The best Chinese Donghua series for beginners

Key things

• Donghua from China, like anime, features a variety of storytelling and animation styles.
• Link Click explores the manipulation of time in a unique way within the supernatural genre.
• God Troubles Me is a laid-back donghua with sitcom vibes, perfect for new fans.

Anime has been a big part of the world of entertainment for ages. With each new series, there's always something fresh that takes the entire anime scene to the next level and raises what some might call “the standard.” While most people think of Japan when they hear the word “anime,” that's not really the case anymore, especially since some anime have become very popular thanks to Korean manhwa. Solo leveling and Noblesse.

There is one type of animation that doesn't get nearly as much love as anime usually does, even though it has some of the best stories and most amazing animation – donghua. Donghua is basically an anime that originates from China and usually features Chinese culture and traditions. Although they are similar to anime in many aspects, donghua come in different styles and concepts, making it sometimes even more diverse in terms of animation and storytelling.

7 Click the link

A supernatural mystery with a very sentimental undertone

Click the link is a 2021 supernatural mystery donghua that stands out for having one of the most unique spaces on this list. What makes it so different, not just from other donghua, but from most anime, is how it handles classic supernatural tropes like time travel and parapsychology in a fresh, non-generic way. The story follows two friends who run a shop called Time Photo Studio where they take photos from customers and basically step into them to complete a specific task requested by said customer.

The main characters, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, have special abilities related to manipulating time and changing reality. Cheng Xiaoshi can travel back in time by entering a photo and possessing someone's body in it, while Lu Guang has the ability to read a photo and predict the exact events that will occur within 12 hours of taking it. Together, they use these abilities to help people resolve their regrets and find closure.

6 Land of the soul

3D Donghua With Heavy Martial Arts And Isekai Themes

Donghua can be categorized like a lot of Chinese animated series, but they aren't strictly classified as anime either – mainly because they aren't always in 2D. In fact, some of the most popular donghua right now are 2.5D or fully 3D animated, breaking the mold of what “normal” anime usually looks like. Land of the soul is a 2018 donghua based on a web novel that can be considered an exceptional example of such a series considering the fact that it is fully done in 3D animation rather than conventional 2D animation.

Land of the soul is an isekai story that revolves around traditional Chinese martial arts. It follows the journey of a man who loses his life after acquiring forbidden knowledge, something that inevitably leads to punishment and death. After acting on his impulses and doing the unthinkable, he takes his own life, thinking he's had enough. But instead of finding peace, he is reincarnated into a strange new world where he inhabits the body of a 6-year-old child with the power to control supernatural beings known as spirits.

5 The daily life of an immortal king

Action comedy with an inherently overpowered main character

The daily life of an immortal king is a 2020 donghua that shifts its story from pure action to incorporating slice of life and comedy elements. It follows the story of Wang Ling, a seemingly normal 16-year-old high school student whose biggest challenge right now is high school. While this is largely true, Wang Ling has a little secret that sets him apart from the average student: he is practically invincible and has abilities far beyond anyone's capabilities.

At only six years old, he managed to defeat the Demon King and his powers only grew stronger from then on. But for all his insurmountable strength and being the reincarnation of the most powerful being in the universe, his biggest problem and only thorn in his side is high school – which is clearly harder than any legendary feat he's done before.

4 Spiritpact

Supernatural action with a BL subplot

Spiritpact is a 2016 donghua based on the manhua of the same name that heavily incorporates themes of spiritual mastery in its premise – like many other great donghuas. It follows the story of two unlikely people brought together by unexpected circumstances, whose survival depends on each other.

You Keika is a seemingly ordinary man with a seemingly ordinary life. He is not very financially stable and spends most of his time working part-time jobs to earn as much money as possible. But then, as if things couldn't get any worse, he dies in an accident and returns as a ghost. That's when he meets an exorcist who offers him a deal – he will protect you from humans, and in return you must help him deal with the spirits.

3 The king's avatar

A true-life story following the journey of a disgraced professional gamer

Anime that focuses on video games tends to rely on the whole isekai theme where the main character is transported into the game world – think Ruler, No game, no lifeand Sword Art Online. That's the usual way. But what's less common is a story where the main character stays in the real world and goes down the esports path instead.

The king's avatar is unique in this respect. It's a 2017 donghua based on a web novel of the same name, and there's no fantasy twist of being sucked into the game world. Instead, it's all about the downfall of an esports player and his quest to get back on the scene, starting from scratch in the massively popular online game Glory.

2 A swallowed star

Action, Sci-Fi, Martial Arts With Hardcore Animation

For those looking for a very hardcore donghua that focuses heavily on action and sci-fi, A swallowed star can be a very solid choice. It's a 2020 3D donghua set in a very futuristic post-apocalyptic world with physically advanced humans and gigantic monsters on the loose. But like most Donghua, A swallowed star keeps martial arts at the center of its story despite the sci-fi background.

The show follows the story of Luo Feng, a recent high school graduate who wants to become a warrior in their disaster-torn world. Their world has been hit by a virus known as the RR virus, which kills humans and turns other living forms into violently mutated creatures. These warriors are the only line of defense humans have against mutated creatures, and Luo Feng is willing to lay down his life to become a part of them. What he doesn't realize is that he may be even more important in the grand scheme of things than he realizes.

1 God is bothering me

Slice-of-Life comedy with strong sitcom vibes

God is bothering me is a 2019 donghua that is perfect for new donghua fans, especially with how relaxed and fun it is. While it leans heavily on a fantasy plot, nothing about it feels overly complex or difficult to follow. It's basically a slice-of-life comedy with three completely unexpected characters who find themselves in a strange life situation – kind of like a sitcom.

The story centers on Su Moting, a half-monster, half-god who was left with only human characteristics from both parents. Her very inhuman humans, who want her to become more self-sufficient, decide to kick her out so she can hopefully learn some independence. This starts her journey as an independent person, which leads to her living with two even weirder roommates: an introverted cat monster and a super dramatic god who seriously lacks social awareness.