Time travel Chinese dramas on YouTube, with English subtitles.
A modern doctor, soldier or office worker wakes up in ancient China. Many full uploads are in Chinese only; WatchTranslate shows English subtitles while you watch.
How time travel works in a Chinese short drama
穿越 (chuānyuè, “to cross over”) is time travel: someone from today lands in the body of a person in ancient China, often at the worst possible moment. Modern know-how, from medicine to explosives, turns the tables. Many are also tagged 古装 (period costume).
- Chinese tag
- 穿越 · 穿成 (crossed into the body of)
- Search on YouTube
- 穿越 短剧 全集
- Typical length
- 2 to 3 hours in one upload
- Usual setting
- a palace, a poor village or a kingdom at war
4 time travel Chinese dramas to watch with English subtitles
Full uploads in Chinese, none with an English subtitle track. Every one gave English subtitles when we played it. Cards open YouTube.
Palace2 h 41 minReborn as the Prince's Burial Consort
King of SHORT DRAMA (opens YouTube in a new tab)
Comedy2 h 23 minThe Time-Travelling Consort's Comeback
YOUKU Mini Drama-Get APP Now (opens YouTube in a new tab)
War2 h 4 minSeven Days Before the Kingdom Falls
群雄短剧 (opens YouTube in a new tab)
Family2 h 40 minModern Wits in an Ancient Court
香蕉追剧 (opens YouTube in a new tab)More Chinese short dramas: Reborn dramas · System dramas · Historical dramas · Animated dramas (donghua) · All Chinese short dramas
Three steps, then just press play
Install the extension
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Search for the drama on YouTube
Type 穿越 短剧 全集 (time travel, short drama, full). Titles say who the hero becomes: 穿越成 means “crossed over as”.
WTCome, I will take you to test its power.Click the WT icon in the player
English subtitles appear within seconds and keep going for the whole upload.
Ancient-court dialogue, no subtitle track
Minute 10 of a time travel drama. Only burned-in Chinese, no subtitle track, so YouTube's auto-translate has nothing to offer. WatchTranslate writes the dialogue in English, titles and all.
- Court titles and forms of address come through in English.
- Works on any channel's upload of the drama.
- Keep the Chinese line to see how the modern hero's speech clashes with the period language.
Made for binge-watching
A whole dynasty in one sitting
Uploads run two to three hours; subtitles keep up from the first scene to the last.
Jump to any episode
Skip ahead and subtitles start where you land.
English above, Chinese below
Handy for names, ranks and places.
Any time travel upload
Open any time travel drama on YouTube with WatchTranslate on.
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About 10 episodes of a Chinese short dramaOr the first 20 minutes of a full 全集 compilationOn your phone?
Use the WatchTranslate app for Android or iPhone. It translates YouTube in its built-in browser, and video files saved on your phone. Same account as on a computer.
Chinese time travel dramas with English subtitles: questions
Where can I watch Chinese time travel dramas with English subtitles?
Full time travel short dramas are uploaded to YouTube for free, often in Chinese only. Open one with WatchTranslate installed and English subtitles appear while it plays.
What does 穿越 mean?
穿越 (chuānyuè) means crossing over in time. 穿越成 or 穿成 means “crossed over as”, followed by who the hero becomes, for example a widow or a prince.
Is “transmigration” the same as time travel?
In Chinese drama fandom, mostly yes: transmigration is the usual English word for 穿越, where a person's soul lands in someone else's body in another era.
Why doesn't YouTube offer English subtitles here?
These uploads have no subtitle track; the Chinese is burned into the picture. WatchTranslate works from the audio instead.
Are these dramas dubbed in English?
No, they are in Mandarin. WatchTranslate keeps the original voices and adds English subtitles.
How is a time travel drama different from a reborn drama?
In a reborn drama the hero goes back in their own life. In a time travel drama they land in another person's life, usually centuries earlier.
Can I watch on my phone?
The extension runs on a computer. On a phone, use the WatchTranslate app for Android or iPhone and open YouTube in its built-in browser.
Are these channels connected to WatchTranslate?
No. These are uploads we tested; WatchTranslate is not affiliated with the channels or the producers.