From gentle, ethereal beauty to regal elegance and commanding presence, the following 10 actresses have helped create some of the most iconic characters in hit Chinese costume dramas.
In recent years, Chinese television has seen the rise of a new generation of costumed stage beauties, whose stunning on-screen appearances have captivated audiences. Recently, a Weibo poll ranking the “10 Most Beautiful Chinese Costume Drama Actresses” attracted a lot of attention but also sparked intense debate. While many were surprised to see Dilraba Dilmurat ranked below Yang Zi, the biggest controversy centers on Bai Lu’s first place finish, which received strong criticism from many netizens.
10. Liu Shishi – A journey towards love
A Journey to Love is one of Liu Shishi’s most notable costume dramas in recent years and has attracted considerable interest from audiences. He plays Ren Ruyi, a cold-blooded assassin who was once the most outstanding leftist envoy of the An Kingdom’s intelligence agency.
The character is both beautiful and powerful, bringing with him a captivating sense of loneliness. Liu Shishi’s costumes mainly feature shades of red. Her everyday clothes embody the practical style of a martial artist, while in the first few episodes she also appears as a seductive dancer. Regardless of the look, the actress exudes classic oriental beauty.
9. Chen Duling – Veil of Shadows
Chen Duling is widely considered one of the most beautiful costume drama actresses today thanks to her elegant and classic appearance. After gaining attention with her role as a vengeful heroine in Ashes to Crown, she continued to impress in Veil of Shadows.
In the drama, Chen Duling plays Wu Wangyan, Lu Wuyi’s older sister and a member of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan. Her character is cold, seductive, manipulative and very intelligent. Combined with Chen Duling’s ethereal beauty and director Guo Jingming’s signature visual style, her appearance on the screen became even more stunning. After the release of Veil of Shadows and Ashes to Crown, many viewers fell in love with his images.
8. Song Zu’er – The Prisoner of Beauty
From the moment it premiered, The Prisoner of Beauty left audiences amazed by Song Zu’er’s beauty. The highly anticipated period drama did not disappoint when it came to styling and costumes.
Inspired by the Three Kingdoms era, the drama tells the love story of a heroic ruler and extraordinary beauty in turbulent times. The costumes are designed around the clothing of that period, creating a distinctive visual identity. Song Zu’er is already considered one of the leading post-95 costume film actresses, and her elegant war-era outfits make it almost impossible to take your eyes off her. The drama’s style is praised for being sophisticated, luxurious, and authentically classic rather than overly flashy.
7. Tian Xiwei – In search of jade
Tian Xiwei is in seventh place with The Search for Jade. He plays Fan Changyu, a highly trained martial artist born into the family of a butcher. The character is strong-willed, resilient, and naturally powerful.
Due to the character’s background, the style focuses more on simplicity than glamour. In the early stages, he mostly wears rough clothing before later appearing in armor. However, the production paid close attention to every detail. The costume fabrics were carefully designed to look realistic and suited to her social status, while her braided hairstyles added charm and softened the character’s rugged image.
6. Meng Ziyi – Flower
The success of Blossom helped establish Meng Ziyi as one of the leading actresses of the new generation, while also allowing her to leave a lasting impression as Dou Zhao, an intelligent and determined noblewoman grappling with power struggles.
In the drama, the actress captivates viewers with an image of a “strong female protagonist” who balances elegance and strength. Her high court style hairstyles, adorned with pearl hairpins and intricate ornaments, enhance her noble appearance. Combined with her fair complexion, clear yet determined eyes and deep red lips, she perfectly embodies a gentle yet resilient classic beauty.
5. Gulnezer Bekhtiyar – Glory
Although producer Yu Zheng has often been criticized for his aesthetic choices in the past, his visual style has earned more and more praise in recent years, especially after Story of Yanxi Palace. Glory is a great example.
The drama centers on family rivalries within the tea industry. Her costumes are inspired by Ming Dynasty clothing and incorporate tea-related elements such as tea leaf embroidery and tea-inspired color palettes. The overall style is graceful, refined and visually appealing.
Surprisingly, despite his clearly Western-influenced features, Gülnezer Bextiyar fits exceptionally well into Ming dynasty fashion. Each of her looks in the drama exudes an eye-catching classic charm.
4. Dilraba Dilmurat – Love beyond the grave
Dilraba Dilmurat left a strong impression with her appearance in Love Beyond the Grave. She plays He Simu, a ghost queen who has lived for over 400 years but lacks the five senses possessed by ordinary humans.
To emphasize the supernatural nature of the character, the production team created a mystical visual style inspired by the East. Her costumes are luxurious and mysterious and perfectly match Dilraba’s stunning beauty. The drama also received praise for incorporating traditional cultural elements into the costume design, including lotus flowers, vines, honeysuckle motifs, and Dunhuang-inspired motifs.
3. Ju Jingyi – Veil of Shadows
Although the drama received mixed reactions regarding its plot, Veil of Shadows earned widespread praise for its visuals. Ju Jingyi and Chen Duling play the twin sisters of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan.
Thanks to the fantasy setting, Ju Jingyi’s style looks seductive and refreshingly different from her previous looks. Under the direction of Guo Jingming, the drama is full of visually stunning costumes. From dark green robes adorned with scale detailing to desert-inspired dresses paired with ethnic silver jewelry, each look resembles a work of art.
2. Yang Zi – Flowering Peony
In recent years, Yang Zi has continuously impressed audiences with costume dramas such as Flourished Peony and The Heir. Among them, Flourished Peony has received the most praise for its style.
Set during the Tang Dynasty, the drama features exceptionally detailed costumes and makeup. The hairstyles were recreated based on historical sculptures and murals of the time, creating a sense of authenticity and artistic value. The elegant costumes enhance Yang Zi’s beauty while perfectly capturing the charm of classical oriental aesthetics.
1. Bai Lu – The first jasmine
At the top of the list is Bai Lu with her appearance in The First Jasmine. The drama is notable for its minimalist costume design, featuring muted color palettes, understated accessories, and an emphasis on highlighting classical beauty.
However, Bai Lu’s first place placement generated considerable controversy. Many netizens argue that although her style in The First Jasmine is beautiful, it is not necessarily superior to competitors such as Gülnezer Bextiyar in Glory, Dilraba Dilmurat in Love beyond the Grave or Chen Duling in Veil of Shadows.
Some believe the ranking may reflect Bai Lu’s popularity rather than a clear visual advantage. Additionally, the actress has often been at the center of online discussions due to personal rumors, relationship speculation, and career-related controversies. As a result, its first place has attracted criticism from viewers who believe that the result is not entirely convincing.
Sources: K14
