath the fantasy of a mother’s youth revival lies a deeper story about children seeing their mothers as individuals. One viewer wrote, 'Kong Xiaocan finally understands that before becoming a mom, his mother was a 'dream-filled, vibrant, independent person.' The drama’s portrayal of paternal childcare, female solidarity, and middle-aged women’s self-worth elevates it beyond a simple age-reversal comedy.

Deng Enxi's 1st Highest-Rated Drama: Dou Qi in 'My Grandma's New World' | Douban Rating: 7.6 'My Grandma's New World' is a female-led road drama following Dou Qi and her aunt Sun Yulan as they travel to find their long-missing grandmother, Sun Yuping. Deng Enxi plays Dou Qi, who initially resents and misunderstands her grandmother. As they meet people her grandmother helped along the way, she gradually gains insight into her grandmother’s life and values, beginning to understand her.