The Best TV Shows on CCTV

Every CCTV Show Ranked From Best To Worst

As of June 2025, we’ve curated over 20 of CCTV’s premier shows for your viewing pleasure. For top-tier entertainment, CCTV delivered CCTV Spring Festival Gala and A Sentimental Story in 1983 and 1994. From 1983 through to 2019, CCTV has accumulated a diverse collection of over 20 television shows.

  • A Son Of The Good Earth
    A Son Of The Good Earth (1995)10.0

  • 汉刘邦
    汉刘邦 (1998)10.0

  • AI Football GGO
    AI Football GGO (2010)10.0

    Artificial Intelligent Football GGO is made by Puzzle Animation studio Ltd. It's an animation series about football and future technology.

  • Dong bei yi jia ren
    Dong bei yi jia ren (2002)9.5

  • For the Sake of the Republic
    For the Sake of the Republic (2003)9.2

    Towards the Republic, also known as For the Sake of the Republic and Zou Xiang Gong He, is a Chinese historical television series first broadcast on CCTV in China from April to May 2003. The series is based on events that occurred in China between the late 19th century and early 20th century that led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty and the founding of the Republic of China. Owing to its portrayal of historical issues deemed politically sensitive by the Chinese government, the series has been subject to censorship in mainland China.

  • Year After Year
    Year After Year (1999)9.0

  • Romance of the Three Kingdoms
    Romance of the Three Kingdoms (2009)9.0

    Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a 2009 animated television series joint produced by the Beijing Huihuang Animation Company of China and Future Planet of Japan. It was broadcast in Japan starting April 2010.

  • A Sentimental Story
    A Sentimental Story (1994)8.6

    Fang Yan and Du Mei experience a profound and unforgettable love, just like any other couple, through a series of quarrels, breakups, and reconciliations. Initially, their relationship is rocky. First, Du Mei misunderstands that Fang Yan already has a girlfriend, and later, she subtly hints that she is attending a dance, indirectly inviting Fang Yan to be her partner. However, more misunderstandings follow, leading to a stalemate in their relationship.

  • Journey to the West – Legends of the Monkey King
    Journey to the West – Legends of the Monkey King (1999)8.4

    Sun Wukong, who was born from a magic stone, has been imprisoned underneath a mountain for five centuries for his mischief in the heavens. One day, the Guanyin told Monkey that the Monk Tang Sanzang will set him free and Monkey will join him on a pilgrimage from China to India. The next day, Tripitaka came and set Monkey free, and the two started their Journey to the West. Along the way, they meet two new friends, Zhu Bajie and the Hermit Sha Wujing, who join them on the journey; together, they face many dangers and evil creatures and sorcerers and learn to get along.

  • Hongmao and Lantu: Martial Arts Series
    Hongmao and Lantu: Martial Arts Series (2006)8.2

    An animation series produced by Hongmeng Cartoon Communication Co., Ltd. There are two branches: martial arts series and preschool education series. And the martial arts series is China's first animation series on the theme of traditional Chinese martial arts.

  • The Return of the Condor Heroes
    The Return of the Condor Heroes (2006)6.2

    The Return of the Condor Heroes is a Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. It is the second installment of a trilogy produced by Zhang Jizhong, preceded by The Legend of the Condor Heroes and followed by The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. It was first broadcast on 17 March 2006 in China and subsequently broadcast in other Asian countries such as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.

  • A Soul Haunted by Painting
    A Soul Haunted by Painting (2003)6.0

    Pan Yuliang struggles as a courtesan to a concubine as she navigates her path to success in the art world as a painter.

  • CCTV Spring Festival Gala
    CCTV Spring Festival Gala (1983)5.8

  • Beakman's World(Chinese-dubbed version)
    Beakman's World(Chinese-dubbed version) (1998)N/A

    Beakman's World is an educational children's television show. The Chinese-dubbed version has three episodes less than the original version, and they are: S1E24 ∙ Bees, Beakmania and Earthquakes, S2E5 ∙ Bats, Beakmania & Energy, S4E26 ∙ Fingerprints, Beakmania and Flatulence. On September 18, 1993 it moved from national syndication to CBS Saturday morning children’s lineup. At the peak of its popularity, it was seen in nearly 90 countries around the world. The series was canceled in 1998. Reruns returned to national syndication in September 2006, after which it was transferred to local stations such as KICU. The show debuted a year prior to Bill Nye the Science Guy, which covered similar topics. The show's host, Paul Zaloom, still performs as Beakman in live appearances around the globe.

  • Merry Go Round
    Merry Go Round (2003)N/A

    This drama follow the lives of two young sisters as they grow from children to adults. They each face many twists and turns before achieving true happiness.

  • 九死一生
    九死一生 (2013)N/A

  • Carrying Grandma Into Town
    Carrying Grandma Into Town (2015)N/A

  • Executive Judge
    Executive Judge (2018)N/A

    A female judge encounters an old teacher who uses the letter of the law to his own advantage while she wields it as a weapon to protect those in need. Zuo Lin (Lv Jiarong) is a judge serving at the people's court in Mingzhou. While dealing with a real estate case in Yongjia, she butts heads with an unexpected opponent. He is Zheng Huaishan (Tan Kai), an old university teacher and a dear friend whom she hasn't seen in a long time. However, investigations lead them further astray and Zuo Lin has to make the choice of overcoming her personal feelings to uphold justice.

  • That Flower, That Sea
    That Flower, That Sea (2019)N/A

  • The Passionate Years
    The Passionate Years (2019)N/A

    A group of Chinese scientists return from overseas to contribute to their country’s future. Led by physicist Wang Huaimin, they join China’s first nuclear research institute and overcome immense challenges to develop the nation’s first atomic and hydrogen bombs.