Chen Weiting and Zeng Shuxi's 'Jiumen' Loses! The Top 10 Chinese Dramas of August: This One Takes the Crown, Surpassing Song Weilong's 'Wild Dog Bone'

August's Chinese drama summer season was a fierce battle. Ding Yuxi and Deng Enxi's 'Hua Kai Jin Xiu' soared to the 7-point range, followed closely by Song Weilong and Zhang Jingyi's 'Wild Dog Bone.' Yu Shuxin's 'Can Ru Fan Xing' and Hou Minghao's 'Que Gu' also maintained ratings above 6 points. However, Zeng Shuxi and Li Yitong's 'Yun Xiu Xing' scored a mere 3.8 points, highlighting that even popular IPs and high-profile casts can fail. This article re-ranks the top 10 dramas based on Aiman Data's 'Most Active Audience Ranking for Currently Airing Dramas' as of August 11, 2026, and the latest Douban ratings as of August 25. In case of ties, the original Aiman ranking is used to determine the order. Here’s a breakdown of the dramas that truly stood out in August for both popularity and strong word-of-mouth.

10th Place: 'Yun Xiu Xing' Starring Zeng Shuxi and Li Yitong | Douban Rating: 3.8 'Yun Xiu Xing,' starring Zeng Shuxi as Qi Zheng, the enigmatic yet deeply calculating City Lord of Jiu Cheng, and Li Yitong as Fan Yun, a noblewoman from a humble background, follows their journey from mutual suspicion to trust. As Fan Yun gets entangled in Jiu Cheng's political intrigue, she assists Qi Zheng in breaking traditions and resolving crises. The drama blends ancient costume romance, female growth, and courtly scheming but currently sits at the bottom of the ranking with a 3.8 rating.

The most controversial aspect of this drama is its adaptation and scheming plotlines. High-engagement short reviews mock it as a 'magical transformation into a baby scheming drama,' even comparing the leads to 'shooting a 36-episode MV.' Fans who read the original work argue that drastic changes to settings and the forced inclusion of fictional ancient costume elements stripped the story of its original worldview’s uniqueness. While Zeng Shuxi and Li Yitong’s ancient costume aesthetics were praised, the characters’ logic and plot adaptation failed to meet pre-broadcast expectations, making it the most polarizing drama in terms of word-of-mouth within the ranking.

9th Place: 'Chi Xia' Starring Zhou Keyu and Bao Shang'en | Douban Rating: 4.8 'Chi Xia' stars Zhou Keyu as Lu Xixiao, burdened by family scars, and Bao Shang'en as Zhou Wan, who approaches Lu to earn money for her grandmother’s medical bills. The two rekindle their teenage romance after reuniting in the workplace, reigniting a past factory accident. The drama follows a youthful tragic romance and reunion path, currently scoring 4.8.

The most notable reactions to this drama revolve around its idol drama vibe. Some viewers were hooked from the first episode, raving, 'I love their CP chemistry!' Others who followed through felt it got 'better and better,' enjoying its nostalgic idol drama dreaminess. However, critics were less forgiving, with some calling out the creators for 'prioritizing shots over logic' in breakup scenes and labeling certain plot twists as 'too divine.' While the sweet-and-bitter atmosphere captured CP fans, the lack of logical consistency remained a hurdle for its 4-point rating.

8th Place: 'This Second Overfire' Starring Zhang Linghe and Wang Churan | Douban Rating: 5.0 'This Second Overfire,' a Republican-era tragic romance, stars Zhang Linghe as Murong Qingzhi, a disdained young master, and Wang Churan as Ren Suxiao/Fang Mulan, burdened by a revenge-driven fate. Their fates intertwine after a rescue, only to diverge due to misunderstandings before reuniting under changed identities. The drama, which gained attention for its high visuals and over-the-top tragic romance, currently holds a 5.0 rating.

Audiences describe the drama almost exclusively with the word 'crazy.' Some felt the final product was even more like a short drama than expected, remarking, 'I thought it’d be short-drama-esque, but it’s even more so!' Others, however, were drawn to this style, calling the plot 'crazy enough to be addictive.' Murong Qingzhi’s over-the-top performance also resonated, with viewers exclaiming, 'This visuals kill!' Yet, the same discussions included concerns like, 'It feels like another drama without a plot.' While the high-concentration melodrama created viewing thrills, its narrative style also widened the gap in audience acceptance.

7th Place: 'Qian Xiang' Starring Song Weilong and Ju Jingyi | Douban Rating: 5.8 'Qian Xiang' stars Song Weilong as Lei Xiuyuan and Ju Jingyi as Jiang Lefei, unfolding a story centered around immortal sects, the Jianmu crisis, and a falling star. The two protagonists, burdened by their destinies, join forces to confront crises, blending xianxia world-building, fate-driven romance, and the battle between good and evil. Song Weilong’s long-awaited return to ancient costume roles paired with Ju Jingyi’s familiar xianxia track garnered pre-broadcast attention, and the drama currently holds a 5.8 rating.

Viewers who dove into the series were captivated by its twists, with some exclaiming, 'The plot twists are insane!' Others binge-watched multiple episodes and trailers in one sitting, asking, 'How is this so good?' The cinematography also received praise for its 'impressive composition.' However, another faction quickly felt the weight of the drama’s accumulated issues, from framing and production aesthetics to clichéd xianxia tropes. While some were hooked, others felt the dated feel acutely, keeping the overall rating stuck in the 5-point range.

6th Place: 'Bai Hua Sha' Starring He Yu and Mengzi Yi | Douban Rating: 6.0 'Bai Hua Sha' stars He Yu as Xiao Huayong, the Crown Prince, and Mengzi Yi as Shen Xihe, the Princess of Zhaoning County. The two master strategists, initially scheming against each other, evolve into allies willing to stake their lives on one another. The drama weaves together ancient costume romance, court intrigue, and revenge plots.

Debates around this drama span from its visuals to its plot. Some viewers criticized the heavy skin smoothing and filters, calling it 'lacking texture,' while others countered that switching to high-definition revealed Mengzi Yi’s veins, pores, and scars. Story-wise, some found the first half 'chaotic and illogical,' but by the latter half, fans of the characters embraced the emotional arcs and climax scenes, sighing after a major set piece that it finally lived up to the title 'Bai Hua Sha.' While word-of-mouth wasn’t uniformly positive, He Yu and Mengzi Yi’s character dynamics helped the drama maintain a 6.0 rating.

5th Place: 'Jiumen' Starring Chen Weiting and Chen Yao | Douban Rating: 6.7 'Jiumen' returns audiences to the familiar world of Jiumen. Chen Weiting reprises his role as Zhang Qishan, Chen Yao plays Huo Xiangu, and Zeng Shuxi portrays Wu Laogou. The story centers on the ensemble cast of Jiumen and their bizarre adventures, piecing together the relationships and pasts of Zhang Qishan, Wu Laogou, and others through a series of crises. Nostalgia is a major draw, and the drama currently holds a 6.7 rating.

As a sequel, audiences naturally compared it to the original. Some praised the trailer for its 'more refined special effects,' while others felt the production was 'better than a short drama.' Zeng Shuxi’s Wu Laogou also sparked anticipation among fans. Detail-oriented viewers, however, weren’t spared, with some criticizing the 'terrible Go board setup.' Post-broadcast, some audiences focused on the ensemble, arguing that despite many characters, none felt scattered. Nostalgia opened the door, but it was the adventure atmosphere and the reunion of Jiumen’s characters that ultimately secured its 6.7 rating.

4th Place: 'Que Gu' Starring Hou Minghao and Ai Mi | Douban Rating: 6.7 'Que Gu' stars Hou Minghao as Xiao Wuyi, the 'Demon General,' and Ai Mi as Xie Jiayu, a fake noblewoman obsessed with mechanisms and money. The two enter a contractual marriage for mutual benefit, uncovering each other’s true identities through a series of crises before facing court conspiracies together and evolving from mutual distrust to trusting each other with their lives. With a 6.7 rating, 'Que Gu' ranks higher than 'Jiumen' in Aiman’s original August 11 ranking.

Audiences had mixed reactions to 'Que Gu.' It wasn’t a drama everyone loved at first glance; some viewers who watched up to episode 7 still felt it was 'neither good nor bad,' describing it as a type that requires patience to get into. However, those who stuck with it developed high loyalty, with some calling it 'my heart’s favorite drama' and others begging post-finale, 'Can we get a sequel?' Hou Minghao’s emotional performance in the latter half also earned praise, with viewers moved to tears by Xiao Wuyi’s acting. This slow-burn start followed by strong character-driven payoffs helped it maintain a 6.7 rating.

3rd Place: 'Can Ru Fan Xing' Starring Chen Jingke and Yu Shuxin | Douban Rating: 6.8 'Can Ru Fan Xing' stars Chen Jingke as Wang Fa, a soccer coach, and Yu Shuxin as Lin Wanxing, a psychology PhD who returns to her hometown school. The two, along with a group of high school students, tackle the soccer team’s challenges while uncovering past wounds. The drama uniquely blends youth group dynamics, soccer competition, psychological healing, and romance, standing out among the season’s hits with a 6.8 rating.

Audiences described the drama as a slow-burn underdog story. Some admitted they found it 'ordinary' after watching the first six episodes in one sitting, only to later declare, 'It gets better with every episode.' Fans of ensemble casts praised its character dynamics and psychological depth, making it a standout in both storytelling and emotional resonance.