5 Best Ding Yuxi C-Dramas, Ranked
Ding Yuxi has gone from a gender-bent rom-com prince to one of the most in-demand leading men in Chinese drama right now — and his range is exactly why his catalogue is worth digging into. Whether you know him as the scheming Han Ye, the tsundere half-demon Mu Sheng, or the terrifying “White Reaper” of Melody of Golden Age, there’s a Ding Yuxi drama for whatever mood you’re in.
Below are his five best C-dramas, ranked by popularity, entertainment value, and — most importantly — whether they’re actually worth your time.
1. The Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020)
The Role: Han Shuai / Han Ye — a clever, scheming prince from a male-dominated city who gets trapped in a world where women rule.
Why It Made the List: This is the breakthrough hit that put Ding Yuxi on the map, and it still holds up as one of the most accessible rom-com C-dramas out there. It flips traditional gender dynamics on their head and pairs relentless comedy with genuine romantic chemistry.
Memorable Scene: Han Ye spends half the show convinced the female lead is madly in love with him — and secretly trying to poison him — at the same time, which leads to some wonderfully over-the-top internal monologues over what should be a simple meal.
The Hook: A screenwriter gets sucked into her own script as a throwaway villain who’s destined to die by episode three, and has to improvise her way to survival.
Verdict: Must-watch, full stop. You don’t need to be a Ding Yuxi fan (yet) to fall for this one.
2. Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (2024)
The Role: Mu Sheng (Ziqi) — a complex, protective half-demon who acts prickly on the outside but harbors deep loyalty underneath.
Why It Made the List: This 2024 hit proved Ding Yuxi could carry an anti-hero role with just as much charm as his rom-com work. Reunited with his Moonlight co-star Esther Yu, the show delivers top-tier production value and fast, satisfying pacing.
Memorable Scene: Ling Miaomiao repeatedly bombing her system-assigned side quests to pull Mu Sheng’s affection stat out of negative territory, while he looks at her like she’s a mildly interesting pest.
The Hook: Video-game/novel transmigration mechanics — a reader gets dropped into a fantasy world as a minor villain and has to level up while taming a lethal tsundere male lead.
Verdict: Must-watch for xianxia and fantasy fans. Sharp pacing, strong visual effects, and excellent main-pair chemistry make it worth a look even if you’re new to the genre.
3. Moonlight (2021)
The Role: Zhou Chuan — a famous, dramatic author who is secretly his editor’s anonymous online pen pal.
Why It Made the List: One of his best modern workplace romances. Instead of the usual stoic-CEO archetype, Ding Yuxi plays a petty, dramatic writer who acts tough but completely melts around his rookie editor.
Memorable Scene: Zhou Chuan aggressively performing disinterest in front of his editor, then panicking and scrambling behind the scenes to quietly fix all her problems without getting caught.
The Hook: A publishing-industry setting, an online-to-offline secret identity trope, and — refreshingly — almost none of the exhausting miscommunication tropes that plague the genre.
Verdict: Worth a watch for rom-com fans. If you like lighthearted, witty modern C-dramas, this one still holds up.
4. Melody of Golden Age (2024)
The Role: Shen Du — a feared, ruthless commander of the Internal Guard nicknamed the “White Reaper.”
Why It Made the List: This is Ding Yuxi at his darkest and most physically imposing. His screen presence and intense gaze carry the show even when the writing doesn’t.
Memorable Scene: The whiplash between Shen Du terrorizing criminals in court and then awkwardly navigating a forced marriage contract with an outspoken junior justice clerk.
The Hook: Contract marriage meets criminal investigation — solving imperial mystery cases while managing household rivalry on the side.
Verdict: For hardcore Ding Yuxi fans. He carries his scenes effortlessly, but the case-solving writing and pacing hit a few lulls. Watch this one primarily for his performance.
5. Intense Love (2020)
The Role: Dr. Zhou Shiyun — a genius, stone-faced doctor engaged via family arrangement to a glamorous celebrity.
Why It Made the List: It aired alongside The Romance of Tiger and Rose in 2020, helping cement his popularity in the same breakout year. It’s a classic “unflappable professional meets persistent flirt” dynamic done well.
Memorable Scene: The female lead dramatically checking herself into his hospital just to get his attention, while he treats her like any other patient — completely unmoved by her celebrity charm.
The Hook: High aesthetic value, low-drama setup, and a straightforward reverse-chase dynamic where the female lead is the one doing the pursuing.
Verdict: For casual fans and light binge-watchers. It’s quick and fluffy rather than twist-heavy — great if you want simple romance without heavy conflict.
Which Ding Yuxi drama got you hooked first? Let us know in the comments — and check out our related reviews below.
Currently Airing: The Road to Splendor (2026)
If you’ve made it through this list and want more Ding Yuxi, he’s currently on screen in The Road to Splendor (花开锦绣), a gritty runaway drama built around salt trade corruption and cross-class survival, reuniting him with his Melody of Golden Age co-star Deng Enxi. Check out our early episodes review of The Road to Splendor for first impressions.
Recommended Reads
- Fangs of Fortune’s Li Lun: The Wound That Never Closed — a deep-dive character analysis of Li Lun from Fangs of Fortune
- https://fiction247.com/xie-zheng-xiao-wuyi-pursuit-of-jade-phoenix-heart/ – Zhang Linghe vs. Hou Minghao: How Pursuit of Jade and Key to the Phoenix Heart Redefine the Cold General
