Top 10 Chinese Short Dramas to Watch in 2026 (Micro & Mini Drama Guide)

Chinese short dramas, also known as micro or mini dramas, are changing the way people watch Cdramas. 

Instead of 40 episode series, these shows deliver complete stories in episodes that can be as short as 2 minutes or as long as 15–18 minutes, making them perfect for quick, binge-able viewing.

Originally popular on platforms like Douyin and Tencent’s short drama apps, short Chinese dramas have exploded in popularity thanks to their fast pacing, dramatic storytelling, and addictive cliffhangers. 

In 2026, they’re no longer just a trend, they’re a full-blown genre of their own.

What Are Chinese Short (Micro) Dramas?

Chinese short dramas are scripted series designed for mobile-first viewing, with episodes that are significantly shorter than traditional TV dramas.

They usually fall into two formats:

• Micro dramas: 1–5 minute episodes, often released in large batches
• Mini dramas: 8–18 minute episodes with more structured storytelling

Top 10 Highly Recommended Short Chinese Dramas 

1. Dominion and Devotion

As the Great Ning Dynasty falls into turmoil, Pei Shen Zhi manipulates the late emperor’s edict to place Ning Jin Yi on the throne as a puppet ruler. Though she appears obedient, Ning Jin Yi secretly builds her power and pushes for reform. Impressed by her intelligence, Pei Shen Zhi becomes entangled in her rise as she purges the court.

2. What a Good Girl

Duan Xiu Zi met Li Ming Yu for the first time at a wedding. She was stunningly beautiful but with the look of a good girl. She was forced by her family to paint the bride and groom, and Xiu Zi commented: “Boring woman”. But in the blink of an eye, Ming Yu gives him a big surprise! She cold-bloodedly destroyed her painting herself, ruining the bride's wedding. This aroused Xiu Zi's interest, and the two had a one-night stand before Ming Yu disappeared without a trace. Xiu Zi was fascinated and desperate to find her again...

3. Thousands of Years of Love

Feng Ruo Yao, phoenix ruler of the demon realm, falls for Immortal Lord Mo Chen Yuan and drags him back to marry her, unaware he’s long harbored feelings for her. Secretly injured by his half-brother, Mo Chen Yuan uses her scheme as a chance to heal. Though they bicker, their love is mutual. Facing countless trials, they remain true to each other and eventually bridge the divide between immortals and demons to be together.

4. Deliberation of Love 

Liu Yue Qing, a time-travelling girl, was forced to drink poison as a punishment because of her husband Pei Xun, but by fate, she was time-travelled back in the past during the time of her engagement with Pei Xun. Since she knew what would happen if she would agree the engagement, she cut off the engagement at the last moment. She tried to avoid her husband because she didn't want to drink poison again, but Pei Xun won't quit on pursuing her. Initially, she fell in love with him.

5. Money Is Coming

A female college student, Ning Chu Xi, accidentally finds herself entering a book, becoming the vicious supporting character, Princess Yue Xi, who doesn't survive beyond the first three chapters. To save herself, she makes the bold decision to return to her hometown, hoping to avoid the inevitable fate outlined in the original plot. However, after experiencing the warmth of familial love back home, she gradually develops a deep connection to this world. 

No longer content with merely saving her own life, Ning Chu Xi resolves to save other characters whose lives are also being crushed by the main storyline. She decides to rescue the male supporting character, Xiao Xing Hang, who is fated to die at a specific point in the story. Together, they form an alliance to alter the main plot and seek justice for the original character’s wronged family.

6. Embrace in the Dark Night

While abroad, Wen Xi is forced into an underground fight club run by loan shark kingpin Mr. Jia. She becomes the prize for champion Xu Zhe Qing, a mysterious young man who is secretly a private security consultant on a mission to rescue her. After a daring escape, three years later, Wen Xi’s twin sister, Wen Hao, dies under suspicious circumstances. Posing as her sister at G.E. Company, Wen Xi reunites with Xu, now on opposite sides. Will their rekindled feelings help them overcome the darkness and reunite?

7. Gemini

After being betrayed and killed, sect leader Xiao Jin Yu is reborn in the body of the blind Princess Consort Lu Zhao. With the help of her supposed twin brother Xiao Ren, she embarks on a ruthless quest for revenge, uncovering forbidden secrets and deadly power struggles along the way.

8. Romantic

Lin Yan suffered the betrayal of her fiancé Ma Cheng Jun and her best friend Wen Li Li, and accidentally fell into a vegetative state soon after. When she wakes up from it, Lin Yan, who has no real power, pretends to have amnesia in order to take revenge. She signs a contract with Xiao Mo, a bodyguard who has been silently guarding her, agreeing to jointly complete the plan to retake the company stolen from her by her ex-lover, but a series of emotional entanglements unexpectedly occur, and Lin Yan's frozen heart is gradually melted by Xiao Mo.

9. Grab Your Love

It tells the story of Min Jiang Xi, who aspires to become "the Number One Female tutor in Shencheng", and Qin Zhan, known as "the Villain in Shencheng". The two start off being wary of each other, but gradually develop deep affection and mutual understanding. In the end, they join forces as powerful partners to eliminate the great villains in the business world.

10. The Blood of Youth: Quest of Heroic Hearts

The story follows the legendary Tianzhan Sword (the "Sky-Sunder Sword") and three young heroes who set out to find it. Wei Gui survives the massacre of his family as a child, but the shock leaves him with no memory. The only clue to his past is the Tianzhan Sword, a name etched in his mind.

While searching for the sword's shattered blade pieces, he teams up with Lei Lingze, a hot-blooded Lei Clan disciple determined to be No. 1 under heaven, mysterious swordsman Ye Zhixin and Hua Xiaohua, a sharp, quirky girl who deals in jianghu secrets. As they hunt for the sword and try to save lives along the way, they clash with Tianwai Tian, a ruthless dark sect bent on claiming Tianzhan for itself. 

Through every setback and showdown, the trio holds the line with grit, loyalty, and a code they refuse to break: trust your friends, protect the weak without showing off, stand by courage and righteousness, and keep the world in your heart. And the thrilling story leaves one message loud and clear: being "number one under heaven" isn’t about the sharpest blade, but about the strongest sense of justice.

Are Chinese Short Dramas Worth Watching?

If you enjoy fast-paced storytelling, emotional drama, and binge-friendly content, Chinese short dramas are absolutely worth watching.

They don’t replace traditional Cdramas, they complement them. You can say they deliver more drama in less time, making them ideal for modern viewers.

Why Are Chinese Short Dramas So Popular?

The rise of Chinese short dramas comes down to one thing, "convenience without compromise".

Here’s why viewers love them:

• Short episodes fit modern attention spans
• Stories move fast, no filler
• Easy to binge in one sitting
• Optimized for mobile viewing
• Often released all at once
• For international viewers, short dramas also offer a low-commitment way to explore Chinese storytelling without investing dozens of hours.

 

Chinese short dramas have firmly established themselves as a major part of the Cdrama world in 2026. If you’re looking for something fresh, addictive, and easy to watch, the dramas on this list are the perfect place to start.