Not 'Chasing Jade' or 'Midnight Return'! Top 10 Best Chinese Dramas Starring Tian Xiwēi: #1 Surpasses 'New Life Begins' in Ratings, Guaranteed to Win You Over

In recent years, Tian Xiwēi has transitioned from sweet romance and campus dramas to historical, urban romance, and suspense-crime genres, showcasing increasingly diverse roles. From breakout hits like 'So Lovely' and 'New Life Begins' to 2026's 'Chasing Jade' and 'Low IQ Crime', the critical reception of her representative works varies significantly.

Below is a ranking of the top 10 strongest Chinese dramas starring or prominently featuring Tian Xiwēi, based on Douban ratings as of August 11, 2026. For works with identical scores, rankings were determined by considering role depth and online discussion热度.

Tian Xiwēi's Strongest Chinese Drama #10: Su Xiaohe in 'My Pet General' | Douban Rating: 5.5

'My Pet General' is a historical fantasy romance drama. Tian Xiwēi plays Su Xiaohe, who runs a pet shop in the Qingqiu Kingdom. After accidentally finding a mysterious 'Blue Soul Pearl,' she crosses paths with Mo Xiuran, played by Xiao Kaizhong. Su Xiaohe is lively and straightforward, and with fantasy, cute pets, and romance elements, the overall tone is light and cheerful—typical of Tian Xiwēi's early 'sweet girl' roles.

Although the overall drama received mediocre reviews, Tian Xiwēi's role suitability was widely praised. Viewers commented, 'The female lead is so cute!' and critics noted she 'has great charm.' For many early fans, Su Xiaohe's biggest strength lies in Tian Xiwēi's natural sweetness and vibrant energy. However, the plot leans heavily toward lightweight romance, limiting the character's depth.

Tian Xiwēi's Strongest Chinese Drama #9: Lu Wanwan in 'First Love' | Douban Rating: 5.6

'First Love' is a youth romantic comedy co-starring Wang Xingyue. Tian Xiwēi plays Lu Wanwan, a medical student at Qingyao University, who gets caught in a scandal with cold-hearted genius Ren Chu after an accident. As they try to clear their names, they gradually discover each other's strengths and fall in love. Lu Wanwan is energetic, adorable, and slightly clumsy—perfectly matching Tian Xiwēi's image at the time.

Many viewers acknowledged her suitability for sweet roles, with one review stating, 'She's perfect for this kind of cute, playful leading lady.' However, others criticized the script, calling the story 'mindless youth drama, boring clichés.' While Lu Wanwan is likable, the drama is constrained by conventional campus romance formulas, making it difficult for Tian Xiwēi to elevate the overall reception.

Tian Xiwēi's Strongest Chinese Drama #8: Lin'an in 'The Night Watchman of Dafeng' | Douban Rating: 5.6

'The Night Watchman of Dafeng,' starring Wang Hedi and Tian Xiwēi, blends time travel, detective work, fantasy, and comedy. The story centers on Xu Qi'an, who travels from modern times to the Dafeng Dynasty. Tian Xiwēi plays Princess Lin'an, the second princess of Dafeng, who is playful, innocent, and slightly spoiled, gradually developing feelings for Xu Qi'an. However, since the main narrative focuses on Xu Qi'an's investigations and growth, Lin'an's screen time is somewhat limited.

After Lin'an's debut, Tian Xiwēi's beautiful historical costumes sparked discussion, though her elaborate headdresses were mocked online as 'wearing a flowerpot on her head.' Reviews of her performance focused on her cuteness, liveliness, and role fit, while criticisms were more directed at the plot pacing and character distribution. Lin'an fits her familiar acting style, but the role didn't offer much room for breakthrough.

Tian Xiwēi's Strongest Chinese Drama #7: Wu Zhen in 'Midnight Return' | Douban Rating: 6.3

'Midnight Return,' co-starring Xu Kai and Tian Xiwēi, is a historical romance with supernatural elements. Tian Xiwēi plays Wu Zhen, who by day is the second daughter of the Yu Guogong household and Lady Qinghe, but by night transforms into a demon. She shares a complex, magnetic relationship with Mei Zhuyu, a demon hunter. The dual identity gives Wu Zhen a demonic aura, action scenes, and a more mature presence—marking a clear departure from Tian Xiwēi's earlier sweet roles.

Reactions to Wu Zhen were polarized. Some viewers said, 'Her big eyes show no emotion or love, only obsession with her career,' appreciating her sharp performance. Others harshly criticized the drama as 'lacking plot, acting, and chemistry.' The stark contrast reflects inconsistent audience acceptance of Tian Xiwēi's shift from sweet roles to more mature, eerie characters.

Tian Xiwēi's Strongest Chinese Drama #6: He Zhinan in 'Half-Baked Men and Women' | Douban Rating: 6.3

'Half-Baked Men and Women' is adapted from the novel 'No Good Men or Women Here.' Tian Xiwēi plays He Zhinan, a modern woman torn between love, desire, and real-life choices. After a long-distance relationship with Gao Peng sours, she becomes attracted to Qu Yipeng. Her character is selfish, vain, love-obsessed, and conflicted—far removed from the likable girls Tian Xiwēi usually plays.

He Zhinan's character design is controversial. Some viewers called the entire drama 'morally outrageous,' while others appreciated that imperfect female characters open up more discussion in urban romance dramas. Casting Tian Xiwēi even drew jokes like 'the role is ordinary, but freckles can't hide her beauty.' He Zhinan makes viewers angry, mock, and debate her every choice—proving she left a strong, memorable impression.

Tian Xiwēi's Strongest Chinese Drama #5: Fan Changyu in 'Chasing Jade' | Douban Rating: 6.4

The 2026 historical drama 'Chasing Jade,' co-starring Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwēi, features her as Fan Changyu, a butcher's daughter who supports her family and younger sister by slaughtering pigs after her parents' death. She accidentally saves Xie Zheng, who is disguised as Yan Zheng, leading to a fake marriage that evolves into real love. Fan Changyu looks sweet but is tough—she starts with a pig-slaughtering knife and eventually goes to war. Her character arc is more complete than typical romance heroines.

Fan Changyu attracted many new fans to Tian Xiwēi, with online comments like 'I fell for the heroine before the male lead.' Viewers admired her strength—she doesn't play the victim after being jilted and dares to stand up to power. However, the drama itself faced criticism for 'excessive filter and skin-smoothing effects,' unrealistic sets, and formulaic plots. Thus, the character's popularity somewhat exceeds the drama's overall reputation.

Tian Xiwēi's Strongest Chinese Drama #4: Lian Man'er in 'Tian Geng Ji' | Douban Rating: 6.6

'Tian Geng Ji,' co-starring Zeng Shunxi and Tian Xiwēi, features her as Lian Man'er, who faces family issues in an ancient rural setting with Shen Nuo, gradually improving their lives through farming and business. Lian Man'er retains Tian Xiwēi's signature liveliness but adds practicality and resilience—she boldly stands up to toxic relatives and handles real farm work, giving her more authenticity than typical historical idol drama heroines.

Viewers generally praised Tian Xiwēi's appearance and role fit, with short reviews saying 'Tian Xiwēi is beautiful.' The bigger controversy centered on the lead couple's chemistry, with some commenting, 'They really have no on-screen spark.' Others appreciated Lian Man'er's transformation from a cute girl to a responsible, money-earning woman, believing such down-to-earth characters better showcase Tian Xiwēi's vitality.

Tian Xiwēi's Strongest Chinese Drama #3: Li Wei in 'New Life Begins' | Douban Rating: 7.2

'New Life Begins' was a breakthrough role that brought Tian Xiwēi mainstream fame. She plays Li Wei from Jichuan, who only wants to fail the marriage selection in Xinchuan and go home, but accidentally ends up with Sixth Young Master Yin Zheng. Li Wei loves food, is straightforward and empathetic, and gradually becomes a supportive partner to Yin Zheng, played by Bai Jingting. The lighthearted daily life and ensemble of female characters are key highlights.

'Xiwēi is so sweet, and I kept laughing while watching' sums up many viewers' first impression of Li Wei. Others noted the 'details and everyday moments are funny and satisfying.' While the main plot is relatively flat, Li Wei's energy, dimpled smile, and natural comedic timing perfectly match Tian Xiwēi's persona, making this one of her most recognizable roles to date.

Tian Xiwēi's Strongest Chinese Drama #2: Huang Chengzi in 'So Lovely' | Douban Rating: 8.0

'So Lovely,' set in 2007, follows teenagers growing up in the same compound, experiencing high school, family, friendship, and first love. Tian Xiwēi plays Huang Chengzi, who gradually realizes her feelings for Tan Song, played by Li Mingde. Unlike many idealized campus idol dramas, Huang Chengzi feels like a real high school girl—she throws tantrums, acts silly, and secretly cries over friendship and first love.

Huang Chengzi remains one of Tian Xiwēi's most consistently praised roles. Critics said she 'captured the innocence and authenticity of a 16-year-old girl,' and viewers felt she had 'no visible acting, just natural charm.' Compared to later, more glamorous productions, Huang Chengzi's naturalness and realism left a lasting impression.

Tian Xiwēi's Strongest Chinese Drama #1: Li Qian in 'Low IQ Crime' | Douban Rating: 8.2

'Low IQ Crime,' aired in 2026, is adapted from Zijin Chen's novel of the same name, starring Wang Xiao, Tian Xiwēi, and Wang Chuanjun. It blends absurd comedy with crime investigation. Tian Xiwēi plays Li Qian, a rookie female police officer who investigates a series of cases in Sanjiangkou with Zhang Yi'ang. Unlike her many past historical and romance roles, Li Qian wears a uniform, conducts investigations, participates in action scenes, and isn't centered on a love plot—marking one of Tian Xiwēi's boldest transformations to date. The current public page shows a rating of 8.2.

Audience reactions to Li Qian are divided. Some feel she's overshadowed by seasoned actors like Wang Xiao and Wang Chuanjun, while others praise her fresh take. Overall, however, Tian Xiwēi's expanded acting range and willingness to take risks are highly praised.