The 40 most popular chinese crime TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


Who's the Murderer
2016 · CN
The cast is introduced to the settings and suspects of a murder case for the new episode. The cast then chooses their role in the episode, as a particular suspect or the detective.


Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty
2022 · CN
General Lu Lingfeng and Detective Su Wuming uncover supernatural mysteries and hidden conspiracies threatening the empire during Emperor Xuanzong’s reign.


Detective Club
2017 · CN
No overview available


Chasing the Undercurrent
2022 · CN
Chang Zheng, the vice captain of the criminal police brigade, is investigating a shooting case in a suburban villa and locks up the suspect Zhao Pengxiang. The second child of the Zhao family, an inspector who didn't want to be involved in the death of Zhao Pengcheng, then becomes a wanted criminal. With the help of a secret investigation team dispatched by the Ministry of Public Security to investigate the truth, Chang Zheng not only faces confrontation with his relatives and loved ones, but also discovers his real identity. In the end, he discards his affection and chooses justice, and cooperates with the secret investigation team of the Ministry of Public Security to arrest the criminal.


The Knockout
2023 · CN
20 years of perseverance, hot-blooded teenagers finally become the people's hero.


Secret of the Heart
1998 · HK
Secret of the Heart is a 1998 TVB production that was first aired from February 16,1998 to May 10, 1998. The drama had a powerful roster that is made up of Gallen Lo, Felix Wong, Amy Kwok, Kathy Chow, Sunny Chan, Ada Choi, Jessica Hsuan and Nick Cheung. It won three TVB Anniversary Awards, including Best Actor for Gallen Lo, Best Actress for Ada Choi and Best On-Screen Improvement Award for Nick Cheung. The drama also received a late night hour rerun during 2003 and 2010. It was digitally remastered for the 2010 rerun.


Detective Chinatown
2020 · CN
Strange crimes occur in Thailand as the ranking for the world's best detective sees a shift. New detectives come into the picture to tackle three difficult cases.


Ⅵ Group of Fatal Case
2001 · CN
Six very different but equally determined and dedicated police officers comprise a group specializing in serious criminal cases involving homicide, mafia activity, terrorism, drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and robbery.


Judge of Song Dynasty
2005 · CN
Stories of a judge who lives in the Song Dynasty of China and familiar with forensic pathology.


Darker
2014 · CN
A series of serial killings is exposed and creates a stir among the public. A killer called "Darker" has been leaving a death notification card after killing scumbags who evaded the law. To counter the provocation of the mysterious killer, the police creates a special investigation team.


Heroes in Sui and Tang Dynasties
2013 · CN
During the fall of the Sui Dynasty, warrior Qin Qiong and his friend Cheng Yaojin join a rebellion after rescuing Li Yuan. As uprisings spread, Qin Qiong helps Li Shimin rise to power, paving the way for the Tang Dynasty’s founding.


Trident
2020 · CN
Cui Tiejun, Xu Guozhu, and Pan Jianghai, known as the Trident of the city police come together to fight crime.


Born with Luck
2026 · CN
Zhang Yi'ang, a veteran detective, is sent to Sanjiangkou to investigate a case but soon finds himself caught in a web of crime and corruption. While pursuing a powerful criminal network, he unexpectedly receives help from a group of bungling thieves, who inadvertently aid his mission to unravel the truth behind a murder.


Under the Skin
2022 · CN
Young artist Shen Yi's life changes when a commission leads to a police case gone wrong. Seven years later, he joins the Criminal Investigation Unit as a portraitist alongside Captain Du Cheng.


Day and Night
2017 · CN
Twin brothers Guan Hongfeng and Guan Hongyu find themselves caught up in a brutal massacre that destroyed their family. As they face off against a shadowy criminal organization, they join forces with others to uncover the truth behind the 213 massacre.


Burning
2020 · CN
Grandfather Gao Sihai, a forensic expert, faces wrongful accusations that impact his career and health. His son, Gao Jian, died while investigating an unsolved case, which is now questioned. Gao Feng, the grandson, becomes involved in the case and works to uncover the truth, facing numerous challenges along the way.


Detective Ke Chen
2019 · CN
No overview available


People's Justice
2020 · CN
At the commendation meeting of Dong Chuan province's "Top Ten Figures of the Rule of Law," He Shu Guo who is the director of the Second Prosecution Department suddenly comes face to face with the family members of a death row convict. In order to find out the truth, legal committee secretary Zhang You Cheng appoints Feng Sen as the leader of the prosecution team to investigate the case in depth. Feng Sen tries to do his job yet his unorthodox style of handling cases ignites several disputes. In the process of reopening an old case, layers upon layers of mist are gradually lifted to reveal a harsh truth. Feng Sen works with Luo Xin Ran of the Inspectorate Office as they stick to their professional ethics and refuse to cower in the face of threats, all in the name of maintaining authority of the law.


Enemy
2021 · CN
Spy couple live in their midlife crisis and are controlled by higher authorities based oversea. National security agency is chasing them and higher authorities is pushing them, where can the struggling couple go?


The Thunder
2019 · CN
A father and son represent two generations of policemen as they risk their lives in the war against drugs.


Always on the Move
2024 · CN
No overview available


The Long Season
2023 · CN
The 12-episode series follows Wang Xiang, an ex-train driver who had worked his whole life at the steel plant in a fictional small town in North China, as he attempts to solve the mystery behind a brutal murder during the autumn of 1998. For more than 20 years, the murder has haunted him and other people who worked at the steel plant as they struggled to come to terms with the loss they’ve experienced.


Prosecution Elite
2023 · CN
An Ni, a prosecutor of the Jiangcheng Procuratorate, was assigned by Chief Prosecutor Xu Ailin to handle the case investigating a missing college student who jumped off into a lake. She started with Zhao Jikai, the General Manager of Huiquan Games, and found connection between him and overseas organizations that promote bullying, leading to the arrest of the crime perpetrators. While Huiquan Games’ stocks price plummeted, Yin Huiquan donates to Jiangxiao Academy which would in turn corrupt minors in the guise of charity. The student Li Xiaowen and other victims come forward, publicly denouncing the unorthodox means of Jiangxiao Academy to control youngsters. An Ni presents solid evidences in the court, leading to the academy’s shut down and punishment of those who were involved. Yan Qin, who took over the Huiquan Games, misappropriated the funds to invest in the development of a copper mine. However, this investment venture was a Ponzi scheme by an online financial fraud gang.


Storm Eye
2021 · CN
A story about a team of agents is told from the perspective of An Jing and Ma Shang. Showing no fear in their mission to uphold justice, these officers work hard to protect national interests.


Under the Moonlight
2025 · CN
Luo Shu, a woman skilled in understanding human nature, teams up with magistrate Han Muzhi to solve a series of complex and mysterious cases. Along the way, she forms a bond with Qi Menglin, and together, they uncover hidden secrets and injustices, while a larger conspiracy looms in the background.


Li Wei the Magistrate
2002 · CN
Li Wei, a low-born but clever man who, with the help of his confidante Yue Siying, uses his wit to win the emperor’s favor.


The Golden Eyes
2019 · CN
An ordinary man working at a pawnshop accidentally encounters an incident that affects his eyes and ignites changes in his life that start him on a tomb-raiding adventure.


Parallel World
2023 · CN
The beautiful melon seller, Ye Liuxi, and the shadow puppet performer, Chang Dong, join forces to venture deep into the desert. One seeks to unravel the mystery of their origins, while the other aims to retrieve the remains of his deceased girlfriend. As they encounter numerous anomalies in the uninhabited area, they are led to the weathered Yumen Pass. They navigate between the Imperial Guards, Taoist Priests, and the Scorpion-Eyed, unraveling the truth amidst various enigmas, and gaining insights into true love through numerous life-and-death trials. The truth seems within reach, but they find themselves ensnared in an even larger conspiracy.


The Truth
2026 · CN
The Forensic Unit of the Yunxi City Police Department is where the most major and baffling cases converge. Led by Captain Leng Qiming, a team of young, sharp investigative minds—including Ye Qian, Si Yuanlong, Jiao Lei, and Zhang Ziwu—tackles each puzzle. As they peel back the layers of one bewildering crime after another, they expose not just the truth but the raw nature of those involved. Yet just when one mystery seems solved, another emerges from within it. Step by step, as the truth comes to light, so too does the real face of human nature.


Light to the Night
2026 · CN
In 1997, a disappearance inside an elevator pulls detectives He Yuanhang and Ran Fangxu into a twisted mystery. Facing doubt and confusion along the way, they press on to uncover the truth. As time moves on, they heal from life's uncertainties, hold fast to justice, and rise above hardship with resilience and hope.


Dream
2026 · CN
Years ago, journalist Shen Leshui recorded the lives of workers at the Old La City Brewery. Now she returns to La City, picks up her camera again, and explores corners forgotten by time. Cao Jun, Tu Chunyan, Qian Yichuan, Cheng Youtian... These people, once the subjects of her lens, experience the rise and fall of fate in the torrent of time. Their stories are like riddles sealed by time. Moving between the past and the present, Shen Leshui uncovers these chapters of the past buried by time.


Cold Hunt
2026 · CN
A bank heist shatters a city. A child trafficking ring resurfaces. Two collided timelines, crimes within crimes -- the hunt for truth knows no bounds.


The First Shot
2024 · CN
In 1997, before the anti-drug bureau was established, Halan City in Northeast China formed a temporary elite team to tackle a sudden drug crisis. Despite their skills, they are unfamiliar with new drugs and must confront ruthless traffickers and devious smuggling methods while grappling with moral dilemmas and the tests of justice and humanity. United by their courage and determination, they create a stirring legend of fighting crime and corruption.


We Are Criminal Police
2024 · CN
After graduating from the police academy, Qin Chuan and his friends return to their hometown as police officers, determined to pursue their dream of becoming detectives. Despite challenges, Qin Chuan’s career takes off when he proves his courage in a critical situation. Under the guidance of his superiors, he grows into a skilled detective, facing the weight of his responsibilities and the realities of the job.


The Devil Between Us
2026 · CN
In a quiet coastal town, a missing bag of drugs ignites a chain of chaos, pulling together a detective, a desperate father, an ambitious young woman, and two siblings caught in addiction. As their lives collide, a risky rescue mission begins—one that no one will walk away from unchanged.


Age of Legends
2018 · CN
Liu Ziguang, a man with no memory of the past eight years, returns to his hometown seeking a fresh start. Detective Hu Rong, driven and fearless, joins forces with him to take down a ruthless crime boss. As their bond deepens, buried secrets from Liu Ziguang's past threaten to complicate their mission and their relationship.


Sunsets Secrets Regrets
2026 · CN
A mysterious body by the Tong River resurfaces clues to a five-year-old case, bringing together three childhood friends—now a criminal investigator, a detective, and an undercover agent. As they pursue the truth behind multiple unsolved crimes, they navigate hidden dangers and unravel deep conspiracies.


Genuine Heroes
2025 · CN
An anthology revealing the hidden stories behind significant cases, drawing inspiration from real-life heroes across five major legal and security institutions—public security, prosecution, courts, justice, and state security.


Insect Detective
2020 · CN
When a murder involving a deadly bullet ant puts him under suspicion, insect toxicology graduate Tan Jingtian teams up with a forensic doctor and police detectives to clear his name, uncover hidden truths, and track down a killer who has evaded capture for years.


Being a Hero
2022 · CN
Five years after his father's murder by a drug cartel, former officer Wu Zhenfeng reappears as a wanted suspect, earning the nickname "Addict Lord." Now a narcotics officer, his former best friend Chen Yu is determined to uncover the truth behind Wu's actions. As their paths collide, a high-stakes game of loyalty, deception, and hidden motives unfolds.
Chinese television is built around costume drama and wuxia serials running to substantial episode counts, with a production scale that has few equivalents anywhere.
Crime is arguably television's defining genre, spanning the weekly procedural, the single-case anthology, and the sprawling organized-crime epic. The serialized form suits investigation better than film ever has.