10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Why mainland Chinese audiences love Taiwanese TV dramas, and the 5 rated highest on Douban
From New Legend of Madam White Snake (1992) to Meteor Garden (2001), Taiwanese dramas have long held a place in mainland Chinese entertainment. The often strained cross-strait relations over the years have done little to dampen the appeal and love for the genre.
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Their popularity may have something to do with the fact that some Taiwanese productions have not been afraid to delve into contemporary issues such as gender equality and LGBTQ lifestyles.
Fang Kecheng, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, says the appeal of Taiwanese dramas for mainland Chinese audiences lies in their uncensored coverage of societal issues.
'Despite the political tensions and the halt to cultural exchanges, mainland Chinese and Taiwanese people share many similarities in social and cultural conceptions,' he says.
'People can see themselves in Taiwanese dramas.'
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From romance to fantasy, here are the five Taiwanese dramas that have the highest scores on Douban, the popular mainland Chinese entertainment review aggregator website.
