The Best TV Shows on CCTV-8

Every CCTV-8 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Showcasing over 20 shows from 2004 up until 2026, CCTV-8 stands as a beacon of television excellence. Amazing Detective Di Renjie and My Own Swordsman represent the pinnacle of CCTV-8’s programming, launching in 2004 and 2006. Stay up-to-date with over 20 of CCTV-8’s elite series, with our list refreshed for July 2026.

  • Wild Ambition Bloom
    Wild Ambition Bloom (2025)10.0

    In 1916, Chu Shaohua marries Chen Dashun, the eldest son of the Chen family’s pharmacy, to save her brother. With integrity and sharp business skills, she earns the respect of Chen’s father and becomes the manager. After the sudden deaths of Chen’s father and Dashun, the pharmacy passes to Chen Ershun, who squanders the family fortune, driving it to ruin. Through hardship, Chu Shaohua establishes Huashun Pharmacy to support the family. Just as she plans to start a new life with her first love, Xia Chu, Chen Ershun and his mother block her path. When bandits raid the Chen household, Chu loses her daughter and, devastated, leaves for Shanghai. There, her outstanding performance at Yongxin Department Store draws the attention of business talent Wen Zhiqiu, who invites her to co-found a new venture. Step by step, she rises to become a bold and trustworthy woman entrepreneur.

  • 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.

  • The Heart
    The Heart (2023)8.9

    Xiao Feng is the Deputy Chief Physician of the Cardiology Department at Dongli Hospital. He is introverted and strict. He becomes work partners with the impulsive doctor Lin Yi, yet friction arises due to the differences in their medical beliefs. Meanwhile, Xiao Feng's younger sister also gets a job working as a doctor at the Intensive Care Unit.

  • 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.

  • Love Has Fireworks
    Love Has Fireworks (2026)8.5

    Qian Fei, an employee in a bank, was planning a fulfilling life. But after being abandoned by her fiancé, she had to redefine her life. Li Yifei, from a rich family, always prioritized his career. His girlfriend couldn't endure poverty and left. To cover her mortgage, Fei rent out a room to Yifei, and they became collaborators. Fei bravely faced challenges and grew through the process. Their journey was marked by collisions, but they fell in love and decided to face the future together.

  • Born to Be Alive
    Born to Be Alive (2026)8.1

    In 1990s Qinghai’s Maji County, rampant poaching plunged the region into poverty. Deputy County Head Dorje’s mountain patrol team shifted from mineral exploration to protecting antelopes. Bai Ju, a fearless female officer raised by a Tibetan doctor, grew into a leader fighting for a nature reserve with her comrades and journalist lover, only to face Dorje’s mysterious disappearance. Decades later, as coal mining threatens the eco-balance again, Bai Ju reunites with allies to solve the cold case and uphold the legacy of safeguarding the Tibetan Plateau’s untouched beauty.

  • Joy of Life
    Joy of Life (2019)8.0

    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.

  • Magic Mobile Phone
    Magic Mobile Phone (2008)7.8

    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)

  • 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.

  • The Unclouded Soul
    The Unclouded Soul (2025)7.7

    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.

  • Love Story in the 1970s
    Love Story in the 1970s (2026)7.5

    In 1970s China, Fei Ni, a hardworking factory girl, enters a fake marriage with Fang Muyang to secure housing and chase her dream of attending college. Through shared struggles and quiet moments, their bond deepens into real love as they pursue a brighter future together.

  • Mysterious Lotus Casebook
    Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023)7.4

    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.

  • 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.

  • Sword Snow Stride
    Sword Snow Stride (2021)7.2

    In a time of turmoil, Xu Xiao rises as King of Northern Liang, defeating threats from steppe kingdoms and southern uprisings. His heir, Xu Fengnian, a free-spirited warrior, has spent years mastering his skills while forming alliances, including with the skilled swordswoman Nangong Pushe. Among the royal household is Jiang Ni, a princess from a rival kingdom who may harbor hidden motives. As Xu Fengnian ascends the throne, doubts arise about his ability to uphold his father’s legacy. When a critical campaign looms, the fate of the realm hangs in the balance.

  • Zhan Zhao Adventures
    Zhan Zhao Adventures (2026)7.2

    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.

  • Legend of Zang Hai
    Legend of Zang Hai (2025)6.8

    "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.

  • Ode to Joy
    Ode to Joy (2016)6.4

    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.