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7 Time Travel C-Dramas That Will Take You On Epic Adventures

Time traveling C-dramas are quite diverse and are one of the most enjoyable genres to watch! If you’re aching for some recommendations, look no further. Here are seven C-dramas with time traveling leads that you should check out!

Go Princess Go

“Go Princess Go” is one of the most hilarious and enjoyable dramas to watch. It never takes itself seriously and works with its low production budget by making fun of itself. Zhang Tian Ai  plays Zhang Peng, a playboy who gets sent to the past as a woman! Zhang Peng attempts multiple times to return back to his world but quickly adapts when he finds out he can flirt with all the women and even Qi Sheng ( Peter Sheng ), the crown prince to whom he is married to. Peng Peng’s stay gets complicated when he finds himself falling for Qi Sheng. If you’re looking for a zany time traveling drama, this is the one for you, but be on the lookout for the alternate endings as well. This drama deals with bisexuality, and because of the nature of Peng Peng and Qi Sheng’s romance, there were some edits to their storyline, which means that there are multiple endings for fans to piece together.

Scarlet Heart (Bu Bu Jing Xin)

“Scarlet Heart” is one of the most heart-wrenching palace dramas and tells the tale of Zhang Xiao ( Liu Shi Shi ) who transports back to the Qing Dynasty as Maertai Ruo Xi. She gets embroiled in the affairs of the numerous princes as they vie for the throne, all while trying her best not to alter history. It’s hard not to fall in love with a drama that showcases the complexity of brotherhood and love through the careful choices of actions and beautiful dialogue. On top of that, the soundtrack heightens the bitterness and heartbreaking moments of the drama. For fans of angst, betrayal, and epic romances, this drama packs it all.

Catch episode 1 of “Scarlet Heart” below:

Palace (Gong)

In “Palace,” Yang Mi travels as Luo Qingchuan to the Qing Dynasty, where she meets the 4th Prince and 8th Prince and falls in love with them. For viewers that have seen “Scarlet Heart,” this drama also has a very similar story as both leads end up in the Qing Dyansty and become torn in their love for the princes. This drama is not as dark as “Scarlet Heart,” so for fans who want to watch a palace drama that is not as bittersweet, this one fits the checklist!

Cinderella Chef

“Cinderella Chef” serves the perfect combination of food, romance, and humor! On the night of a red moon, Yao Yao ( Zhong Dan Ni ) transports to the past and ends up in a marriage with Chun Yu ( Bie Thassapak Hsu ), who has been sent to spy on a group of bandits. Yao Yao and Chun Yu initially butt heads, and while they end up being unable to be apart from each other, their eventual separation is doomed to happen. This drama is a good show for those that want to laugh every episode as Yao Yao adapts to the new environment and cooks up a storm with her innovative ideas and masterful skills as a chef.

Catch episode 1 of “Cinderella Chef”:

Oh! My Emperor

Oh! My Emperor stars Zhao Lu Si as Luo Fei Fei who transports to a fantasy world in which the ruler is rotated among those who are the owners of a constellation. For those that have seen “Cinderella Chef,” Zhao Lu Si is a familiar face; instead of playing a demure character like Yi Yi in that drama, Lu Si takes on a completely different role in “Oh! My Emperor” as a comedic lead. For those that love fantasy historical dramas with a comedic spin, “Oh! My Emperor” fits the bill. Do beware, though, of the second lead syndrome!

Love Weaves Through a Millennium

“Love Weaves Through a Millenium” also offers a different time traveling story. This time the time traveler is the male lead Gong Ming, a scholar from the past who ends up in the present and meets Lin Xiang Xiang, an actress. The chemistry between the leads is really cute, and having a male lead that travels back and forth from the past to the present is a refreshing idea for this genre. For viewers who want to watch an atypical narrative, give this one a go.

The Eternal Love

“The Eternal Love” stands out in terms of time traveling dramas. Instead of a lead that just transmigrates into the body of a person in the past, the two souls actually inhabit one body. Xiao Tan ( Liang Jie ) enters the body of Qu Tan Er, and they basically switch back and forth whenever one of them lies. Because there are two souls in one, it complicates the romance as the male lead Mo Lian Cheng falls for Xiao Tan’s outgoing and loud personality, which greatly contrasts that of Tan Er’s ladylike disposition. Those interested in a different interpretation and twist to the time traveling genre should give this one a try!

Catch episode 1 of “The Eternal Love”:

Soompiers, what is your favorite time traveling drama? Let us know in the comments below!

isms   is a big fan of Asian dramas and loves watching variety shows.

Currently watching : “Meteor Garden 2018” Looking forward to: “The Rise of Phoenixes” and “Pillow Book”

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7 Absolutely Fun Time Travel Asian Dramas You Should Watch

Time travel stories are universally loved around the world! Hollywood is overflowing with them: the famed Back to the Future series, sci-fi films like Star Trek and X-Men , or rom-coms such as Hugh Jackman’s Kate & Leopold . Time travel Asian dramas have also grown popular.

My favorite aspect of these time-bending tales is the fish-out-of-water fun ensuing when a person deals with the inevitable time-shock from visiting the past or the future.

RELATED: The Scribe of Siena – Outlander Fans Will Enjoy this Time Travel Romance

Time travel stories are especially perfect for the romance genre. After all, it brings out the angsty and heart-rending idea that time is literally opposing two people from being together. Over the years I’ve seen many Korean/Chinese variations of time-travel romances – so now I can share seven exciting, crazy and fun time travel Asian dramas!

Update: We updated streaming availability in July 2019.

7 Fun and Romantic Time Travel Asian Dramas

(in alphabetical order), 1. bu bu jing xin.

Other Titles: Scarlet Heart, Startling by Each Step

Country: China

Synopsis: Zhang Xiao didn’t ask to be transported back to the Xing Dynasty. But after a terrible accident, she awakens in the body of a girl named Ruo Xi.

Set during the 18 th century of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, Ruo Xi becomes entangled in a battle for the throne amongst Kangxi’s many sons. Will Ruo Xi fall for the kind, quiet 8 th prince destined to die early or the enigmatic, intense 4 th Prince who will take his father’s throne no matter the cost?

Why You Should Check It Out: This extremely popular Chinese time travel drama is gorgeously filmed, subtly acted, and epically dramatic.

Ruo Xi is a likable heroine and her struggles feel relatable as she strives to fit in the harsh royal palace. This is definitely more of an angsty drama with a gray storyline that refuses to define any characters as merely good or bad.

The rain scene with Ruo Xi kneeling outside and 4 th prince covering her with his cloak is one of many striking scenes in the drama and my favorite. What’s not to love in this reverse harem drama?

Where You Can Find It: Viki, DVD.

Other Titles: The Great Doctor

Country: Korea

Synopsis: When Queen Noguk is gravely wounded, King Gongmin sends his best warrior, Choi Young, through a mysterious portal into what they believe is “heaven” in search of a heavenly doctor.

Choi Young finds Dr. Yoo Eun-Soo a plastic surgeon and takes her back to the past. Yoo Eun-Soo becomes trapped in the past until the portal opens again. But with a hunky warrior love interest and deadly political enemies after her, will she be able to return?

Why You Should Check It Out: Faith is a super fun, exciting romp set during the 14 th century of Korea with sword fights, intense political intrigue, poisoning baddies, and more.

I loved both of the romantic love stories with spunky Eun-Soo and stoic Choi Young and between the arranged marriage of Queen Noguk and King Gongmin.

I love the acting choices and feel like each actor suited his/her role. My biggest fault with this drama was the baddies could’ve been more menacing. And a few anticlimactic fight scenes left me wanting more.

However, I love the characters and romance in this drama and have re-watched my favorite scenes more times than I will admit!

Where You Can Find It: Viki. You can also buy on Amazon Video or DVD.

3. Jade Palace Lock Heart

Synopsis: Luo Qingchuan is a sweet, history-loving girl who accidentally gets transported in time to the 18 th century during Emperor Kangxi’s reign. She gets caught in a love triangle between the 4 th and 8 th prince. Will she choose the man with all the power or the prince who won’t survive for long?

Why You Should Check It Out: Okay, so yes this is almost the exact same story as Bu Bu Jing Xin. Only Palace feels like night and day difference as it’s a much zanier, light-hearted fare.

This version, though, is pretty manic and exaggerated. And worse there aren’t as many princes who fall for Quingchan! Honestly, I watched this drama for Feng Shaofeng who is adorable even as he plays the often self-centered 8 th Prince.

This one definitely has more laughs and cheerful moments than Bu Bu Jing Xin . And amazingly enough, it does end happily. Now, how did they pull that off?

Where You Can Find It : Currently Unavailable

4. Queen In-Hyun’s Man

Synopsis: Kim Boong-Do is a young nobleman in the 17th century, protecting the deposed Queen In-Hyun. A friend gives Boong-Do a protection charm and Boong-Do is magically transported to modern Korea anytime he’s in life-threatening danger.

There he meets Choi Hee-Jin, a struggling actress, and a relationship starts to blossom. Can they truly be together, though? Or will fate intervene?

Why You Should Check It Out: Oh my goodness, this is probably my number one choice for an entertaining, romantic time travel drama!!

Queen In-Hyun’s Man is a wonderful blend of intense historical drama and light, breezy rom-com. The story bounces back and forth between the 17 th century with the scholar Kim Boong-Do and in modern times with adorable, spunky actress Choi Hee-Jin, yet never feels unbalanced.

The romantic chemistry is absolutely crackling in this drama and leaves us with a PERFECT couple.

Where You Can Find It: DVD

5. Rooftop Prince

Synopsis: The Crown Prince of Joseon desperately searches for his wife’s killer along with three loyal servants and gets transported into the future. He meets Park Ha and ends up staying at her apartment with his three servants.

Things complicate when the Crown Prince is mistaken for a rich business heir and he finds a girl who may be the reincarnation of his wife. Will he be able to untangle this mystery? And before he falls in love with Park Ha?

Why You Should Check It Out: This is a hilarious, off-beat time travel drama that totally won me over with its cute and crazy fish-out-of-water story.

The Crown Prince and his three buddies are absolutely golden, reacting to modern-day wonders such as zippers on jackets and TV.

Sadly, the show turned more melodramatic in the second half almost transforming into an office drama. The super-cute romance between Park Ha and the Crown Prince kept me around even with all the reincarnations going on which left viewers with some ambiguous moments near the end.

I’ve re-watched Episode Two a handful of times and it doesn’t fail to put a smile on my face.

Where You Can Find It: Viki, DVD

6. Splash Splash Love

Other Titles: Splish Splash Love

Synopsis: Dan Bi has been prepping for her college aptitude test but stress forces her to not show up for the test. She ends up slipping through time to the 15 th century where a young King Sejong rules.

She helps the king who has an unquestionable thirst for science and it’s not long before serious romantic feelings start brewing. But Dan Bi has to return to her home and her mom who’s waiting for her…

Why You Should Check It Out: With only two episodes, Splash Splash Love is more like a delightful 2-hour movie. Hilarious, emotional and unabashedly romantic, this drama blew past my expectations and left me with a lot of happy feels.

Dan Bi and the king bring together a fun if not adorable romance. Everything came together perfectly, including the secondary characters. This is a K-drama at its sweetest and finest.

Where You Can Find It: Viki

7. Time Slip Dr. Jin

Other Titles: Dr. Jin

Synopsis: Jin Hyuk is an extremely skilled doctor with a pretty girlfriend. But life takes a turn when his girlfriend gets in an accident and Jin Hyuk gets transported to the 19 th century.

There he associates with a nobleman who turns out to be the future Royal Prince Regent and an idealist girl who might be the reincarnation of his girlfriend. This doctor has his hands full of plagues, sicknesses, rudimentary medical tools and war brewing in the air.

Why You Should Check It Out: The pros of this time travel drama – a look at a fascinating time during the Joseon dynasty in the late 1800s with the 1871 Battle of Ganghwa with American forces, early persecution of Catholics, and the rise of the Prince Regent Heungseon into power.

However, the drama itself is manic and confusing with really no resolution by the end. The main leads are boring and difficult to empathize with. But the supporting cast fascinates with the clever, multi-layered Prince Regent, the charming lady Gisaeng (similar to a geisha), the angsty, tortured police captain and his best friend who’s secretly a rebellion leader.

Sadly, the ridiculous and unbelievable overshadows much of the good in this drama. But overall, it’s still a fun watch.

Where You Can Find It : Tubi

Do any of these Asian time travel dramas interest you? Have you seen another time travel drama you loved or hated? I’d love to hear about it!

ARE YOU A ROMANCE FAN? FOLLOW THE SILVER PETTICOAT REVIEW:

MORE TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE:

Go Back Spouses K-drama Review – A Fun Heartfelt Time Travel Story

Faith has always enjoyed movies and TV shows from swoon-worthy period dramas to heart-stopping action-adventure flicks. Her love of Korean dramas started a few years ago when she binge-watched a 62 episode period K-drama and fell in love. She also has a passion for writing stories. Even as a young teenager she entertained her sisters with episodic superhero adventures. Now she spends her time working, blogging, sewing, juggling several novels, and watching her favorite shows, mainly K-dramas. You can visit her blog at: www.justwaytooboss.blogspot.com

More posts by this author.

12 thoughts on “7 Absolutely Fun Time Travel Asian Dramas You Should Watch”

Thanks for this lovely list! I’m watching Bu Bu Jing Xin, even though I’m not good at handling unhappy endings, because my friend told me it doesn’t end there. Apparently in the sequel, Bu Bu Jing Qing (scarlet heart 2), things look up for our main couple. It’s also cute that the leads are a couple in real life (Nicky Wu and Cecilia Liu)! I plan to watch Queen In-Hyun’s Man soon! And one day, Rooftop Prince too.

You’re welcome! Yes, that’s true – I’d forgotten about that but Scarlet Heart 2 came out in 2014 so there is hope for the main couple! And it is adorable that they became a real life couple after doing two dramas together. 😀 I’m certain you’ll love Queen In-Hyun’s Man and Rooftop Prince is super funny!

The unnecessary unhappy ending of Rooftop Prince spoiled it for me

Can you give me a recommendation about historical drama?

Absolutely! For period dramas, my personal favorite is A Tree With Deep Roots . The story is riveting with assassins of a secret organization trying to stop the king from creating a Korean alphabet (and thus changing society by allowing everyone a chance to read). The main hero is out for revenge against the king as well. This drama is intense and addictive from beginning to the end. It’s only 24 episodes, so not too long.

Queen Seondeok would be my second favorite. This one is 62 episodes, so its extremely long, but its an epic story of a girl becoming a queen without a husband. Plus she’s surrounded by handsome loyal bodyguards (who make up the supporting characters). 😀

Other recommendations: Arang and the Magistrate (fantasy/historical. It really feels like a fairy tale.) The Princess’ Man (fantastic quality, super intense but great acting) Three Musketeers (wonderful balance of drama, humor, adventure and danger) Empress Ki (51 episodes but Ha Ji-Won is a wonderful actress and really sells the story of a young woman who becomes the queen of a foreign country) I’m also currently watching Jackpot (also known as Daebak) which is a beautifully shot drama. I’m loving the bromance between the main hero and the young prince.

These sound fun, especially Splash, Splash Love 🙂

Splash Splash Love is definitely a favorite of mine!

The list is incomplete without the KDrama “Nine: Nine Times Time Travel”. Please do not miss out on it ^^

I was looking for that!

Thank you :))

This list seriously needs the drama Go Princess Go I recommend it to everyone who <3 comedy romance time travel period dramas

I saw a Chinese tv series but only what could catch in episodes. female thief tries on empress dress and female bounty hunter shows tries capture her and they fight over a jade headrest go back in time . thief disguises herself as guy and bounty is mistaken for some rebels dead wife. I do not the name of the show.. but odd dramedy. spoiler alert , thief and her male lover return present time , he on top tourist bus and she at forbidden city . bounty hunter remains back in time with her love .

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Neuroscientist Shan Yu discovers the sudden death of his first love, Min Ying. Before she died, she clutched a birthday candle in her final moments. Lighting the candle, Shan Yu miraculously travels back ten years, and attempts to alter their fate. However, each journey he takes inadvertently triggers unforeseen consequences, and a decade-long hidden love story is gradually unveiled…

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How Chinese and Korean Dramas invented a new time-travel approach

Transmigration dramas put a new spin on time travel.

Americans are deeply familiar with the classic time-travel trope.

Someone travels backward or forwards in time, often with the aid of technology , messes with the history as it was (or is to be) written, and then has to deal with the consequences. (Meanwhile, viewers struggle to navigate the myriad plot holes that tend to emerge.)

But most Chinese and Korean dramas approach time travel completely differently. Instead of having protagonists travel bodily back and forth in time, these works use a concept known as transmigration, which combines soul migration with time travel.

"When the general public talks about these concepts in [Korean] film and television, they typically speak of specific tropes like time travel, reincarnation, or a second chance at life, rather than using one word that encompasses all the meanings that ‘transmigration’ includes,” Sarah Chung, founder of Dramabeans.com , a K-drama fansite, tells Inverse .

Transmigration simply means the movement of a soul between worlds and time. In Korean and Chinese dramas that use it, the protagonist's soul suddenly migrates between realms and takes up residence in an existing person's body (think: Quantum Leap only without the technological component and generally in a more distant time period). It differs from reincarnation or rebirth stories common in Chinese and Korean pop culture, in that the “time traveler” is not reborn in the same world.

"Many transmigration storylines are a form of shuang wen (爽文), where the protagonist goes on a journey as they conquer obstacles and grow as individuals,” E and J, editors of dramapotatoe , a Chinese entertainment site, tell Inverse . "It's a satisfying journey for the audience who relate deeply to those challenges."

The concept has many variations, but the core aspect of a transmigration drama is the transcendence of time and space — but for both cultural and political reasons, the variations can be quite specific.

THE RULES OF TIME TRAVEL is an Inverse special issue exploring the evolution of science fiction's most imaginative sub-genre. From Marty McFly to Avengers: Endgame

What is transmigration?

A screenwriter transmigrates into her own story in The Romance of Tiger and Rose .

In Chinese media, transmigration is broadly known as chuānyuè (穿越) — though there are distinct subgroups within the genres — while in Korean media, it’s known as hoegwi (회귀) or bing-ui (빙의), or a combination of the two.

"Transmigration — as we see it in books and dramas today — isn't connected to traditional literature; it's very contemporary," AvenueX , a Chinese drama reviewer on YouTube, tells Inverse . "It didn't begin until the 1980s or ‘90s, and it first appeared in novels."

Xún Qín Jì (寻秦记) was a 1997 time travel novel in which a 21st-century secret agent uses a time machine to transport himself to the Qin dynasty and uses his knowledge to shape historical events. Although it's not exactly a transmigration story, Xún Qín Jì was instrumental in the development of the genre, and its 2001 drama adaptation, A Step into the Past , became the prototype for modern transmigration dramas.

Xiran Jay Zhao, the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Widow trilogy and a Chinese history/culture YouTuber, notes that since the inception of the trope, many distinct subgenres of transmigration have developed.

“Chuān shū (穿书) translates to ‘transmigrate into a book,’” they tell Inverse . “For example, in The Romance of Tiger and Rose , screenwriter Chen Xiaoqian (Zhao Lusi), transmigrates into her own historical screenplay."

They add, “Chuān jīn (穿今) refers to when a person from the past transmigrates to the present, while chuān chéng (穿成) refers to when you transmigrate into a specific person.”

A Step into the Past is a 2001 drama adaptation of Xún Qín Jì.

In Korea, the rise of transmigration stories follows a long-standing interest in reincarnation in Korean media.

"I've observed reincarnation as a popular topic in Korean dramas, more than transmigration," Sara Bechtol, editor for the Netflix Korean entertainment channel The Swoon , tells Inverse . "They usually depict poor, hardworking characters who are reborn as wealthy, accomplished people, or in some circumstances, humans who are reincarnated as animals or nature.”

"Hwansaeng (환생) means 'reincarnation,' and it refers to characters who may or may not remember their previous lives,” Dramabeans’ Chung explains. “Furthermore, some stories may contain elements of more than one trope. A combination of these tropes is referred to as hoe-bing-hwan (회-빙-환)."

Its origins can also be traced back to early 21st-century time-travel novels.

“The first hoegwi novel published in print in the domestic genre novel market was Lee Sang-Hyun's 2004 martial arts novel, Baekdo (백도)," says Chung. "However, hoegwi novels didn't gain popularity until the 2010s, likely coinciding with the growth of the webtoon and web novel formats."

Fantasy Fulfillment & Nostalgia

Hae-Soo gets caught up in an imperial palace struggle 1000 years in the past in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo .

For Zhao, to understand the success of transmigration dramas in China, you have to recognize the popularity of historical costume dramas in general. Chinese people enjoy period dramas — and consequently, most transmigration dramas — Zhao explains, because they are nostalgic for the precolonial period.

They add, "China was the dominating nation in the area at the time, in contrast to all the humiliation and misery of the 19th and 20th centuries. This, paired with the stunning aesthetics of pre-colonial fashion in C-dramas, means that there's always a large number of transmigration dramas releasing at any moment.”

Coca Xie, TV host, producer, and founder of China Entertainment Group , tells Inverse that Chinese audiences love stories about men who write poetry and fall in love with beautiful women, or swordsmen who travel around to save the world.

“Audiences enjoy the anticipation of what the protagonist will do...”

“Many of these dramas are based on stories we grew up with, such as Journey to the West (1986) and Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1994) , and they remind us of video games we used to play as kids. As a result, there is a strong nostalgic impact," Xie says.

“Because Chinese people know our history so well,” Zhao says, “We love imagining what we’d do if we were thrown back in time with all the knowledge in our minds, especially at crucial historical junctions where one change can have huge historical ripple effects.”

Zhao gives A Step into the Past as an example. The story follows a protagonist who transmigrated to the end of the Warring States era of China when the boy meant to become the first emperor of China dies.

“So now, he has to place another boy in his place and ensure that the right sequence of events still ends up happening, or there’s literally gonna be no China in the future to return to,” Zhao explains.

"Likewise, Scarlet Heart takes place during a turbulent period in which the Kangxi Emperor's numerous sons vie for the throne, but the transmigrated protagonist already knows who will triumph,” they add. “Audiences enjoy the anticipation of what the protagonist will do with their knowledge of how things should proceed and if their actions would affect events."

Different Tropes for Different Folks

Thousand Years of Love is a Korean time travel drama that follows Princess Buyeo Ju of the Baekje Dynasty.

Korean pop culture, as in America, was deeply invested in the standard time travel tropes — one person, moving bodily into new periods until the adaptations of Chinese transmigration dramas became so popular.

Thousand Years of Love (천년지애) (2003) was the first Korean time travel drama, which focused on Princess Buyeo Ju (Sung Yu-ri) of the Baekje Dynasty (18 B.C. - 600 A.D.) who travels to 2003 while trying to avoid the advances of her Kingdom's conqueror, Silla General, Kim Yu-Seok (Kim Nam-jin).

The drama was a pioneer at the time, and over the next two decades, it inspired dozens of period-era time travel dramas, including Rooftop Prince (2012), Faith (2012), Splash Splash Love (2015), and more.

“...a pleasant form of escapism”

However, it wasn’t until the release of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (달의 연인 - 보보경심 려) in 2016 — based on the Chinese novel-turned-series Startling by Each Step (步步惊心) which aired in 2011 — that transmigration became more popular among K-drama fans.

" Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Mr. Queen are the few K-dramas in which one soul travels across time to a different body," The Swoon’s Bechtol says; each was adapted from the Chinese original. "In dramas, the majority of soul-swapping takes place in the same timeline, and standard time travel dramas usually involve a character physically entering the past or future."

"The dramas may also include ludicrous shenanigans whether it's a high schooler in an adult body or a modern-day chef in a Joseon Queen's body," she adds. "This content is a pleasant form of escapism, but the lessons the characters acquire may also be relevant."

It also allows Korean storytellers to distinguish their work while remaining true to concepts viewers love.

"In a congested drama landscape saturated with familiar themes, writers are constantly seeking new ways to tell stories,” says Dramabreans’ Chung. “These tropes provide extra tools with which to build inventive and speculative narratives."

“Frivolous content”

The popular Chinese web series, Go Princess Go! (太子妃升职记) — the story of a modern playboy who transmigrates 1,000 years back in time and into the body of the Crown Princess (Zhang Tianai) — was abruptly removed from the website of its production company, LeTV, in 2015. A week later, it was re-released , after a third of its original content had been edited out.

It was assumed that the drama was pulled down because of its LGBT-positive content — which was verified in 2016 when the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) issued a new set of guidelines to regulate web dramas stating that feudal beliefs — including soul possession, reincarnation, witchcraft practice as well as, homosexuality and extramarital affairs — would be prohibited in future web dramas.

It was not the first time that Chinese authorities got involved in the content of Chinese-produced time travel dramas.

Go Princess, Go! captured the hearts of its audience with its campy, over-the-top narrative.

In 2011, the SARFT released a report criticizing time-travel dramas for their "bizarre plots, absurd techniques, and feudal superstition," and then expressed disapproval of these shows at a conference the following month, citing their “inaccurate history, exaggerated performance, and frivolous content.”

The SARFT then issued six guidelines in 2012 for the development of TV dramas, including one which stated that "historical dramas in ancient costumes should not create comedy." (Many shows had to be canceled since many transmigration dramas at the time were set in the historical past and were intended to be funny.)

Still, despite the new rules, new transmigration shows such as Joy of Life (2019) and The Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020) have passed the censors by adopting novel writing or dream setups, or by setting the story in fictional dynasties.

The unimaginable happens when a modern person is forced into a historical setting in Mr. Queen .

In South Korea, transmigration dramas are less regulated — but if one distorts Korean history, it too may be canceled or "pulled back."

This was the case with Mr. Queen ( 철인왕후), a 2020 Korean drama following a modern chef who finds himself in the body of Queen Cheorin (Shin Hye-sun) during the Joseon era. He struggles to adjust to his new body, navigate palace rules and maintain his relationship with King Cheol Jong (Kim Jung Hyun). It garnered over 4,000 complaints from viewers dissatisfied with the show's historical inaccuracy (as well as the derogatory remarks made about Koreans by the original Chinese novel author, Xiancheng).

As a result of the complaints, the subcommittee of the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) announced that the drama would receive " administrative guidance " for its controversial scenes.

What’s next?

Three friends connected across time and space in Someday or One Day .

For AvenueX, who has been reviewing Chinese dramas for nearly five years, transmigration has become clichéd and overused.

"I think chuānyuè dramas are a little out of fashion these days," she says. "There are just too many works in this genre that have been thoroughly exploited and overwritten."

While AvenueX acknowledges that transmigration is a good plot device for creating interesting scenarios, she is concerned about the genre's future in the drama landscape that has become increasingly concerned with making more money rather than delivering great, original content.

As for movie creators in South Korea and overseas, transmigration may be exactly the thing needed to spice up a boring time-travel story.

The most popular transmigration K-dramas have been adaptations of Chinese works. However, as the trope becomes more prevalent in the media, we should expect additional dramas based on original works, which may provide something truly unique and unexpected.

This article was originally published on May 13, 2022

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First Love Again To Parallel Love: Top 5 Modern Chinese Time Travel Dramas You Can't Miss On YouTube

Chinese time travel dramas offer Chinese drama fans a journey through time and tradition. Scroll down to know about some of the popular modern Chinese time travel-themed dramas that are worth the watch. 

• Alice Mary Topno
• Updated - 2024-04-05, 14:26 IST

1. ‘First Love Again’

2. ‘Waiting For You in The Future’

3. ‘Suddenly Seventeen’

5. Parallel Love

Image credit: IMDb

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Back with Another Time-Travel Drama, Zhao Lusi Enters a Fictional World in The Romance of Tiger and Rose

Binge-watcher

Zhao lusi is adorable. I will keep watching her dramas even if they are all similar in theme lol

Agreed. She's such a cutie. I can't wait to see her future work.

Reading it now, it seems funny. I know no one could tell back then, but those roles now fade away comparing to Tiger and Rose.

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Article: Top 10 Time Traveling Movies In China So Far

How many times do we wonder about changing our past or peek into the future? What would it be like to rediscover past innocence and dreams? or visit the fascinating future which could have flying cars or holograms a part of daily life? We have yet to time travel and experience another timeline, but movies and dramas already have. Some stories take us back with the character to the past, where they improve, learn or mourn their mistakes or relive what was once cherished but are now forgotten. Sometimes into the future, where all that’s happening fascinates the character, and so does us!

Till the day comes when we can time travel, why not binge movies on the same!?

1. How Long Will I Love U (2018)

A sudden bolt and you have a roommate from another timeline! Lu Ming (played by Jiayin Lei) is a broke young man from 1999, and Gu Xiao Jiao (played by Tong Liya) is a frustrated woman from 2018, both living in the same apartment but on a different timeline. However, things got chaotic when the timeline merged, making them roommates. It’s a beautiful movie and a good entertainer directed by Director Su Lun.

2. Kung Fu Traveler (2017)

When aliens have attacked earth, General Chen (played by Tiger Chen) has no option but to find the long-lost art of Southern Kung Fu. The robot (also played by Tiger Chen) is sent back in time to learn Kung Fu in a bit of time. It’s a story where robots from the future and Kung Fu art of the past work together to protect the earth. Will the robot be able to understand the art, which is not just about the moves?

3. Suddenly Seventeen (2015)

28 years old Liang Xia (played by Ni Ni) is lost and devastated by her breakup. She has given her all to Mao ling (played by Wallace Huo) for the past 10 years leaving behind her talent and dreams. Frustrated by the sudden loss, she eats a Magical Chocolate that promises to bring back the youthful energy. The magical chocolate transports Xia’s mind to 17 years, a 17-year-old mind in a 28-year-old body! It’s Xia’s journey to redefine her life and find herself back!

4. Goodbye Mr. Loser (2015)

It’s a Chinese comedy film based on a play of the same name. Shen Teng, as Xia Lou, is considered a loser. One day, he over drinks at his high school crush Qui Ya’s wedding, played by Wang Zhi. He ends up confessing his love to Qui Ya at the wedding, upsetting his current wife, Ma Dongmei, played by Ma Li. To run from all the chaos, he hides in the bathroom at the wedding venue. With all the self-sabotage, he knocks out in the bathroom only to wake up as a teenage self. Now he has once again a chance to make different choices and decide his fate.

5. Namiya (2017)

How good would it be to have a place to share your worries? The movie Namiya is an adaptation of the novel ‘Miracles of the Namiya General store’ by Keigo Higashino. Jackie Chan plays the role of shop runner, whereas three orphans, played by Dilraba Dilmurat, Karry Wang, and Hao Lie, end up in the store to hide. However, the three orphans find letters, slipped into the store from under the door but with dates from 30 years back.

6. Hi Mom (2021)

Hi, mom! Also known as ‘Nihao Li Huanying,’ it is a story of a daughter who meets her young mother as she gets transported back to 1981. In the present day, the daughter is grief-stricken because of her mother’s deteriorating health and with all the guilt of not being a good daughter. But with all the time travel happening, the daughter gets a chance to live again with her young mother even before she was her mother.

7. The Myth (2005)

Jack, played by Jackie Chan, is a reincarnation of General Meng Yi from the Qing dynasty. He has mysterious dreams, not knowing that those are a glimpse of his past birth. One day, Jack visits India, where he finally sees the princess painting from his dreams. Would Jack be able to finish what has remained undone in his past life?

8. The Face Of My Gene (2018)

Yue Yun Peng, as Bei Xiao Bei, is a writer but disappointed with the way life is unfolding. He accidentally returns to the past time with the help of an old family tree. There he meets his ancestors, who begin to change his life.

9. A Chinese Odyssey Part 2: Cinderella (1995)

Joker, played by Stephen Chow, opens Pandora’s Box to save the life of loved ones; however, little did he know that he would travel back in time approximately 500 years back. Finally, there he meets his love; however, things take a turn where he has to live all worldly desires, including love. A Chinese Odyssey part 2: Cinderella is a Hong Kong fantasy comedy film from 1995 with a prequel.

10. Goodbye Miss Loser (2022)

Jia Xaodai gets fired from her workplace because of her poor performance. Being sad about getting fired especially on her birthday, Jia feels hopeless. However, Jia gets a magic camera that takes Jia back to her high school days, the time when she is free from office work and its deadlines. Will the camera flash be able to light her life again?

A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella Goodbye Miss Loser Goodbye Mr. Loser Hi Mom How Long Will I Love U Kung Fu Traveler Namiya Suddenly Seventeen The Faces Of My Gene The Myth

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