Chinese dramas must receive approval by the state run NRTA before being released. This means dramas are reviewed by a committee and are subject to edits if the drama contains any politically sensitive topics, ideology, explicit content, or negative depictions of the government. Rules are constantly being changed and enforcement varies so directors are often forced to play a guessing game and platforms try to self-censor as much as possible.  

Censorship Process:

1. Script Submission (pre-approved before filming)

2. Content Review (show reviewed by NRTA for political, moral, and cultural compliance)

3. Post Editing (Govt request scenes or lines be  altered)

4. Broadcast approval (Distribution license required)

Youtube (Free): You can find almost every drama on Youtube if you have enough patience. The only downside is that the music/audio is sometimes cut out or even replaced due to copyright issues. Something to note is that Youtube is rife with dramas that have incorrect titles and misleading thumbnails, especially if you are not watching on an official Youtube channel. More and more platforms are requiring payment these days, even on Youtube. 

Tencent: In the U.S., Tencent is available through the WeTV app. Many of the dramas Tencent produces end up on Viki or Netflix. Tencent also has a Youtube channel that is primarily free, although audio can be shoddy. 

Youku: Youku produces dramas on their app, and you can find them more often than not for free on their official Youtube channel or on Viki. 

IQIYI: IQIYI is an app you can download directly or subscribe to through Prime Video on Amazon. IQIYI productions are harder to find on other streaming services and are behind a paywall on Youtube.

Viki: I highly recommend getting Viki if you are a fan of Asian Dramas (K,C or J!). Viki is a Japanese App that occasionally produces dramas. Subtitles are written by subscribers so sometimes they can be lacking, but most of the time they are the best translation. 

Mango (MGTV): Infamously terrible subtitles, but Mango dramas can be found on the Mango (MGTV) App,Youtube, and (highly recommend) Viki. 

Netflix, Disney+, and Prime have started streaming Chinese Dramas as well. 

Xianxia (Pronounced: shee-an-shya) is loosely translated as “immortal heroes” and refers to high fantasy dramas that involve the Heavenly Realm, immortals, love spanning three lifetimes, reincarnation, and folklore. The genre is inspired by Daoism and Buddhism. Some popular dramas of this genre include: Love Between Fairy and Devil, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, and Love and Redemption. 

Coughing or the spewing of blood is a recurring plague in C-Dramas. It does not discriminate between genres and if you turned every occurrence of it  into a drinking game, you would never be sober again. It’s used as a visual symbol of Internal Injury, suggesting damage to the qi, which is based on traditional Chinese medicine. It’s not done for shock value, but to convey the character's condition and state of mind in the story.