Asian dramas like
Lost In 1949

In 1913, Yuan Shi Kai assumed the role of temporary president and collaborated with foreign countries to betray the nation. Four individuals - Feng Yi, a covert operative dedicated to his homeland, Liu Yi Kui, a passionate nationalist, Hua Er, a destitute girl longing for basic necessities, and Xiao Xue, an aspiring singer - all become entangled in the clandestine plot to betray their country. Xiao Xue harbors feelings of affection and admiration for Liu Yi Kui, who, in turn, develops feelings for the courageous Hua Er. However, Hua Er's heart belongs to Feng Yi, who had shown her kindness in her time of need. As they face a treacherous conspiracy and the destiny of their nation, their youthful relationships become increasingly complex, and their bond must withstand numerous challenges until they ultimately emerge as unsung heroes of the nation. During that era, a group of individuals emerged who, though not connected by blood or friendship, were willing to make great sacrifices that have shaped our present reality.

In 1929, the son of Liao Sheng Hui, the head of the police department in Tianjin, was unknowingly drawn into a complex scheme orchestrated by an unknown individual. This scheme led him to uncover the secrets surrounding a fire at the Shengnan Orphanage 14 years prior, a collection of mysterious Dunhuang cultural relics, a shocking series of poisonings that rattled the city, and the involvement of various factions such as the Communist Party, the Kuomintang, the Japanese, and the Beiyang warlords. Liao Sheng Hui faced numerous challenges as he delved into the puzzle, including formidable adversaries like the meticulous KMT special agent Zeng Jia Yang and the skilled Japanese ninja Ikuko. As the mysteries unraveled, the true motives of the Japanese and the Kuomintang were revealed, leading Liao Sheng Hui to a painful realization that he, Zeng Jia Yang, and Yu Zi were all connected to the orphanage. Despite their different allegiances, the three banded together to confront their common enemies, only to be defeated. When the anti-Japanese war erupted in 1937, the three comrades, now staunch communist fighters, reunited on the battlefield to fight against the common foe.

The series revolves around the challenges faced by the main character as she is compelled into a marriage with a high-ranking official of the Kuomintang, also known as the National party.

Led by Sui Jun Bo, the operatives endured intense and harsh training on a remote island to prepare for their mission against Japanese forces. Each member of the team had a unique and challenging background, ranging from harsh and unforgiving to brave and daring. With the guidance of their instructor, they successfully carried out one perilous mission after another.

Gu Han Sen, a prominent figure in Shanghai, took in two sons during the early years of the Republic of China - Liao Si Cheng and Fang Tian Yi. The two adopted sons, along with Gu Han Sen's daughter Ting Gu, grew up together like true siblings. Fang Tian Yi, a kind and honest young man, valued their sibling bond above all else. Despite his unrequited love for Ting Gu, he kept his feelings hidden after learning of her feelings for Liao Si Cheng. The trio bravely fought against the Japanese invasion and played a crucial role in the War of Liberation. Gu Han Sen, aware of his daughter's feelings for Liao Si Cheng, attempted to arrange their marriage, but Liao Si Cheng prioritized his duties over personal matters. He joined the BIS, with Ting Gu and Fang Tian Yi following suit. Years later, they were unknowingly involved in a conspiracy while intercepting Qing treasures as part of a team led by Liao Si Cheng.

In 1937, the Japanese imperialists initiated a violent war against China, putting the Chinese nation in a crucial phase. Xu Tian, a color-blind accountant in Shanghai with military training, chose to stay close to his mother following his father's passing. After encountering a group of patriots connected to his late father, he was inspired by their patriotic fervor. Utilizing his keen intellect, he aided the patriots in transporting crucial materials, attracting the attention of the Japanese occupying forces in the city. Amidst these events, he formed bonds with Jin, a former conman now businessman, and Tielin, a police officer in the Shanghai French Concession. Simultaneously, pharmacist Tian Dan sought refuge in Xu's home after losing her parents in a situation he was deeply involved in. Against the backdrop of the national crisis, individuals navigated their interconnected lives driven by motives of revenge, duty, self-interest, or ideology.

The play depicts the experiences of three individuals during a challenging period in history. Diverse characters navigate through a tumultuous time, facing both positive and negative circumstances while resisting Japanese influence.

The tale revolves around the 48th inheritor of the Yang Warriors martial arts technique, who battles monsters and enhances his abilities to emerge as a genuine hero. Yang Xiao Lang has never been fond of mastering martial arts. Disappointed by his lack of drive, his grandmother sends him to live with his uncle Liu Guo, who manages the Zhonghua restaurant in Jiangcheng. In this unfamiliar town, Yang Xiao Lang becomes entangled with the police, the Qinglong Clan, and foreigners. In order to defend Xiao Fan, the woman he loves, Yang Xiao Lang must rise to the occasion, relying on his intelligence to combat injustices and bring glory to his family.

A group of passionate young individuals come together to establish a detective agency with a mission to uncover the truth. Known as the Young Blood Agency, this investigative team operates during the Republican era and is committed to unraveling enigmatic cases. Despite gaining a positive reputation for their successful investigations, the mysteries they encounter are intertwined with unresolved conflicts from the past. As the four members of the agency delve deeper into their cases, they come to realize the complex ties that bind them together.

A romantic thriller unfolding in the chaotic era of Shanghai. (DramaWiki)

The story revolves around the foreign community in Shanghai in 1932. It follows a Spy Agent known as Athena, who must balance national warfare and personal family struggles. Liu Li Zi, also known as Goddess of Revenge, appears to be a popular beauty at the Bailemen entertainment house, but she is actually a female spy embedded among Japanese officials seeking revenge for her family. (Michelle Ye's Realm - RM1314)

The story takes place in historic Shanghai during the 1920s. After completing her education overseas, a young woman returns to China and becomes immersed in the societal changes happening around her. She crosses paths with a wealthy businessman from Shanghai and they develop romantic feelings for each other. The woman is a talented opera performer, but their love faces obstacles when various antagonists try to sabotage their relationship.

Wealthy entrepreneur Bai Yi Ming took his soon-to-be wife, A Bu, to his stunning Rose Manor. A Bu experienced a series of strange occurrences and nightmares during their stay. Seeking answers, she turned to her fiance. Bai Yi Ming had a brief affair with a woman named Hu Yin Yin, promising to marry her before disappearing without a trace. Learning of her pregnancy, Hu Yin Yin traveled to Shanghai in search of Bai Yi Ming. Fate had other plans for her, as she was eventually taken care of and loved by musician Tao Da Wei. While Bai Yi Ming was involved with other women, Tao Da Wei and Hu Yin Yin faced many challenges together. They welcomed a set of twins, and Tao Da Wei discovered Hu Yin Yin's beautiful singing voice. Tragically, Hu Yin Yin was disfigured in a terrible accident, leading her to wear a mask. Their paths crossed again when Hu Yin Yin, now known as Hu Die, encountered Bai Yi Ming once more. Despite their shared history, Bai Yi Ming pursued Hu Die. However, their story did not have a happy ending, as it was eventually revealed that Hu Die had passed away.

Yang Mu Chu and Yang Mu Ci, twin brothers who were separated as children, experienced contrasting upbringings in the tumultuous 1930s Shanghai. Despite facing initial misunderstandings and various challenges, the brothers eventually unite to uncover and thwart a perilous plot orchestrated by the Japanese military.

Amidst numerous challenges posed by U.S. and Jiang spy operatives, Police Officer Pang Hong Mei successfully rescued Ji Danyang, a patriotic scientist recently returned from the United States, from an enemy spy. Together, they traveled to Lumen City to take part in the "Water Drop Project." Enemy special forces devised a sabotage mission called "Operation Rock," mobilized their troops, and attempted to dismantle the "Water Drop Project." Pang Hong Mei and Ji Dan Yang engaged in a fierce battle with enemy agents in Lumen, thwarted their scheme, safeguarded the "Water Drop Project," and ultimately achieved the desired outcome. The pair, who endured a life-threatening ordeal, also fulfilled their aspirations and unwavering beliefs.

Gu Zhan Bei reunites with his former lover Jiang Ling Long, who has assumed a new identity and established the Jiangbei Detective Agency. Opting to rejoin her agency, Gu Zhan Bei and Jiang Ling Long team up to rekindle their bond and tackle cases together.

Tao Zhen Yan, a trainee forensic doctor in the Republic of China, crossed paths with private detective Gu Nan Chuan during an investigation into a murder. Their destinies intertwined as they encountered the notorious stamp demon serial killer, leading them to collaborate in unraveling perplexing cases. (SubbingPaws on Ko-Fi)

Lu Yan is on a quest for retribution for his parents, but encounters continuous obstacles from Mu Lan. As their journeys intertwine, he realizes she is his long-lost love from childhood. With no choice but to collaborate, they expose the mysteries surrounding the elusive figure known as "Lu Chang He", who has been outsmarting them at every turn.

Taking place during the Republican era, rural girl Wan Xin was offered to the frail Wu Hui Xiang as a servant to protect against misfortune. Despite her humble position, Wan Xin manages to impress the matriarch with her wit and assists in safeguarding the Wu family from their power-hungry sons and relatives.

Ning Zhi Bai, an outstanding pharmacy student returning from abroad, unexpectedly rescues the young warlord Duan Yan Ze on a train, unaware that they had crossed paths in childhood. Recognizing her as the daughter of the Ning family who has lingered in his memory, Duan Yan Ze pressures her into marriage by threatening the safety of her family. What starts as animosity gradually evolves into affection. After facing her foster sister’s plots, her former fiancé's abduction, and even taking a bullet to protect him, the two eventually come to terms with their profound feelings for one another amidst the turmoil of war.

During their childhood, Huai Yu, Zhi Gao, and Dan Dan made a pact to be as close as siblings and visited a mysterious old eunuch for fortune-telling using divination sticks. However, the sticks were accidentally shuffled by the eunuch's cat before they could be interpreted. One stick mentioned preferring death over birth, another suggested life was better than death, and the third talked about dying and being reborn. The meaning behind these messages remains a mystery.

Qin Yue Xiang, a former housekeeper, unintentionally causes the death of her husband who was a builder while trying to protect her 9-year-old daughter Sang Cai Qing from being forced into marriage with an elderly man. Facing punishment by the local official Xiao Ru Zhang, Yue Xiang arranges for Cai Qing to seek safety with her biological father, wealthy businessman Chen Yuan. However, Chen's envious wife, Yu Ru, forces Cai Qing to work as a servant in their mansion. As Cai Qing grows older, she becomes entangled in a series of romantic entanglements.

The tale chronicles the events of the 20th century, depicting the struggles of the people amidst natural disasters and ongoing chaos. Hidden motives emerge, taking advantage of the turmoil for nefarious purposes. Small Lang Yang Yi, possessing the spirit of a dragon, becomes entangled in a treacherous battle in Shanghai due to a plague incident, where he encounters the Mayor Mo Xiaoyu and falls in love. Unbeknownst to many, Yang Yi also harbors a dark side, driven by a delusional quest for "longevity" that leads him to spread the plague artificially, profit from medicinal herb production, and orchestrate political assassinations and wars. His ultimate goal is to unleash the "six scourges" through blood sacrifices in order to ensure his own survival.

In the aftermath of World War II in Shanghai in 1945, Tang Teng, a fighter pilot, and Shen Ying, a Qi Pao saleswoman, fell in love. Despite facing consequences such as being court-martialed for desertion, Tang Teng was determined to be with Shen Ying. He was ultimately saved from a death sentence by family friend Ji Wen, who helped him escape to Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Shen Ying, believing Tang Teng to be dead, agreed to marry another man for financial support. However, upon learning that Tang Teng was alive in Hong Kong from expert tailor Lu Xiao Mao, she broke off the engagement and traveled to Hong Kong. Instead of a joyful reunion, Shen Ying discovered that Tang Teng had married Ji Wen.

During the 1930s, Wisely comes back to China after studying abroad and establishes a detective firm in Shanghai to look into supernatural incidents. He crosses paths with a physician named Pak So, with whom he develops a romantic relationship. However, they face numerous challenges and obstacles that put their love to the test before they eventually end up together. The series consists of eight separate tales, following Wisely and his team as they embark on investigations to solve each mystery.

The setting of the story is in the early years of the Minguo period, shortly after 1912. Jun Qi Luo, who comes from the affluent and prominent Jun family of Ji Shi Villa, has always lived a life of privilege. She was raised alongside Shen Si Ru, an orphan taken in by the Jun family. Despite appearing meek and compliant, Si Ru harbors a deep-seated jealousy towards Qi Luo. Both girls develop feelings for the same man, Mu Sheng, who only reciprocates Qi Luo's love. Qi Luo and Mu Sheng decide to part ways temporarily so that Mu Sheng can pursue his aspirations, with plans to reunite and marry once he has achieved success. During Mu Sheng's absence, Si Ru schemes and sets off a series of events that alters the course of everyone's lives. There are two options to watch the series: either 20 episodes lasting 70 minutes each or 30 episodes lasting 45 minutes each.

Extremely Urgent is set in the aftermath of the downfall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. With the weak warlord government in power, thieves are targeting the nation's treasures, many of which are now in the hands of the public. He Cai is determined to safeguard a valuable treasure map that could lead to the 64 volumes of the Yongle Encyclopedia. To do this, he establishes a group called Dancing Sand to protect the treasures. Unexpectedly, he crosses paths with Chen Mo, a Chinese boxing expert who was raised in America and has returned to Shanghai in search of a valuable artifact. Chen Mo lost her biological father at a young age and was taken in by an American named Henry, who trained her in the art of treasure hunting. Despite starting off on opposing sides, He Cai and Chen Mo find themselves drawn to each other and eventually fall in love.

Concerned about her husband leaving her because she hasn't borne a son, Mrs. Wu decides to pass off her tenth daughter as a son named Wu Shi Lang. Shi Lang is encouraged to excel in martial arts competitions to please her father. Complications arise when she falls for her childhood friend, Li Ya Shou, who is set on marrying into wealth. In order to prevent Ya Shou from marrying Lei Xiao Yu, a wealthy woman, Shi Lang defeats him in a martial arts contest. Impressed, Xiao Yu insists on marrying Shi Lang. Things get more complicated when Xiao Yu's brother, Lei Sheng Da, falls for Shi Lang while she is disguised as a man. Feeling overwhelmed, Shi Lang flees the town after revealing her true gender. Sheng Da pursues her to the new town. Despite growing closer to Ya Shou, Shi Lang begins to develop feelings for Sheng Da due to his persistence.

The story takes place in the idealized chaos of China in the early 1900s, where patriotic rebels and deceitful spies clash in a risky battle for control of the republic. Gao Tian Wei, a brave revolutionary, experiences amnesia following a violent altercation. Without knowledge of who he is, he is unknowingly drawn into a plot and transforms into a spy for the Japanese. What will occur when his memory is eventually restored?

Taking place in the Republican era, Cheng Ci Hang is a respected law enforcement officer known for his unwavering dedication to justice. However, his life takes a twist when he becomes entangled in a series of mysterious murder investigations and embarks on a tumultuous romantic journey with a woman.

Taking place in the Republican era, the narrative follows a young woman named Du Chun Xiao who possesses a unique talent for solving mysteries using tarot cards. Despite her lack of interest in Mr. Huang's son Mo Ru, she agrees to live with the Huang family in Jiangnan. As Chun Xiao faces dangerous situations, she forms a deep bond with Huang Mu Yun and uncovers secrets about her own identity and the Huang family's troubled history.

During the spring of 1931, The Communist Party expanded their network by establishing communication stations in China. They then turned their attention to Western Europe and dispatched two agents, known as "Asthray" and "Porcelain", to Paris. This led to the unveiling of a series of clandestine agreements, deceitful acts, mysterious deaths, illicit romances, and alliances between military personnel and members of a notable family.

The narrative follows the tale of the heartless murderer Jiang Li, who established herself in Shanghai incognito to seek revenge for her family over an extended period. She tied the knot with Shen Shi You, who owned a trading enterprise. Their relationship blossomed harmoniously, deepening their affection, but they inadvertently found themselves entangled in a web of deceit and plots... As tensions rise, their love turns into enmity. They are portrayed as both the most affectionate couple and the fiercest adversaries. Locked in a fierce rivalry, they find themselves falling in love while also trying to eliminate each other.

Set during the Enlightenment period of 19th-century Joseon, this story features a protagonist who is the offspring of the kingdom's most renowned swordsman. Following the loss of his father and the sale of his younger sister into slavery, he exchanges his sword for a firearm as he sets out on a quest for vengeance. Throughout this journey, the drama aims to illustrate the struggles and bravery of the youth from that time.

During the year 1941 in Shanghai, a man caught the attention of the Japanese for resembling a suspected BIS spy. He was drawn into the perilous world of espionage but under the guidance of another individual, he comes to understand his duties as a loyal citizen and devotes himself to resisting the occupation forces. Chen Shan survives by trading intelligence on the streets. Mistaken for BIS agent Xiao Zheng Guo, Chen Shan's sister Chen Xia is abducted by Japanese spy leader Huang Mu Wei in order to manipulate him into cooperating. To rescue his sister, Chen Shan undergoes rigorous training and proves to be an outstanding spy. Assuming the identity of Xiao Zheng Guo, he infiltrates the BIS headquarters in Chongqing and embarks on a dangerous mission where a single mistake could be fatal. Despite never intending to betray his homeland, as a Chinese national, Chen Shan encounters Zhang Li, a woman with strong convictions, and gradually transforms into someone willing to sacrifice everything, even his own life, for the greater good of his country.

During the early 1900s in China, Xiao Yue Gui, a young girl from the countryside, moves to Shanghai to avoid starvation. By rescuing Yu Qi Yang, a member of the Pujiang Association, the most powerful gang in Shanghai, she gains access to the leaders of the organization. This leads her to start working at their brothel, which alters the course of her life. Xiao Yue Gui is now on a journey to become the next "King of Shanghai," following in the footsteps of three previous generations, as depicted in Hong Ying's novel.

Due to financial difficulties, Wen Yu He's father agreed to have her marry into the Gu family as the wife of Madam Gu's third son. With Madam Gu's first son missing and her second son deceased, all hope was placed on Yu He and her remaining brother-in-law. The third son, Shao Tang, is known for his reckless behavior, spending time in brothels and gambling away his money. Madam Gu believed that Yu He could positively influence her son. Yun Kai, a school teacher, disguised himself as a groundskeeper to work in the Gu household, assisting with accounting and the family's lantern business. Despite facing mistreatment from her older sister-in-law, Yu He remains devoted to Shao Tang. As tensions rise and hidden agendas come to light, the Gu family's secrets begin to unravel, revealing a web of deceit and betrayal.

In the 1930s, the setting for this tale is in the southern region of Fujian

The plot revolves around Bai Wen Huan, who is the head of the Northern Shaanxi Brothers Association

Shen Xin Ci escapes from her dangerous fiance, Liang Yong Chang, after discovering the truth. Along the way, she encounters Zhao Shi Jun, who shows compassion by giving her money to settle her father's medical bills. Following her father's passing, Xin Ci resolves to find Shi Jun and repay his kindness, regardless of the request. To resolve conflicts between Shahe Town and Wan Jia Village and secure the water supply, Zhao Shi Jun is compelled to marry Mayor Wan's daughter, Wan Qiu Ling. On their journey to Qiu Ling's new home, she falls ill due to a lifelong condition but is saved by a mysterious doctor, Liang Yong Chang. He offers a cure for her illness but warns that she will be unable to conceive in the future. Determined to continue her family line, Qiu Ling follows Yong Chang's advice and switches places with another girl to ensure pregnancy. Unbeknownst to Yong Chang, the other girl happens to be his former fiance, Shen Xin Ci. Now, Yong Chang seeks revenge on Zhao Shi Jun and anyone else in his path.