The Best TV Shows on CCTV-9
Every CCTV-9 Show Ranked From Best To Worst
Boasting a rich catalog, CCTV-9 features more than 20 shows, with broadcasting dates ranging from 2002 to 2022. Notable series such as 曾国藩 and 圆明园 from CCTV-9 first graced the screens in 2002 and 2006. Our curated list, current as of February 2026, showcases over 20 of CCTV-9’s highest-rated series.
The Pilgrimage of Hsuan Tsang (2011)10.0
China: The Sublime (2022)10.0
HeXi Corridor (2015)9.3
A Bite of China (2016)8.7
A Bite of China (2012)8.4This series explores the history, traditions and culture of Chinese food. Filmed at over 160 locations across China, this series truly is a feast for the senses. The seven-episode documentary series introduces the history and story behind foods of various kinds in more than 160 locations in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The documentary has also been actively encouraged as a means of introducing Chinese food culture to those unfamiliar with local cuisine.
Life Force (2010)8.3Extraordinary show that reveals how forces of nature through sheer power of evolution shaped life in all it's unexpected and glorious forms, and filled our planet with amazing diversity of animals and plants.
Every Treasure Tells a Story (2018)8.0"Every Treasure Tells a Story" has a total of 100 episodes, divided into four seasons. To shoot this documentary, the film crew traveled all over the country, filming nearly a hundred museums and archaeological institutes and more than 50 archaeological sites.
Masters in Forbidden City (2016)7.8Set in the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City, this series follows generations of skilled conservators who restore China’s cultural treasures, from paintings and bronzes to textiles and ceramics. Across centuries of history and hardship, these artisans revive the soul of each artifact, transforming decay into beauty and revealing the quiet dedication behind the preservation of humanity’s shared heritage.
梁思成·林徽因 (2010)7.6
From Qin Shihuang to Han Wudi (2016)7.5
China's Mega Projects (2012)7.0
四季流转年夜饭 (2022)7.0
过年 (2015)1.0
曾国藩 (2002)N/A
圆明园 (2006)N/A
北斗 (2020)N/A
战旗 (2021)N/A
了不起的冬天 (2022)N/AWhy are the Olympic Games divided into winter and summer? The fastest runner and the fastest skater, who is faster? As the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is about to open, the 10-episode documentary "The Great Winter" produced by the Central Radio and Television Film and Television Documentary Center will be broadcast on CCTV-9 from February 1st. An interesting and scientific documentary about the popular science of the Winter Olympics, focusing on the relevant knowledge of the various events of the Winter Olympic Games and the highlights of the construction of the Beijing Winter Olympics venue, using the interesting method of "animation + popular science expert explanation", multi-angle and in-depth Showcasing the unique charm of the Winter Olympics.