Jian Lai

Collection of all Cultivation Donghua (only the first season entry)

Cultivation is a reoccuring theme which can be found in Xianxia/Xuanhuan, the extent varies

Donghua is the term used to refer to animation produced in China, encompassing all animated works but specifically referring to Chinese animation. Donghua adapts manhua comics and is often associated with 3D CG animation, although it can also use more standard anime-style animation.

All entries are based on popularity, views (audience), rating, quality, and my opinion. Donghua in this interest stack are considered above-average or top-tier, animation and/or story-wise. Entries higher up are generally (not definitively) better based on the criteria above.

Some donghua on this list have not been watched by me but are generally well received.

I have generally excluded donghua with low-quality graphics (budget), but I would like to mention that they are by no means bad. 

Check out my other list ([SSS] 2D donghua) for more recommendations. Visit my profile for more.

Highly recommend checking some of these donghuas' novels and dramas.


Additional donghua recommendations:
1. The Rich God
2. God of ten thousand realms
3. Wushen Zhuhai
4. Ling Jian Zun
5. Wu Shang Shen Di
6. My Heroic Husband
7. Wo Shi Da Shenxian
8. Xingchen bian

Movie recommendations:
1. Bai She: Yuan Qi
2. Nezha Zhi Mo Tong Jiang Shi
3. New Gods: Nezha Reborn

Best of the best (ongoing). I mostly watch wuxia/xianxia or historical shows so will be biased towards those genres.

To be frank, the bar in terms of good writing for donghua is very low, because most of the novels that have good writing are adapted for the much more profitable live-action drama industry. The target age demographic for donghua is also generally younger, which unfortunately often means simpler plots and pacing issues.

Even though I casually enjoy some "slop," this list only consists of titles that would be on par with the much more mature JP animation industry standards of character & plot writing, visuals, etc. I consider writing quality as slightly more important than visuals, so shows that have subpar animation but excellent writing will still make it onto this list.