The Early Spring

New to Beijing, Shang Zhitao crosses paths with Luan Nian, a true creative genius. Bold and open-hearted, she grows stronger step by step and gradually breaks through the defenses around Luan's guarded heart. Drawn to each other, they find themselves caught in an intense, on-again, off-again relationship in the urban jungle. To love is to summon all your courage and leave no regrets, to heal each other, and to grow together. But when love and her career pull her in different directions, she puts her career first. When she has come into her own and he has learned to soften his sharp edges, they finally stand as equals, ready to write a new ending together...

The Early Spring (2026) is a Chinese romance drama series created for Youku, adapted from a web novel. New to Beijing, Shang Zhitao (Sun Qian) is bold and open-hearted, and she crosses paths with Luan Nian (Jing Boran), a gifted creative whose guarded heart she slowly works to break through. Their attraction turns into an intense, on-again, off-again relationship set against the pressure of the urban jungle, where a workplace romance carries the risks of secrecy and office politics. The engine of the story is the tug between love and ambition: as Shang grows stronger step by step and builds her career, she must decide what she is willing to sacrifice, while Luan learns to soften his sharp edges. Supporting figures such as Liang Xin (Peng Yang) and Alex (Li Chuan) add friction and rivalry around the couple. The single season of twenty-four episodes plays as a grounded, emotionally layered romance, with tender, bittersweet moments and a steady focus on growth. Fans of C-drama romances will find resonance in its slow-burn heartache and career-driven love story.

• Love Like the GalaxyBoth are contemporary Chinese romance dramas built on a slow-burn relationship and a career-driven heroine.
• Serenade of Peach BlossomsBoth pair a bold, determined heroine with a guarded male lead whose defenses slowly soften over the series.
• Meteor GardenBoth follow a headstrong young woman navigating a demanding environment and a volatile, emotionally intense romance.

Release Date

2026-08-26

Episode runtime

48 min

Rating

8.4 / 10 (31)

What is The Early Spring about?

A bold newcomer to Beijing and a guarded creative genius fall into an intense, on-again, off-again romance while their careers pull them apart.

What is The Early Spring like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Early Spring as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is The Early Spring violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Early Spring.

Which shows are like The Early Spring?

Shows with a similar feel include Love Like the Galaxy, Serenade of Peach Blossoms, and Meteor Garden.

How long is The Early Spring?

The Early Spring: 1 season, 24 episodes.

Is The Early Spring still running?

No, The Early Spring has ended.

Where can I watch The Early Spring?

In United States, The Early Spring streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.