Chinese variety shows offer the perfect mix of laughter, emotion, music, and culture. Whether you’re into fun-filled games, moving life stories, dazzling performances, or traditional heritage, there’s something here for everyone.
From timeless classics like Happy Camp to trending hits like Sisters Who Make Waves, this guide highlights the 15 best Chinese variety shows you can watch right now.
Keep reading to discover your next must-watch favorite!
I Am a Singer
A Chinese music variety show that showcases professional talent
Duration: 2013–now | Genre: Music, Reality, Competition | Platforms: Mango TV, Hunan TV, YouTube
When talking about Chinese variety shows with real musical power, “I Am a Singer” consistently ranks at the top. Produced by Hunan TV and adapted from the original South Korean format, this Chinese music competition show puts seasoned professionals on stage to battle.
Each episode features high-production vocal stages, live audience judging, and dramatic weekly eliminations. New “challenger” singers join mid-season. This structure adds ongoing tension rarely seen in other celebrity competition shows in China.
Unlike many Chinese music shows, “I Am a Singer” centers on music and emotion. It also helped popularize live performance-based variety in China.
Fan Favorite Performances in I Am a Singer
- Jessie J – “Bang Bang”: In Season 6, the British pop diva shocked Chinese audiences with her powerhouse vocals and became the first international singer to win.
- CoCo Lee – “What’s Up”: Her raw emotion and bold interpretation of the ’90s hit turned it into a career-defining stage moment.
Go Fighting!
A Chinese reality show full of challenges and brotherhood
Duration: 2015–now | Genre: Reality, Comedy, Game Show | Platforms: iQIYI, Youku, Dragon TV, YouTube
If you love funny and unexpected Chinese variety shows, “Go Fighting!” is a must-see.
“Go Fighting!” is a Chinese variety show that blends humor, improvisation, and game design. The non-scripted show, which premiered on Dragon TV in 2015, features a cast of stars including Huang Bo, Sun Honglei, and Huang Lei, who complete thrilling missions across cities and towns across China.
“Go Fighting!” is known for its semi-improvisational format, where cast members are often thrown into absurd situations without explicit instructions. The show breaks the mold of traditional game-based variety shows, making it one of the must-see shows.
Fan-Favorite Go Fighting! Episodes
- Season 1, Episode 1 – “The Heirs”: This episode became an instant classic with its competition, humor, and the birth of “Go Fighting! Brotherhood”.
- Season 1, Episode 10 – “Infernal Affairs”: With its tight undercover plot and wonderful guest performances, this episode is often rated as one of the best episodes by fans.
- Season 3, Episode 8 – “The Great Escape”: This episode is full of suspense and mystery, bringing a thrilling escape room mission.
The Voice of China
The most influential Chinese music show for vocal talent discovery
Duration: 2012–now | Genre: Music, Reality, Competition | Platforms: Zhejiang TV, YouTube
“The Voice of China” premiered in 2012, borrowing from the model of the globally successful The Voice of Holland, and quickly became a cultural craze in China.
What makes it different from other Chinese variety shows is its blind audition system: the contestants are selected only based on their singing performance without looking at the contestants themselves. This model, coupled with the guidance of professional singers such as Na Ying and Zhang Huimei, ensures that the focus of the competition is on singing skills rather than appearance or background.
The show showcases heart-wrenching performances, fierce competition, and the significance of discovering talent. It has cultivated many singers who are now famous.
The Voice of China Fan Favorite Season
- The Voice of China Season 1 (2012): Under the guidance of coaches such as Na Ying, Liu Huan, and Harlem Yu, this season brought audiences unforgettable performances.
- The Voice of China Season 2 (2013): This season is more sophisticated, more competitive, and introduces more styles of performances.
- The Voice of China Season 5 (2020): Under the guidance of Li Jian as one of the coaches, this season refocuses on musicality and authenticity.
The Readers
A deeply moving reading show where words reveal emotion
Duration: 2017–2020 | Genre: Culture, Literature, Emotion | Platforms: CCTV, YouTube, CCTV App
Unlike many Chinese variety shows that focus on comedy or competition, “The Reader” is a cultural show with an intimate atmosphere and a slow pace.
Created and hosted by Dong Qing, one of China’s most famous hosts, the show invites public figures, scholars, and ordinary people to read texts of personal significance and share the life experiences behind these texts.
With themes such as “home”, “dream”, and “farewell”, the show deeply attracts audiences who seek variety shows that go beyond entertainment, reflection, and emotion.
Fan-Favorite “The Readers” Moments
- Mai Jia: The best-selling novelist reads a letter to his late father, offering a powerful reflection on guilt, healing, and fatherhood.
- Yao Ming: In a rare appearance beyond sports, the NBA star shares his personal struggles with transition and responsibility after retirement.
- Xu Yuanchong: The legendary translator reads Tang poems in both Chinese and English, offering a rare glimpse into cross-cultural literary beauty.
Happy Camp
China’s longest-running celebrity variety show filled
Duration: 1997–2021 | Genre: Variety, Talk Show, Game Show | Platforms: Mango TV, Hunan TV, YouTube
With more than 20 years and more than 1,000 episodes, “Happy Camp” has brought together celebrities from every corner of Chinese pop culture to play games, share stories, and create unforgettable moments with the hosts of the “Happy Family,” including He Jiong, Xie Na, Li Weijia, Du Haitao, and Wu Xin.
From idol crazes to viral internet celebrities, “Happy Camp” has embraced all entertainment trends and has become a must-see for millions of viewers on Saturday nights in China.
Fan-Favorite Happy Camp Episodes
- Episode 500: This is a nostalgic episode. It invites past guests back and revisits the most iconic moments of the show.
- Episode 811: This episode invites the hottest trainees from the idol show Youth With You.
Keep Running
A fast-paced, laughter-filled reality show
Duration: 2014–now | Genre: Reality, Comedy, Game Show | Platforms: iQIYI, Tencent Video, Zhejiang TV, YouTube
“Keep Running” is the Chinese version of the popular South Korean variety show “Running Man”. Since its launch in 2014, the show has become one of the most popular reality shows in China.
Each episode introduces a unique theme, challenging the cast to complete thrilling tasks, solve puzzles, or survive elimination rounds. The core of the show is the competition and friendship of the resident guests. Their on-screen chemistry and emotional expression have made this show a classic.
Fan-Favorite “Keep Running” Episodes
- Season 1, Episode 6 – “Family Revival Battle”: This episode features team games and challenges that are both fun and show the teamwork between the cast.
- Season 3, Episode 5 – “Haunted House Name Tag Battle”: Set in a mysterious castle, this name tag-tearing game combines strategy, betrayal, and thriller elements.
- Season 4, Episode 3 – “Sports Day Special”: This energetic sports-themed episode sees the cast split into teams to compete in classic sports events.
Back to Field
A relaxing rural reality show with celebrities
Duration: 2017–now | Genre: Reality, Slow Life, Culture | Platforms: Mango TV, Hunan TV, YouTube
First aired in 2017, “Back to Field” invites everyone to escape modern life and enjoy a slower pace of life. For many viewers, it feels like a warm and healing documentary.
Hosted by veteran actor Huang Lei and artist He Jiong, the show is set in a remote rural village where the cast must grow their own food, prepare daily meals, and host celebrity guests without relying on the conveniences of city life.
Fan-favorite “Back to Field” season
- Season 1 (2017): This Season featured celebrities doing farm work, cooking home-cooked meals, and having fun bedtime conversations.
- Season 2 (2018): This Season is set in a rural village in Zhejiang Province, and the addition of Peng Yuchang has injected youthful energy into the team.
Who’s the Murderer
A star-studded detective game that combines logic and drama
Duration: 2016–now | Genre: Mystery, Reality, Role-Play | Platforms: Mango TV, YouTube
If you love detective and mystery games, “Who’s the Murderer” is a must-see. This Chinese variety show, which premiered in 2016, lets celebrities enter fictional crime scenes as suspects and uncover the truth through reasoning and debate.
Each episode revolves around a complete murder mystery, and players investigate the crime scene, search for clues, and engage in intense reasoning to finally find the real murderer. What makes this variety show unique is the emotional weight of the story itself and the wonderful performances of the NPCs.
Fan-favorite “Who’s the Murderer” episode
- Season 4, Episodes 7 and 8 – “Horror Nursery Rhymes”: The story is set in a school and is known for its creepy atmosphere and horror-themed narrative.
- Season 3, Episodes 1 and 2 – “Hotel Horror”: The story revolves around guests trapped in a mysterious hotel, and the plot is full of ups and downs.
Sisters Who Make Waves
A stage for women over 30 to show themselves
Duration: 2020–now | Genre: Reality, Music, Competition | Platforms: Mango TV, YouTube
“Sisters Who Make Waves” is a female-led Chinese reality variety show that challenges traditional idol culture. The show invites 30 mature female stars over 30 years old to train, perform, and compete for a spot in a new girl group.
This Chinese variety show stands out for its bold feminist ideas, empowering storylines, and high-level stage production. From pop singers to actors and dancers, contestants go through intensive rehearsals, team evaluations, and live performances, and are judged by professionals and the public.
The show touches on themes such as career reinvention, sisterhood, public expectations of women, and personal growth in midlife.
Fan-favorite Sisters Seasons
- Season 1 (2020): This season brought together stars such as Ning Jing, Zhang Yuqi, Wan Qian, and Meng Jia. The contrast between confidence on stage and fragility behind the scenes deeply touched the audience’s heartstrings.
- Season 2 (2021): The second season features even more exciting performances and a more refined format. This season is known for its higher-end stage design and greater focus on the artistry of music.
Other Best Chinese Variety Shows
SHErlock
“SHErlock” is a Chinese variety show led by women that combines murder mystery games with real-time reasoning. The show invites female celebrities to form a detective team to solve fictional cases in an immersive environment. The strong cast, clever plot design, and exciting psychological suspense have attracted fans of escape rooms and dramatic mystery stories.
The King of Stand-up Comedy
As one of the few variety shows in China that focuses on stand-up comedy, “The King of Stand-up Comedy” provides a platform for talk show performers to present original performances in front of a live audience and professional judges.
The format is simple but effective: jokes, authenticity, and stage presence determine the show’s success. The show has brought Chinese stand-up comedy to the mainstream, becoming a must-see for fans of comedy and modern Chinese entertainment.
Heart Signal
“Heart Signal” is a popular dating show that tells the story of several single men and women living in the same house, developing feelings, and invites celebrity guests to observe and comment in real time.
The charm of this show lies not only in the romantic tension and real interaction, but also in the psychological guessing of who likes whom. With its relaxed rhythm, beautiful presentation, and real emotional expression, this show
I Can I BB
“I Can I BB” is one of the most influential talk show variety shows in China. The show brings together top debaters and celebrities to discuss hot issues with agile thinking, wonderful personal stories, and rich jokes. It’s dynamic debate duels, creative topics, and arguments that evoke emotional resonance.
Chinese Poetry Conference
“Chinese Poetry Competition” is a Chinese variety show with a profound cultural heritage, which brings classical poetry into the modern perspective. Contestants of different ages and backgrounds will compete in reciting, understanding, and interpreting ancient poems. The program is hosted in an elegant and philosophical style, aiming to enhance cultural confidence and literary appreciation.
Where to Watch These Chinese Variety Shows?
Most of the best Chinese variety shows are available on major Chinese streaming sites.
- Tencent Video (WeTV): Ideal for watching “Heart Signal”, “Who’s the Murderer”, and “Produce 101 China”. The platform often offers English subtitles and is mobile-friendly.
- iQIYI: Home to “I Can BB”, “The Rap of China”, and “Super Vocal”. iQIYI has global apps and websites for overseas audiences.
- Mango TV: The go-to platform for “Sisters Who Make Waves”, “Back to Field”, and “Happy Camp”. Mango TV offers international versions with English interfaces.
- CCTV: Shows such as “The Reader” and “China Poetry Conference” can be watched on CCTV’s official YouTube channel or official app, with HD playback.
- YouTube: Episodes and clips of many popular Chinese variety shows (including official and fan subtitles) are easily available here, especially for viewers outside of China.
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Final Thought
Chinese variety shows always bring laughter, enlightenment, and unforgettable moments. Whether it is a touching reading, an exciting stage performance, or a mind-bending mystery, they always leave a lasting impression.
Which ones have you watched? Have the shows we recommend made it to your favorite list? If you find this guide helpful, please bookmark it or share it with other Chinese variety fans.
