The Best TV Shows on CCTV-8

Every CCTV-8 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Stay up-to-date with over 20 of CCTV-8’s elite series, with our list refreshed for May 2026. Premiering in 2004 and 2006, Amazing Detective Di Renjie and My Own Swordsman are among CCTV-8’s most celebrated shows. CCTV-8 has over 20 shows broadcast from as early as 2004 and as recent as 2026.

  • This Thriving Land
    This Thriving Land (2025)9.4

    On her wedding day, Ning Xiuxiu, the daughter of Tianqiang Temple Village's richest man, is kidnapped by bandits. Her father refuses to pay the ransom, marrying her sister to her childhood sweetheart instead. In defiance, Xiuxiu cuts ties with her family and marries farmer Feng Dajiao, learning the value of land and community. Inspired by revolutionary ideals, she empowers village women to challenge feudal beliefs and leads efforts against banditry and the Japanese invasion.

  • The Long Way Back
    The Long Way Back (2025)9.3

    The journey of an ordinary soldier in the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army during the 14-year Second Sino-Japanese War, highlighting the region's grueling and heroic fight against Japanese imperialist forces.

  • Amazing Detective Di Renjie
    Amazing Detective Di Renjie (2004)9.0

    Di Renjie is Tang dynasty magistrate and statesman, who investigates mysterious murders.

  • The Heir
    The Heir (2026)9.0

    A tribute ink scandal topples the Li family’s long-standing ink business, leaving their legacy in ruins. Years later, Li Zhen, the determined youngest daughter, sets out to restore her family's name. As she rises in the industry, she joins forces with Luo Wenqian, heir to another fallen clan, to take on a rising rival and face new challenges from foreign markets, fighting to bring Huizhou ink back to its former glory.

  • My Own Swordsman
    My Own Swordsman (2006)8.9

    A comedy about some friends and their stories in Qixia Town.

  • Blossoms Shanghai
    Blossoms Shanghai (2023)8.6

    Set against the backdrop of massive economic growth in the 1990s, the story follows A Bao, a self-made millionaire and his journey from being a young opportunist with a troubled past to accumulating dazzling wealth in the city of Shanghai. It also follows his entanglement with four women who represent the pursuits of his life: adventure, honour, love and innocence.

  • The Knockout
    The Knockout (2023)8.2

    20 years of perseverance, hot-blooded teenagers finally become the people's hero.

  • Joy of Life
    Joy of Life (2019)8.1

    Zhang Qing, a present-day college student in culture and history major wants to study in professor Ye's postgraduate class, so he decides to write a historical fiction to elaborate his perspective of analyzing ancient literature history with modern concept. In the fiction, Zhang himself acts as a young man Fan Xian with mysterious life who lives in a remote seaside town of Kingdom Qing in his childhood, under the help of a mysterious mentor and a blindfolded watchman. Fan goes to the capital when he grows up, where he experiences plenty of ordeal and temper. Fan persists in adhering the rule of justice and goodness and lives his own glorious life.

  • Qin Dynasty Epic
    Qin Dynasty Epic (2020)8.1

    During the late stages of the Warring States era of the Qin state, Ying Zheng, Lu Bu Wei, Li Si, Wang Jian and many formidable politicians work together to unite the six states under one rule.

  • Three-Body
    Three-Body (2023)7.8

    Nanotechnology researcher Wang Miao is taken to the Joint Operations Center by police officer Shi Qiang, who's investigating the mysterious suicide wave among scientists worldwide. He is recruited to sneak into an organization called the Frontiers of Science to help the investigation. When Wang Miao is contacted by the leader of the organization, Shen Yufei, she introduces him to a sophisticated VR video game called Three-Body, but soon he discovers that it's more than just a game.

  • Magic Mobile Phone
    Magic Mobile Phone (2008)7.7

    What happens when a time blip brings an all-purpose, ultra-tech mobile phone from 2060 and Journey to the West characters from ancient China to 2006? Loopy adventures abound in the new Mainland drama Magic Mobile Phone starring swordsman regular Vincent Jiao Enjun (The Tearful Sword) in his first modern drama. Trading in his sword for a superhero cape, Jiao has to save earth from being destroyed by the Bull Demon in this CGI-laden roly-poly mix of fantasy, adventure, sci-fi, and comedy. Joining in the good-natured silliness is Shu Chang (Lotus Lantern) and Li Bin (Shanghai Dream)

  • Mysterious Lotus Casebook
    Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023)7.5

    Li Lian Hua is a countryside doctor who travels dragging around a lotus tower. He accidentally becomes "famous" and gets pulled into the pugilistic world that he no longer wants to have any connections with.

  • Vanished Name
    Vanished Name (2026)7.5

    A casual name. A stolen name. A name that was never hers. A name she dared not speak again. A name never forgotten. Ren Xiaoming had always despised her name, yet no matter how much she loathed it, it was proof of her existence in this world—the very premise of her identity. She would reclaim the name that had been stolen from her. This name did not belong to her alone, but to many others as well. Those invisible names, lost in the mundane routines of daily life, drowned in the whispers of judgment, buried in the endless passage of time—stripped of their identities. Yet someone always remembers them, and someone always follows in their footsteps, until their names are seen by all. A story of struggle and redemption across two generations of women.

  • Guardians of the Dafeng
    Guardians of the Dafeng (2024)7.4

    Xu Qi’an, a recent police academy graduate, awakens in a strange world filled with Confucians, Taoists, Buddhists, demons, and warlocks. Facing imminent exile to a remote frontier town, he seizes the chance to change his fate by joining a powerful organization of guardians.

  • The Tale of Rose
    The Tale of Rose (2024)7.4

    Born into a scholarly family, Huang Yimei grows up surrounded by care and affection, displaying artistic talent from a young age. Early in her career, she quickly gains recognition and meets her partner, Zhuang Guodong. They fall in love but eventually drift apart. This period of professional growth gives her a clearer vision for her future, leading her to return to school for further education. After graduation, she marries her senior, Fang Xiewen. However, their divergent career paths lead to a divorce. Huang Yimei then starts her own business and makes a name for herself in the planning for art exhibitions. During this time, she meets her soulmate, Fu Jiaming, but their love story ends tragically with his passing just a few months later. Despite this, Huang Yimei remains resilient, continuing to strive for a more fulfilling life.

  • The Unclouded Soul
    The Unclouded Soul (2025)7.4

    For centuries, humans and demons have battled over the legendary Yuli Spring, a symbol of desire. Free-spirited Xiao Yao unexpectedly enters Ten Thousand Demons Valley, disrupting the demon world. There, she meets the powerful Demon King Hong Ye, who grows to admire her pure heart. Together, they face mysterious cases and formidable enemies, uncovering hidden truths along the way.

  • Ode to Joy
    Ode to Joy (2016)6.3

    Five independent, career-driven women living in the Ode to Joy apartment building navigate love, ambition, and personal growth as they chase fulfillment on their own terms. As they try to make it in the big city, each faces unique challenges and romantic entanglements while discovering who they truly want to be.

  • Zhan Zhao Adventures
    Zhan Zhao Adventures (2026)6.0

    Zhan Zhao, a fourth-ranked imperial guard, embarks on a solo investigation after receiving evidence of a cold case. Along the way, he encounters the strong-willed Miss Huo Linglong and the justice-driven Bai Yutang. The three like-minded companions join forces to uncover clues, uphold justice, and capture criminals. Together, they work to expose a dangerous web of power that has infiltrated both the court and the martial world, ultimately restoring peace to the people.

  • The Fearless
    The Fearless (2023)5.8

    Luo Yingzi, a self-taught lawyer who, after personal setbacks, teams up with Qiu Hua and Xia Shu to fight for justice, navigating both legal challenges and their own personal struggles

  • Legend of Zang Hai
    Legend of Zang Hai (2025)5.8

    "Legend of Zang Hai" follows the son of Imperial Astronomer Kuai Duo. Consumed by vengeance, he spends a decade honing his skills. Assuming the name Zang Hai, he ventures into the capital to uncover the truth, avenge his family, and restore justice.