I didn’t think I’d become so emotionally invested in a tale that spans decades, but this drama completely took me by surprise. So when I’ve been tuning into new episodes on Netflix, my experience of it has turned into that of a daily ritual; watching and laughing, watching and crying, rewinding just to watch the same scenes all over again and feel all those feelings.
From its nostalgic childhood beginnings to its tear-jerking grown-up reunions, it’s practically impossible not to fall in love with these friends who came of age alongside mountains, hijinks, and unwavering loyalty. If you’ve been looking for Cdramas like Our Generation (樱桃琥珀), you will have noticed that its magic lies in the way it gently depicts the youth time, the lengthy period of friendship and the agony of discovering how to grow up, move apart, reunite and fall in love all over again.
Adapted from a novel by Yun Zhu, Ying Tao Hu Po, this tale traces the journey of Lin Ying Tao (Cherry) played by Zhao Jin Mai and her friends, from lowly childhood construction site schooling to high provincial high school competition, and on. It’s not only her affair with Jiang Qiao Xi played by Zhang Ling He; it’s the love of family, the pain of separation and the inner strength that still holds people together even when time has torn them apart. Every phase of life, childhood, teenage years and early adulthood, is handled with candour and affection, but the series also makes some more profound points, including toxic parenting, sacrificing for one’s own feelings and seeking independence.
One of the most astonishing aspects to me is really how relatable it feels. I didn’t grow up in Qunshan and go to an experimental school, but the characters’ lives ring so many of our own lives: All-nighters spent studying, unrequited crushes, grand ambitions and the quiet buildup of dishevelment. It’s a gorgeous, calming tale that understands how messy and sensitive and changing our early years are. If this sounds like something that would appeal to you, here are five other C-dramas similar to Our Generation whose emotional beats take a similar trajectory.
Coming-of-Age Cdramas Like Our Generation
Northward
Northward, adaptation of the book “Bei Shang” by Xu Ze Chen, follows the lifelong path of childhood friends who grow up together with the life of the legendary Grand Canal. From their idyllic childhood and mischievous goings-on on Flower Street, to the trials that batter their adult years, this drama follows the ebb and flow of time. The Jiangnan children, such as the Qunshan gang, enjoy an intimacy that comes through in a close-knit community, with laughter, shared worries and naive aspirations. And as they go their various ways and struggle to Beijing, the stress between their lost dreams and the indelible realities of urban existence gives the story its heartbreaking emotional impact.
What I enjoyed most about this drama is its place and people. Bai Lu and Ou Hao deliver grounded performances that pull you into the characters’ inner struggles. The early arcs are particularly robust, with their twentysomething naivety brought to it by a softness of realism that left me slightly wistful. Although the later storylines deviate into professional competition and life choices, the emotional centre remains the same. If you are looking for a Chinese drama such as Our Generation that delivers on ambition, sacrifice, and what the cost is of dreaming for your future, Northward is a great option.
Our Secret
Our Secret itself serves up a high school romance that provides just the right amount of sweetness to the almost suffocating pressure-cooker that is school. The story follows Zhou Si Yue, a rebellious top student, and the gentle and persistent girl Ding Xian, who piques his interest. The drama segues elegantly into their college years, portraying the hormonally and existentially shaky period of adolescence. It strikes many of the same emotional notes — muted adoration, lost chances, fallout from parental expectations.
The reason I’m recommending this series is very simple: it feels true. The leads have undeniable chemistry, but what lingered with me was how much they respected one another and how much they matured emotionally as the series went on. Their love isn’t just a product of them as a whole, written in the stars, so to speak, but a series of moments where they support each other to become the best versions that they can be. In fact, for school-based Chinese drama fans, astute introspective characters and coming-of-age storytelling, then this one’s worth watching.
Also Read: 6 Cdramas like The Prisoner of Beauty That Nailed the Enemies-to-Lovers Trope
Lovely Us
Lovely Us is a delightfully understated coming-of-age tale rooted in 2007. It follows a pack of five friends as they go through their last year of high school together. These women are brought together by years of combined history and neighbourhood connection, as the mountain town friendships we’ve grown to adore as viewers of the drama. It’s far more a friends’ tale than that of lovers; a tale of leaving on graduation day, of the sting of new beginnings.
Honestly, I believe the most what I enjoy about the show is its heart and simplicity. There’s no idealising of youth, but a realistic portrait of its joys and fears. If you were most attuned to the more reserved, introspective aspects of Our Generation (the childhood and high school trajectories of it, particularly), you’ll likely enjoy the earthy point of view of Lovely Us. It’s a sweet little gem of a book with relatable characters and an assurance that, in a few instances, the very best kinds of friendships can survive any amount of distance.
Exclusive Fairytale
Exclusive Fairytale is about a childhood sweet romance that follows the story of Ling Chao and Xiao Tu, who essentially grow up together like a sibling pair because of family ties. The drama combines school life with emotional discovery, showcasing how their relationship develops through shared past and individual adversity. The family dynamic, under-the-radar romance and school setting all reflect the factors integral to Qunshan’s journey.
The lack of melodrama is what makes this series sparkle. There is no artificial drama or cheap plot twist — just two people gradually discovering how much they care for each other. Zhang Miao Yi and Jun have an authentic, tender chemistry, and the story is one full of heart. If you’re wanting more Chinese drama like Our Generation, which doesn’t rush its romance and tells a cosy slice-of-life story, Exclusive Fairytale is a cute pick.
A Love So Beautiful
A Love So Beautiful is one of the cutest youth romances. It is about neighbours, classmates and an improbable couple, Chen Xiao Xi and Jiang Chen, who eventually find their way to each other. It’s lighter in tone, but it has the same long-courtship romance, the same high school nostalgia and the same delayed adulthood that makes the story we’ve been watching.
I’m suggesting this not just for the swoony chemistry, or for those über-icon umbrella moments, but because it so perfectly encapsulates what it means to grow up alongside someone you love, and how your backstories become folded into the creases of your grown-up lives just so. But adulthood encompasses school life and early careers and all the chaos in between, just as the show does for Lin Ying Tao and Jiang Qiao Xi. If what you’re looking for is a drama that feels reassuring and familiar (but not cloying or too precious) and is still emotionally satisfying, this is it. The charm and warmth will remain long after the last episode.
These shows make a case that nostalgia, coming-of-age tales and lifelong friendships are timeless. Regardless of whether it comes on an idle canal or in a busy classroom, the stories of young people becoming themselves always have their own brand of magic. If you’re hungry for more dramas like Our Generation, each of these picks will offer you a touching experience you won’t soon forget.
Also Read: 4 C-Dramas Based on Zhu Yi’s Novels That Hook You with Their Characters!
