The generations who came after the 1980s and 1990s are now the backbone of Chinese society. They’re more aware of themselves, more willing to be who they are, and less limited by social norms. This generation is willing to battle for love, and directors from this same wave are starting to show it on screen.
What has come out is a group of Chinese BL dramas and queer-centered shows that seem personal, brave, and often shockingly poetic. These works teach us what it means to love, survive, and discover oneself in a world that is slowly but surely changing. They range from martial arts sagas that break the rules to intensely personal documentaries.
Here are eight Chinese LGBT TV shows and documentaries that say a lot about love as liberation, not just love between men.
Best Chinese BL & Gay Series
Country: China
Year: 2021
Genre: Wuxia / BL Romance / Historical Drama
Main Couple: Zhou Zishu & Wen Kexing
Platform: Youtube
Zhou Zishu, a former assassin seeking freedom, leaves his deadly organization at the cost of his life force. Near death, he meets Wen Kexing, the enigmatic and vengeful leader of the Ghost Valley. Caught in a whirlwind of martial arts politics, hidden secrets, and century-old grudges, the two men become unlikely soulmates—and each other’s salvation.
I was stunned by how daring Word of Honor was. It wasn’t hiding behind subtext—it was love, plain and clear. The chemistry was rich, the writing sharp, and it didn’t water down the source material. This is the peak of Chinese danmei adaptations so far. It’s respectful, intelligent, and, frankly, romantic as hell.
Country: China
Year: 2024
Genre: Family Drama / Reconciliation / Queer Bond
Main Focus: He Jiahao & He Jiashu (Brothers)
Platform: Youtube
Set in a southern Chinese village steeped in dragon boat tradition, this quiet story follows He Jiahao—a shy, diligent scholar burdened with family expectations—who reunites with his long-estranged brother He Jiashu. Eight years of silence are shattered as the two slowly rebuild their bond, care for each other, and quietly mend emotional wounds.
The Way Home is tender and beautifully restrained. It doesn’t scream queerness—it breathes it. The emotional textures, the lingering gazes, the pain of silence… it all adds up to a drama that feels incredibly personal. It’s a soft rebellion told through brotherhood, memory, and cultural inheritance.
Country: China
Year: 2016
Genre: Teen Romance / School Drama / Forbidden Love
Main Couple: Bai Luoyin & Gu Hai
Platform: YouTube (International) / Banned in China
Bai Luoyin and Gu Hai are high school classmates with drastically different backgrounds. A twist of fate brings them under the same roof—and emotional tension begins to brew. As they shift from enemies to friends to lovers, their complicated family histories and society’s disapproval constantly threaten to tear them apart.
Addiction felt groundbreaking when it aired. The pacing, cinematography, and acting were all ahead of its time for a Chinese web drama. It had heart, humor, and raw teenage emotion. Sadly, its success became its downfall—it was banned for being “too gay.” But its impact on LGBTQ+ visibility in China can’t be erased.
Country: China
Year: 2015–2016
Genre: Anthology / Real Stories / Queer Lives
Platform: Blued / Youtube
This web series presents four short episodes based on true stories from gay men across China. Told with honesty and cinematic care, the series touches on love lost, identity struggles, unspoken regrets, and the lingering ache of memory. Each vignette is a window into modern queer existence in urban China.
There’s something powerful about watching queer stories rooted in real life. Mr. X and I doesn’t dramatize—it reflects. These aren’t perfect love stories; they’re pieces of lived experience. As one of the first queer anthology series in China, it quietly carved space for more authentic representation.
Country: China
Year: 2014–2015
Genre: Sitcom / LGBTQ+ Roommates / Web Series
Platform: ZANK
A group of queer friends—each with big personalities—share an apartment in a bustling Chinese city. Among them: a fashionista, a gym-obsessed sweetheart, a nerdy foodie, and a no-nonsense tomboy. Their lives are filled with chaotic misunderstandings, hilarious clashes, and moments of surprising depth.
This show is just… fun. It’s rare to find a Chinese LGBTQ+ sitcom that embraces both camp and warmth. Rainbow Family is messy in the best way, like Queer as Folk meets Friends—if Friends had a sassy gay chef and a lot more protein powder.
Country: China
Year: 2020
Genre: Sports / Psychological Drama / Queer Subtext
Platform: Youtube
Young shooting prodigy Shao Yiyou suffers from anxiety-induced performance issues. To help him, his father brings home another talented boy, Shao Yiliang, as an adopted sibling and training partner. As the two boys push each other toward success, a complicated emotional bond forms—one neither fully understands.
This short-form series (5 minutes per episode!) says more with glances and loaded lines than many long dramas do. The homoerotic tension is unmistakable, but what really struck me were the psychological layers. Every word feels like it hides something else. Quietly brilliant.
It’s Me: Revealing the Homosexual Community (以我之名, 2015)
Country: China
Year: 2015
Genre: Documentary / LGBTQ+ Reality / Identity
Platform: Online TV (Phoenix Satellite TV)
Spanning five episodes and nine cities, this documentary captures the lives of over 40 LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. From coming out and marriage pressure to historical policy shifts, it offers a rare, unflinching look at the lived experiences of queer people across China—complete with candid interviews and trans perspectives.
I was floored. This isn’t a sob story or a call for sympathy—it’s a collective testimony. What stayed with me were the older queer voices and the pain they carried in silence for decades. It’s also one of the few Chinese queer docs to include trans voices and highlight political change. Essential viewing.
HovERing (悬停, 2020)
Country: China
Year: 2020
Genre: Short Documentary Series / Queer Family / PFLAG
Platform: Youtube
Directed by Ashley, HovERing follows seven mothers as they join their LGBTQ+ children aboard a rainbow cruise. With vulnerability and grace, they speak about the moment their children came out, and the slow, painful, loving process of acceptance. The series reflects on queer family dynamics, healing, and the utopia of chosen community.
Ashley created something gentle and revolutionary. Seeing mothers speak honestly about fear, guilt, and love cracked something open in me. It’s rare to hear queer stories from the parents’ point of view—and even rarer when they’re told with this much tenderness. HovERing is about love, full stop.
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❓What is the most famous Chinese BL drama?
Addiction (2016) is arguably the most iconic Chinese BL drama. Despite being banned in China, it gained massive international popularity on YouTube for its raw portrayal of teen queer love and strong chemistry between the leads.
❓Can I watch Chinese BL dramas on Netflix?
A few, such as Word of Honor, are available on international platforms like Netflix, depending on your region. However, many others (like Addiction or Mr. X and I) are only accessible via YouTube or web archives due to censorship.
❓Are Chinese BL dramas censored?
Yes. Due to Chinese media regulations, most explicit queer content is either banned or heavily edited. Many BL dramas use suggestive subtext rather than overt romantic scenes. That said, some series still manage to convey strong emotional intimacy.
❓Do Chinese queer documentaries exist?
Absolutely. Titles like It’s Me: Revealing the Homosexual Community and HovERing offer deeply personal, real-life insights into LGBTQ+ life in China, covering topics such as coming out, family pressure, and queer identity in modern society.
❓Are there any Chinese BL series based on real stories?
Yes. Mr. X and I is a notable example, presenting four episodes inspired by true stories told by gay men in China. It’s one of the country’s earliest web series to approach queer lives with realism and emotional integrity.
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