Summer is when Chinese streaming platforms run at full power. June through August is peak C-drama season. iQIYI, Youku, and Tencent Video release their biggest productions and compete for the same eyeballs. Nirvana in Fire, The Story of Yanxi Palace, and The Bad Kids anchor the catalog while summer originals build. The Wandering Earth franchise on Netflix is the most accessible Chinese blockbuster entry point for international viewers.
The Wandering Earth Franchise: Where to Stream
The Wandering Earth franchise is China's answer to Hollywood tentpole sci-fi. Part 1 opened in 2019 and became the highest-grossing Chinese film at the time. Part 2 (2023) expanded the timeline and delivered on the original's premise. Both films are available on Netflix internationally. Ne Zha (2019) on iQIYI is the animated mythology entry that unlocks Chinese animated blockbusters as a genre for international viewers.
The Wandering Earth 2
The 2023 prequel that expanded the Wandering Earth universe. Andy Lau joins the cast. Netflix internationally.
Netflix
Ne Zha (2019)
The animated film that broke China's box office records in 2019. Mythology-based, emotionally sharp. iQIYI internationally.
iQIYI
Creation of the Gods I
Epic Chinese fantasy based on Fengshen mythology. First of a planned trilogy. iQIYI.
iQIYI
Detective Chinatown 3
Comedy mystery franchise continuing in Tokyo. China's biggest Chinese New Year blockbuster. iQIYI International.
iQIYISummer C-Drama Season: What's Running in June
iQIYI's summer 2026 slate is heavy on historical romance and crime thriller. The Story of Yanxi Palace continues to be their most internationally watched historical drama. The Bad Kids is the crime pick that keeps getting surfaced. Youku's Hidden Love and The Long Season are both in their discovery window for international audiences. Joy of Life Season 2 on WeTV wrapped in 2024 and is worth catching up on now. Nothing But Thirty and Go Ahead give modern C-drama two of its best examples.
The Story of Yanxi Palace
70 episodes. Wei Yingluo rising through the Qing imperial court. iQIYI's most globally distributed historical drama.
iQIYI
Nirvana in Fire
The gold standard of Chinese court political drama. 54 episodes. Hu Ge leads. iQIYI and Viki.
iQIYI
The Bad Kids
12 episodes. Three children witness a murder. The Chinese crime thriller benchmark. Watch this summer.
iQIYI
Hidden Love
Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan campus romance. Most internationally distributed modern Chinese romance of 2023. Youku.
Youku
The Long Season
Fan Wei in an eight-episode rust-belt murder mystery across timelines. Youku's best drama in years.
Youku
Word of Honor
Wuxia bromance. Zhang Zhehan and Gong Jun. The C-drama that built a global community via social media. iQIYI and WeTV.
iQIYI
Joy of Life
Zhang Ruoyun in political court drama that blends humor and stakes. Two seasons on WeTV and iQIYI.
WeTV
Till the End of the Moon
Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu in xianxia fantasy across immortal lifetimes. iQIYI's dominant 2023 fantasy release.
iQIYI
Nothing But Thirty
Three women navigating life at thirty. Modern C-drama with emotional honesty that crosses cultural context. iQIYI.
iQIYI
Go Ahead
Three children from broken homes creating their own family. The Chinese family drama that travels globally. iQIYI.
iQIYI
You Are My Glory
Yang Yang and DiLiReBa in a modern romance with esports backdrop. iQIYI's most globally distributed romance.
iQIYIFor international viewers, the practical reality of Chinese streaming access is: Netflix carries the most internationally licensed Chinese content. iQIYI International has the widest catalog. Viki carries select licensed Chinese dramas with English subtitles. The summer 2026 season is strong enough to navigate the platform complexity.