Best movies & TV Shows like Challenges at Midlife

Marshal Zhang Xueliang, Commander of the North Eastern Army, grows progressively disillusioned by Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek's policy to engage the Chinese Communist Party rather than fight the Japanese invaders which are occupying Manchuria. Despite numerous pleas, Chiang does not budge. After discussing with fellow general Yang Hucheng, the two take events into their own hands and place Chiang Kai-shek under arrest on December 12, 1936, forcing Chiang into a coalition with the CCP.

Pan Xiao, a young lawyer, goes to a rural small village settled in the western desert lands of China to handle the case of a falcon poacher who has ran over a policeman. Pan wins the case through sophisticated reasoning and forces the poacher to give him his car as a reward. Then, he just drives back home, but the return will not be an easy one.

Korean War, winter 1950. In the frozen and snowy area of Changjin Lake, a bloody battle is about to begin between the elite troops of the United States and China.

The Tang emperor is betrayed by one of his generals, who installs himself as emperor in the East Capital. The son of one of his slave workers escapes to the Shaolin Temple, learns kung fu, and sets out to kill the traitor who killed his father.

Filmmaker Ning Ying returns to her favorite theme – the gradual decay of traditional Chinese values and culture at the dawn of the 21st century – in this low-key drama. Desi (Yu Lei) is a cab driver who has recently broken up with his wife. Lonely, Desi is searching for a new love, and as he drifts through Beijing in search of fares and a girlfriend, he sees a city that is increasingly bending to the influence of the West, with traditional pastimes and customs forced to make way for the onslaught of the free-market economy. Xia Ri Nuan Yangyang has been screened on the international film festival circuit in two different versions; the cut shown at the 2001 Rotterdam Film Festival ran 99 minutes, while the film was only 79 minutes when it appeared at the Berlin Film Festival that same year.

A drug cartel boss is arrested in a raid and coerced into betraying his former accomplices as part of an undercover operation.

In 1905, revolutionist Sun Yat-Sen visits Hong Kong to discuss plans with Tongmenghui members to overthrow the Qing dynasty. But when they find out that assassins have been sent to kill him, they assemble a group of protectors to prevent any attacks.

A cataclysmic event causes a man, who dreams of winning the lottery, to become stranded on an island with his co-workers.

Anthology of short films directed by several different directors.

Produced by Crazy Racer director Ning Hao, Lethal Hostage revolves around a drug dealer who falls in love with his hostage and decides to quit the business following one final deal.

Set in the Xinhai Revolution era, the story tells of Liu An Shun, a promising escort master in a reputable armed escort business owned by his teacher. He is poised to take over the business from his teacher and marry his daughter. However, his uncompromising follow-the-rules attitude leads him into a series of incidents that causes him to be disgraced. To redeem himself, he moves to Beijing to establish an escort business branch and to prove himself worthy. While there, he faces other escort masters reluctant to accept his presence in their city and befriends a female bandit.

What is it that makes a man fall in love with a woman at first sight? Appearance? Aura? Wealth? NO, when campus prince and gaming expert, student Xiao Nai first saw Bei Wei Wei, what made him fall in love was not her extraordinary beauty, but her slim and slender fingers that were flying across the keyboard and her calm and composed manner!!! Embarrassing, no? At the same time, gaming expert Bei Wei Wei, at this time and place is on the computer, methodically commanding a guild war, and won a perfect and glorious victory despite being at a disadvantage, and was completely unaware that cupid is nearby. Soon after basketball player, swimmer, all-around excellent student, and game company president, Xiao Nai, uses both tactics on and off-line to take this beauty’s heart. Therefore this romance slowly bloomed.

Bai Xin Xin is a first-year medical intern who crosses paths with Shen Yi Zhen, a man from a wealthy family. When Xin Xin is roped into becoming the personal attending physician for Yi Zhen, she doesn’t understand what she signed up for until it’s too late. As Yi Zhen’s seven different personalities begin to emerge, so too do dark secrets from his cruel family history. Can Xin Xin help the many faces of Yi Zhen recover from his painful past?

Guan Pi Pi lives a quiet life until a mysterious man named Helan Jing Ting appears. Jing Ting is blind when he’s under the sunlight, but has an excellent vision at night. Furthermore, he’s a vegetarian. He’s an expert when it comes to ancient jade and he always stares at the moon while listening to a serenade at night. At first, it seems like Pi Pi and Jing Ting met each other by coincidence, but they’re actually tied together by fate. However, Jing Ting’s father pronounced a curse on them: Pi Pi always dies a terrible death when she wants to reciprocate Jing Ting’s love. Jing Ting isn’t willing to give up though. Will he be able to change their fate in this life?

When Si Tu Feng decides to go back to school, he becomes the center of attention as fans, classmates and the media follow his every move. He meets Chen Qing Qing, an ordinary student with a dual personality.

Ph.D. candidate in Physics Mu Cheng He catches a third-year student in English Xue Tong cheating on an exam. When he even becomes the substitute teacher in her elective course Russian and makes her study with him after classes, her hatred for him only grows. Over time, however, Xue Tong discovers Teacher Mu’s true character and comes to secretly love him.

Story about a pair of lovers from high school that span across their union, separation, misunderstanding and eventual reunion.

Luo Zhi has a crush on an outstanding boy named Sheng Huainan and follows up his steps to get into the same university. They have to get over problems between themselves and their families, and make progress in their relationship.

A surgeon suddenly returns to eighteen years ago and meets his classmate Han Fei, and helps her put down her guard and untie the knot in her heart.

Bit-part actress, Wen Xiao Nuan, is hired to play An Ning Wen Hua's CEO, Ye Fei Mo's, secret admirer in order to earn funds to support the Huang Mei Opera group back in her hometown. The two fall in love while pretending to be lovers.

A story that follows a warm and gentle military medic and the 'ice mountain' military officer as they fulfill their duties and also find love. Was it being rescued from the bandits or was it from constantly seeing others under one roof? Love enters when you least expect it. Xia Chu is a surgeon whose experiences have allowed her to stay calm in the face of life and death situations. Liang Muze is a special military officer who has fought on many battlefields. He has closed off his heart due to painful memories from the past.

A story that follows an aerospace engineer Yu Tu and the shining star Qiao Jing Jing. Qiao Jingjing and Yu Tu were high school classmates. Qiao Jingjing confessed to Yu Tu twice, but was rejected both times. Ten years later, Qiao Jingjing becomes a top celebrity. She wants to become the endorser of a video game, but was exposed that her gaming skills are super bad. By chance, she meets Yu Tu, who is now an aerospace engineer and currently feeling lost about his career. Under Qiao Jingjing's set-up, Yu Tu becomes her gaming coach. They slowly fall in love over time. ~~ Adapted from the web novel "You’re My Glory" (你是我的荣耀) by Gu Man (顾漫).

Gao Liang and Gu Yi Ye are good friends and rivals since they joined the army. They fall in love with the same girl, Jiang Nan Zheng. However, Gu Yi Ye eventually gives up his love in the name of friendship and marries A Xiu, the daughter of their old squad leader who died in a war. As time passes, Gao Liang not only stays true to his heart but also shoulders the duties and mission of a soldier. In 2003, Gao Liang and Jiang Nan Cheng got married and formed a happy family. In 2008, Gao Liang, who returns from further studies in Russia, was transferred to be the acting brigade commander of the Blue Army because of an observation report.

A fallen queen, Jiang Xue Ning who aspired to have the highest power and authority in her life was held hostage by rebels after the king, Shen Jie was poisoned. In this life she used everyone around her to reach the authority of the queen but at the end she remained under house arrest and Xie Wei slaughtered the entire city. Later, she received the decree to be buried with the emperor. She got a second chance to change her fate by not entering the palace but when she woke up after rebirth, she was already messing around. Even though she vowed not to enter the palace, certain turn of events again entangles her with the palace and Xie Wei whom she hated the most.

Lu Yanchen and Gui Xiao were each other's first love but separated after graduation. Years later, they meet again and realize that the sparks are still between them.

20 years of perseverance, hot-blooded teenagers finally become the people's hero.

This drama describes the life of Zhou Enlai, who serves as Premier of the People's Republic of China, from the founding of the Communist State in 1949 to 1976 until his death.

Many years ago, a young woman named Min Hui fell for a young man named Xin Qi. They dreamed of spending the rest of their lives together and had even planned to marry. But things between them became complicated. Xin Qi suffered from a dangerous and potentially life-threatening heart condition. And a misunderstanding between them led them to split acrimoniously. Now, years later, they are reunited at a business event. Min Hui has risen to become an R&D director at a tech firm and Xin Qi has also made a name for himself in the business world. Deciding that “fate” has brought them back into contact for a reason, they start to talk. But Min Hui reveals that she has a son. What is more, a paternity test appears to show that the child is Xin Qi’s! Xin Qi reacts by taking on the role of the boy’s father – much to the child’s delight. But will this lead them back down the path to romance? Or has their love ship already sailed?

A story of the rebellious son Gong Ziyu and spy Yun Weishan, who yearns for her freedom. Gong Ziyu lost his father and brother overnight, and was appointed as the head of the family but soon notices this power brought him into a dangerous situation. Yun Weishan is sent to him as a sleeper agent and now she has to choose between freedom and love.

In their school days, Xiang Yuan pursued Xu Yan Shi with all her might to no avail. Reunited as adults, she is trying to save a company while he is deep in the mud due to problems in the workplace. Despite facing inequality, he is determined to pursue his dream to become a navigation engineer. In the process of dealing with the company crisis, Xiang Yuan gradually learns to take matters into her own hands. The two come to support each other as they realize their dreams.

Set in the Republican-era Shanghai, Gu Man Zhen works as an assistant in a factory, while Gu Man Lu works at a nightclub to support the family. Gu Man Zhen falls in love with the wealthy Shen Shi Jun, a young engineer who happens to be engaged. Gu Man Lu marries the lustful Zhu Hong Cai, though is unable to prevent him from hankering after her younger sister. Gu Man Zhen and Shen Shi Jun meet again a decade later when both are married and try not to let societal expectations ruin their prospects for happiness.