The 21 Best Chinese Anime (Donghua) of All Time - Updated 2024

Douluo Da Lu – Soul Land

Aired: Started on January 20, 2018

Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Martial Arts, Romance

Soul Land anime is an adaption of the Chinese web novels of the same name. It follows Tang San’s cultivation journey and depicts how the boy has grown to be a soul master and brings honor to Tang Sect.

Mo Dao Zu Shi - Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation

Premiere date: July 9, 2018

Genres: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Historical, Supernatural

Mo Dao Zu Shi is based on the novel of the same name. The main character, Wei Wuxian, creates his own way of cultivation and made a crucial contribution to the success of bringing down the tyrannical Wen Clan. However, he also became a threaten to some people and was killed. After he has resurrected through being summoned into the body of a man called Mo Xuanyu, he decides to find all the truths….

Fei Ren Zai

Premiere date: 29, 2018

Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy, Supernatural

How do ancient divinities and mythical creatures live in the modern society? Fei Ren Zai depicts their funny everyday life.

Yi Ren Zhi Xia/ Hitori no Shita - Under One Person

Premiere date: July 8, 2016

Under One Person is a collaboration Chinese/Japanese anime television series adapted from the webcomic of the same title. A normal college student, Zhang Chulan runs into in a zombie attack when he visits his grandfather’s grave and a strange and forceful girl saves him. But then, he will be drawn into more bizarre events.

Doupo Cangqiong - Battle Through the Heavens

Premiere date: January 1, 2017

Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Supernatural, Romance

Xiao Yan is an unprecedented talent and the youngest accomplished cultivator in his clan in the past 100 years. But he suddenly loses his diligently cultivated power, and also his reputation. When the situation becomes quite hopeless, Xiao Yan sees the silver lining from the ring his mother gave him.

Huyao Xiao Hongniang - Fox Spirit Matchmaker

Premiere date: June 26, 2015

Genres: Romantic, Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural

Fox Spirit Matchmaker animation is based on the manhua work of the same name. It tells a series of stories about love and memories. When a human and a spirit fall in love with each other, time becomes the biggest obstacle as spirits are immortal yet human will grow old and die one day. But human will get reincarnated with all memories of previous lives obliterated. So fox spirits provide the matchmaker service to helps spirits to recall previous memories of their lovers and continue their love story, which is how the story begins. 

Zhen Hun Jie - Rakshasa Street

Premiere date: April 28, 2016

Genres: Action, Supernatural

Xia Lin is a college graduate and she is busy looking for a job. One day she receives a special interview message and accidentally enters the Rakshasa street. However, Rakshasa street is not an ordinary street where stories on human beings and guardian sprites inside them are about to unfold.

Quanzhi Fashi - Full Time Magister

Premiere date: September 2, 2016

Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, School

The high school student Mo Fan wakes up to find the world become totally different, in which all people are pursuing for magical powers and school is a place to train excellent magicians. The protagonist is still a taunt to others in the new school, due to lack of magical ability and poverty, like what he faced with in his previous life. The only difference in the world is, Mo Fan are able to harness dual fire and power elements while all others can master only one ability….

Cike Wu Liuqi – Killer Seven

Premiere date: April 25, 2018

Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Martial Arts, Mystery, Romance, Super Power

Cike Wu Liuqi is a hilarious and heart-warming Donghua that follows the amnesic bounty hunter, Wu Liuqi and his journey to look for lost memories.

Luo Xiaohei Zhan Ji - The Legend of Luo Xiaohei

Premiere date: March 17, 2011

Genres: Comedy, Supernatural

This is a story about a homeless supernatural black cat, Luo Xiaohei, and the girl bringing it home. The Legend of Luo Xiaohei is a web series cartoon released in 2011 and the spinoff movie is premiered on September 7, 2019. Although it has been quite a long time since the release of its series, The Legend of Luo Xiaohei is still wildly discussed among Chinese anime fans.

Ling Qi – Spiritpact

Premiere date: June 21, 2016

Genres: Action, Comedy, Magic, Shounen Ai, Supernatural

The story starts with a “pact” between a young man, You Keika, who becomes a spirt after being killed in a sudden accident, and a white-haired Youmeshi (exorcist), Tanmoku Ki.  

Meng Qi Shi Shen – Adorable Food Goddess

Premiere date: December 29, 2018

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Historical, Drama, Romance, Shoujo

A food magazine editor, Ye Jiayao, finds herself back in time in the body of Ye Jinxuan. How does the cute modern girl live in the ancient time of Huai Song dynasty and what will she meet with in the further? 

Shi Xiong - Zombie Brother

Premiere date: November 24, 2014

Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror

The reservoir of H city is contaminated by virus from ancient dead bodies and all people who have drunk the water become zombies and devour each other. The ordinary young guy, Bai Xiaofei escapes from being infected because he doesn’t drink the water. On order to meet up with his girlfriend who wants to break up with him, Xiaofei starts his adventure of combating with zombies.

Quanzhi Gaoshou - The King's Avatar

Premiere date: April 7, 2017

Genres: Action, Game

As an adaption of the light novel of the same name, Quanzhi Gaoshou depicts how the protagonist, Ye Xiu gets back to the peak in the game Glory after he has been forced to retire from the team and to leave his gaming career.

To Be Hero

Premiere date: October 5, 2016

Genres: Comedy

A handsome yet prurient toilet designer and also a single father, Uncle, is sucked down into a toilet and is empowered with superpower to save the world, but at the expense of becoming an ugly and fat man. After having incarnated into a superman, Uncle begins his fight for his beloved daughter, the earth, and the future. This Japanese-Chinese animation anime series is full with unexpected plots and comic effects.

Yaoguai Mingdan - Monster List

Premiere date: December 13, 2014

Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Feng Xi is a college student who has the ability to see monsters and he accidentally finds that Su Jiuer, the most charming girl in the college, is a foxy spirit. More than that, there are kinds of monsters around human beings.

Shuangsheng Lingtan - Twins Spirit Investigators

Premiere date: August 25, 2016

Genres: Mystery, Psychological

Twin brothers Sun Xiaotu and Sun Xiaohu are paranormal investigators for dealing with kinds of preternatural events. During a ghost incident investigation, the twin brothers are involved into a complex case. As the investigation goes deeper, the truth behind all mysterious phenomenon is gradually emerging….

Congqian Youzuo Lingjianshan - There was once a Spirit Blade Mountain

Premiere date: January 9, 2016

Genres: Comedy, Magic, Fantasy

The story follows Wang Lu, a young talent’s unconventional immortal cultivation journey starting from the Spirt Blade Sect.

Wangpai Yushi – Ace Censorate

Premiere date: Jun 27, 2014

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, School, Shounen, Supernatural

On the fictional identical alternate universe, humans and demons coexist and are in different routines. When the sun rises, humans rise and demons rest, When the night falls, demons rise and humans rest. However, since the arrival of new era, humans come out in the night, which causes the riot from demons. There is a corresponding department to act as the mediator between humans and demons and the anime depicts the amusing stories about the censorates.   

Aishen Qiaokeli-ing... - Cupid's Chocolates

Premiere date: December 2, 2015

Genres: Harem, Comedy, Romance, School

Jiang Haoyi, a high school boy has mistakenly taken "Cupid chocolate" cakes at the Cultural Festival, and then sent them to the girls' group for meal preparation. The girls who have eaten chocolate cake are all imposed “Love magic” to Jiang Haoyi, which leads to disordered love memory in their brain so these girls accuse him of being irresponsible for love. When he are confused about all things happened, the goddess of love, Mei tata comes timely.

Tian Bao Fuyao Lu - Legend of Exorcism

Premiere date: July 5, 2020

Genres: Action, Historical, Fantasy

It tells the story of Li Jinglong, Kong Hongjun, a Tai, Mo rigen and Qiu Yongsi, who meet in Chang'an, the capital of Tang Dynasty, by chance, and keep fighting for the justice of the world to protect the life of the people. This Chinese anime series features beautiful scenes and character designs. If you have ever watched Qin Shi Mingyue (The Legend of Qin), you should be familiar with the animation style of Tian Bao Fuyao Lu and the two anime series are produced by the same company.