Baihe Novels: Resource Post
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baihe_mediaThis post is meant to provide a brief introduction to baihe as a literary genre and a starting point for those seeking to get into it. I consider baihe to be a distinct genre of its own, though I'd be hard-pressed to articulate its precise contours (or even general contours). Certainly I have a sense of baihe as being distinct from what I would classify as 'serious queer/lesbian literature', though here I'm hampered by my lack of knowledge about queer literature written in Chinese. Yan Geling's (严歌苓) novella White Snake might conceivably count as one, but I'm simply too unfamiliar with the genre as a whole to provide any sort of sensible comment. I also have a sense of baihe as being in conversation with its Japanese counterpart yuri, but again I'm woefully ignorant of yuri as a genre.
Baihe often seems to be regarded by international fandom as a sort of distaff counterpart to danmei (m/m romance), but my sense is that mainland baihe readers (and potentially other Sinophone audiences in Asia) do not really see baihe and danmei as having particularly close links beyond the fact that they deal with same-gender romance. In fact, I I've seen more mainland baihe readers say they also read yanqing (f/m romance, whose popularity runs rings around both danmei and baihe) than baihe readers say they also read danmei. There is also limited overlap between baihe and danmei in terms of their authorship. There are more authors who write yanqing+baihe than authors who write danmei+baihe, and I can think of no major danmei author who also writes baihe, or vice versa. To date, the only author I can definitively point to who writes both danmei and baihe (as well as yanqing) is Xiao Wu Jun (小吾君) who, while not unknown, is not exactly a major author. There seems to be limited overlap between baihe and danmei in terms of popular subgenres as well. Again, I'm not very familiar with danmei as a genre, but my sense is that a good number of the popular works are historical novels or xianxia novels, while a significant proportion of popular baihe novels are contemporary romances (which would, I think, be legible to a reader of Western genre romance as such). In terms of sheer audience numbers, baihe is very much regarded as a niche genre relative to danmei (quite popular) and yanqing (massively popular).
Having impressed you with my vibes-based ramblings and multiple admissions of ignorance, let's get down to what I do know about the genre. Under the headings below, you'll find information about where baihe novels are published, a list of major baihe authors (plus a few who specialise in specific niche subgenres), a list of notable works that I think provide a useful foundation for understanding the genre, and information about adaptations of baihe novels. A major caveat is that I'm focusing almost exclusively on works by mainland Chinese authors, both because these make up the greatest proportion of baihe novels and because I'm most familiar with them. There are also baihe novels by authors from elsewhere in the Sinosphere, most notably Taiwan, but I am much less familiar with them, so that will need to be the subject of another post (preferably by someone who knows the field much better than I do!)
Baihe novels and where to find them
At present, most baihe novels are initially published serially as webnovels, though the more popular ones tend to receive print publication at some point. Many of the major authors have exclusive contracts with one platform or another which requires them to publish solely on that platform, but others are 'free agents' who can and do publish across multiple platforms. Here is a list of the most notable webnovel platforms for baihe novels. With a couple of exceptions, none of these are baihe-exclusive platforms; all of them host other genres of webnovels (including yanqing and danmei) as well.
The majors
Baihe often seems to be regarded by international fandom as a sort of distaff counterpart to danmei (m/m romance), but my sense is that mainland baihe readers (and potentially other Sinophone audiences in Asia) do not really see baihe and danmei as having particularly close links beyond the fact that they deal with same-gender romance. In fact, I I've seen more mainland baihe readers say they also read yanqing (f/m romance, whose popularity runs rings around both danmei and baihe) than baihe readers say they also read danmei. There is also limited overlap between baihe and danmei in terms of their authorship. There are more authors who write yanqing+baihe than authors who write danmei+baihe, and I can think of no major danmei author who also writes baihe, or vice versa. To date, the only author I can definitively point to who writes both danmei and baihe (as well as yanqing) is Xiao Wu Jun (小吾君) who, while not unknown, is not exactly a major author. There seems to be limited overlap between baihe and danmei in terms of popular subgenres as well. Again, I'm not very familiar with danmei as a genre, but my sense is that a good number of the popular works are historical novels or xianxia novels, while a significant proportion of popular baihe novels are contemporary romances (which would, I think, be legible to a reader of Western genre romance as such). In terms of sheer audience numbers, baihe is very much regarded as a niche genre relative to danmei (quite popular) and yanqing (massively popular).
Having impressed you with my vibes-based ramblings and multiple admissions of ignorance, let's get down to what I do know about the genre. Under the headings below, you'll find information about where baihe novels are published, a list of major baihe authors (plus a few who specialise in specific niche subgenres), a list of notable works that I think provide a useful foundation for understanding the genre, and information about adaptations of baihe novels. A major caveat is that I'm focusing almost exclusively on works by mainland Chinese authors, both because these make up the greatest proportion of baihe novels and because I'm most familiar with them. There are also baihe novels by authors from elsewhere in the Sinosphere, most notably Taiwan, but I am much less familiar with them, so that will need to be the subject of another post (preferably by someone who knows the field much better than I do!)
Baihe novels and where to find them
At present, most baihe novels are initially published serially as webnovels, though the more popular ones tend to receive print publication at some point. Many of the major authors have exclusive contracts with one platform or another which requires them to publish solely on that platform, but others are 'free agents' who can and do publish across multiple platforms. Here is a list of the most notable webnovel platforms for baihe novels. With a couple of exceptions, none of these are baihe-exclusive platforms; all of them host other genres of webnovels (including yanqing and danmei) as well.
The majors
- Jinjiang Literature City (晋江文学城, pinyin: jinjiang wenxue cheng). Known to international fandom by its acronym 'JJWXC', this is probably the best-known, highest-profile platform for webnovels, and many of the most established baihe authors publish here.
- Changpei (长佩). Coming in a distant but respectable second to JJWXC, this webnovel platform hosts a smaller but still significant number of notable baihe authors and works.
- Haitang (海棠).The name of this platform has become synonymous with smut in webnovel circles, and that's exactly what you'll find. Word on the street is that there are also non-smutty novels on here, but let's be real, that's not what you're on the platform for.
- Myrics (米国度). A Taiwanese platform with many fewer content restrictions compared to JJWXC and Changpei, and therefore a haven of sorts for authors who do not wish to hold back on explicit sexual content. The vibe is more 'here are novels with sex scenes' rather than the 'porn! porn! porn!' of Haitang.
- Popo (Popo 原创). Another Taiwanese platform with, once again, many fewer content restrictions compared to JJWXC and Changpei. My impression is that it's mainly dominated by Taiwanese authors. The main site hosts 'novels where you can have sex scenes'; there's a sub-site, PO18, where the focus is more on explicit sexual content.
Authors publishing on JJWXC and Changpei have been known to post uncensored sex scenes on one or more of the platforms above. They've also been known to post uncensored sex scenes on their own Weibo accounts, though once again, tightening content restrictions are making this difficult.
The niche baihe specialists
Top 10 current baihe authors (plus several honourable mentions)
In this section, I begin by setting out — not without trepidation — a list of authors I consider to be the top 10 baihe authors currently working, based on their popularity and notability among mainland Chinese readers (insofar as I have been able to make this out). This has, of course, not been a rigorous scientific exercise, but I'm reasonably confident that no one could point to any name on the list and tell me that I'm obviously wrong.
Note: The English titles for the novels set out below are a mixture of my translations, translations chosen by the relevant fan translator (where there is one), translations arrived at through vague fandom consensus, and in cases where there is a print edition bearing an English title, the publisher's chosen translation.
The Top 10
The doyenne
Jun Sola (君sola) casts a long shadow over the genre. Her claim to fame rests on her tomb-raiding epic Exploring an Empty Tomb (探虚陵, pinyin: tan xu ling), which she began serialising in 2010. The novel, which is split into historical and modern sections, is now approximately four million characters long, and is still ongoing. This long-running novel is considered a classic within baihe circles. Jun Sola is known for being a perfectionist (this has sometimes been to her detriment) and has an Anne Rice attitude towards fanfic and even fan art. She publishes on JJWXC.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Exploring an Empty Tomb was commenced in 2022. To date, eight chapters (out of 300 for the historical section) have been published.
The heavyweights
Ning Yuan (宁远) has been writing steadily in the genre since at least 2008. She's a prolific author with a solid body of work behind her, and has written novels in a range of different subgenres. Of her more recent works, particularly notable are her historical court epic At Her Mercy (我为鱼肉, pinyin: wo wei yurou), its companion novel The Cultivation of a Prime Minister (养丞, pinyin: yang cheng), sci-fi thriller The Creator's Grace (造物的恩宠, pinyin: zaowu de enchong), and videogame/virtual reality-themed novel Middle-Aged Love Patch (中年恋爱补丁, pinyin: zhongnian lian'ai buding). She publishes on JJWXC, though has been known to post uncensored sex scenes for her novels to PO18.
Another prolific author, Ruo Hua Ci Shu (若花辞树) has been writing in the genre since 2012. She is probably best known for her historical novels, but she has also published a number of contemporary romances. Of her historical titles, the most notable is Minister Xie (谢相, pinyin: xie xiang), followed at a somewhat distant second by Song of the Peach Blossom (桃花曲, pinyin: taohua qu). She publishes on JJWXC.
The phenomenons (phenomena??)
Jiu Nuan Chun Shen (酒暖春深) shot to dizzying levels of fame on the strength of a single novel, the action thriller Miss Forensics (我亲爱的法医小姐, pinyin: wo qin'ai de fayi xiaojie), which began serialising in 2019. This title has the distinction of being the only baihe novel the average non-baihe-reading member of the public has a half-decent chance at naming. She publishes on JJWXC.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Miss Forensics was commenced in 2021 (under the more literal title translation My Dear Miss Medical Examiner). To date, five chapters (out of 144) have been published.
Qi Xiao Huang Shu (七小皇叔) had been toiling unnoticed in the word mines for a few years before earning acclaim with her Republican Era tomb-raiding novel Reading the Remnants (问棺, pinyin: wen guan), which began serialising in 2021. Since then she's swiftly released a trio of contemporary romances — Pat Me on the Back (帮我拍拍, pinyin: bang wo paipai), Evening Tide (晚潮, pinyin: wan chao) and Kissing a Gardenia (都什么年代了啊, pinyin: dou shenme niandai le a) — and her runaway popularity is such that they were licensed for print publication and audio drama adaptations before they had even finished serialising. She publishes on Changpei, but does not have an exclusive contract with them.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Reading the Remnants was commenced in 2021. To date, eight chapters (out of 115) have been published. A second fan translation was commenced in 2023. To date, three chapters have been published.
The queens of contemporary
Since 2015, Min Ran (闵然) has written a solid run of novels all popular enough to attract print publication, audio drama adaptations, and in two cases, manhua adaptations. She specialises in contemporary romances, and her two most notable works are the age gap romance For the Rest of Our Lives (余生为期, pinyin: yusheng weiqi) and the showbiz novel (with a dash of rebirth) Waiting for You (余情可待, pinyin: yuqing kedai; also known as My Feelings Can Wait). She publishes on JJWXC.
Yu Shuang (鱼霜) writes primarily contemporary romances, and is particularly known for her showbiz novels, though she does surprise one with the occasional wild card, such as the supernatural thriller Yin Yang (阴阳, pinyin: yin yang). More than half of her published novels have been popular enough to attract print publication and/or audio drama adaptations. Notable works include the showbiz novels The Light (微光, pinyin: wei guang) and Those Long Divided Must Soon Be United (分久必合, pinyin: fenjiu bihe) and the contemporary romances Those Long United Will Never Be Divided (合久不分, pinyin: hejiu bufen) and A Difficult Woman (难缠, pinyin: nanchan). She publishes on JJWXC.
Yi Zhan Ye Deng (一盏夜灯) has, to date, written contemporary romances exclusively. Her best known work is probably her first novel, the age gap romance Feelings Speak for Themselves (桃李不言, pinyin: taoli buyan), followed at a somewhat distant second by her second novel, Seasons of Love (春夏秋冬, pinyin: chun xia qiu dong). The most unexpected entry in her oeuvre is If Equal Affection Cannot Be (如果深情不对等, pinyin: ruguo shenqing bu duideng), an RPF inspired by the movie Maleficent, featuring Elle Fanning and Angelina Jolie. She publishes on JJWXC.
Qing Tang Shuan Xiang Cai (清汤涮香菜, literal translation: Clear Soup with Coriander) is known for her fluffy, slice of life contemporary romances. Almost all of her recent works have been licensed for print publication, audio drama adaptations, or both. Her best known work is Fascinating (入迷, pinyin: rumi), followed by Fall in Love, Save the World (你我相爱, 为民除害, pinyin: niwo xiang'ai, weimin chuhai). She publishes on JJWXC.
The wild card
Shi Wei Yue Shang (时微月上) had been gaining a steady readership with her slate of historical novels, but she came to the attention of the wider baihe audience with her 2021 infinite flow novel Players, Please Be On Standby (玩家请就位, pinyin: wanjia qing jiuwei). This is her best known work, followed by the transmigration xianxia novel Incantation for Subduing a Dragon (降龙诀, pinyin: xianglong jue). She publishes on JJWXC.
Note: Also known as unlimited flow, infinite flow is a genre in which the protagonist is thrown into a seemingly endless 'flow' or 'stream' of different game worlds where they are expected to complete various challenges; the penalty for failure is typically death. If the protagonist succeeds in completing all the challenges across different worlds, they receive a reward and/or are permitted to return to the 'real world'.
Honourable mentions
In this section, I set out several authors who specialise in niche subgenres that are not well represented in the top 10 authors' list above, but which I expect will be of interest to readers. This also serves to illustrate the breadth of the baihe genre itself.
The -xia specialist
Xianxia and (especially) wuxia novels are very under-represented in baihe. Among fans of these subgenres, the author Tai Yang Jun (太阳菌) is a particular favourite, known especially for two wuxia novels — Jianghu Demolition Squad (江湖拆迁队, pinyin: jianghu chaiqian dui) and Song of Everlasting Regret (长恨歌, pinyin: changhen ge) — and the xianxia novel The Dragon (见龙, pinyin: jian long). She publishes on JJWXC.
The purveyor of darkness
A specialist in dark thrillers is Hua Qiong Ran (华琼苒). Her best-known novel Suffocation (窒息, pinyin: zhixi) features a main character who can't seem to get away from (or want to get away from) her obsessive stalker/wife. She publishes primarily on Changpei, but also releases the more explicit material through Afdian.
The snake goddess of smut
Xiao Bao (晓暴), known affectionately as 'CEO Bao' to her fans, has written upwards of 20 novels, most of them featuring high levels of explicit sexual content. To give you an idea of the kind of work she specialises in, her published titles include Bait (诱饵, pinyin: you'er), an omegaverse novel featuring a mostly consensual poly relationship, and A Young Girl's Fancy is as Lovely as a Poem (少女情怀总是诗, pinyin: shaonü qinghuai zong shi shi), featuring a daughter-mother relationship with (at least initial) noncon/dubcon. Some of her less explicit novels are published on Changpei, while the rest are obtainable as ebooks through her Taobao store. She keeps a pet snake.
10+ baihe novels that are helpful for understanding the genre
In this section, I set out a list of baihe novels which I think are helpful for understanding the scope and development of the genre. This is not a list of the novels which I personally think are good, but the ones I think are worth reading or at least knowing about if you'd like to gain an overall appreciation of the genre. The reader will also note that there is relatively little overlap with the list of authors set out above, especially where earlier novels are concerned. This is even less of a rigorous scientific exercise than the previous section, again especially when it comes to earlier novels, about which I simply know too little. Still, someone has to start somewhere.
I have divided this list into 'first-generation' and 'current-generation' baihe novels, with 2015 as a not-entirely-arbitrary temporal dividing line, as I consider there to be a salient difference between the two categories. 'First-generation' novels tend to be less professionalised, I've found, but also less ossified in terms of tropes and character archetypes, with more potential to surprise.
First-generation titles
The Witch Nichang (魔女霓裳, pinyin: monü nichang) by Ba Qian Sui (八千岁). First serialised in 2011 on JJWXC, this wuxia baihe novel is essentially fanfiction of the wuxia classic The Bride with White Hair (白发魔女传, also translated as The Romance of the White-Haired Maiden) by Liang Yusheng (梁羽生). The Witch Nichang reverses the tragic fate of the title character, the literally-raised-by-wolves Lian Nichang, and gives her a romance with a transmigrator who has found herself in the world of The Bride with White Hair. A number of older baihe fans cite this and Exploring an Empty Tomb (see the next entry) as their entry point into the genre. The author is no longer active on the baihe scene. She has published a couple of other baihe novels, but neither of these is complete, nor are they anywhere as well-known as The Witch Nichang.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of The Witch Nichang was commenced in 2020. To date, 81 (out of 260) chapters have been published.
Exploring an Empty Tomb (探虚陵, pinyin: tan xu ling) by Jun Sola (君 Sola). Historical section here; modern section here. First serialised in 2010 on JJWXC, this well-known tomb-raiding baihe novel was a major entry point into the genre for many readers, especially older ones. The mammoth, 4-million-character (and still ongoing) epic tells of the adventures of sheltered but intelligent cultivator Shi Qingyi and the mysterious Luo Shen across multiple historical periods. The author is still active on the baihe scene: her efforts are primarily focused on the audio drama adaptation for Exploring an Empty Tomb, though she is also (very slowly) adding new chapters to the novel itself. For further details, see the author profile above.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Exploring an Empty Tomb was commenced in 2022. To date, eight chapters (out of 300 for the historical section) have been published.
The Collapsing Palace (宫倾, pinyin: gong qing) by Ming Ye (明也). First published in 2010, this is the baihe version of an imperial harem novel. The book tells the story of Rong Yuge, the emperor's niece, and her indefatigable, long-running scheme to turn her aunt-by-marriage, Empress Wei Mingxi, into her lover. It begins with Rong Yuge plotting to marry her cousin the crown prince so that she can spend more time with Wei Mingxi under the guise of filial piety, and it only escalates from there. There is also a modern-set sequel. The novel was originally published on JJWXC, but is currently locked in its entirety for content reasons (PDF and TXT files of the novel are in active circulation within the fandom; messagedouqi if you'd like a copy). The author is still active on the baihe scene, though none of her other works have had the same impact as The Collapsing Palace.
Zebra Crossing (斑马线, pinyin: banma xian) by Yi Bai Shou (易白首). I've included this contemporary baihe novel, first published in 2009 on JJWXC, as an example of an early CEO novel. It begins with a one-night-stand turned secret fuckbuddy arrangement between CEO Jin Yuge and police detective Qiao Xiaoqiao. Unusually, Jin Yuge is the main POV character of the novel and also the shou* in hers and Qiao Xiaoqiao's relationship (my sense is that in more contemporary CEO romances, the CEO tends to have very little interiority and tends also to be the gong*). The author has published a few other baihe novels, though none have had the same impact as Zebra Crossing. She is no longer active on the baihe scene.
Note: Gong/shou: top/bottom. Yes. 'fixed dynamics' is also a thing that happens in baihe (though not all baihe novels feature it). No, I do not understand how the gong is meant to come or why so many baihe gongs seem happy about never getting to come.
Miss Gu and Miss Qu (顾小姐和曲小姐, pinyin: gu xiaojie he qu xiaojie) by Wan Zhi (晚之). This novel, first published in 2013 on JJWXC, has been selected because, given the preponderance of showbiz novels in the genre, I felt it was important to highlight an early exemplar. The novel tells the story of two up-and-coming actresses who have exactly the same given name Xizhi, which sets them up as rivals in the eyes of the entertainment industry. This is the author's only published novel, baihe or otherwise. She is no longer active on the baihe scene.
Current-generation titles
Miss Forensics (我亲爱的法医小姐, pinyin: wo qin'ai de fayi xiaojie) by Jiu Nuan Chun Shen (酒暖春深). First published in 2019 on JJWXC, this novel is indisputably the biggest baihe sensation to date, and its popularity is such that it has crossed over into mainstream awareness. The novel is an action thriller featuring a push-pull relationship between a forensic pathologist on a one-woman crusade of vengeance and justice with a self-destructive streak a mile wide and a police detective whose stubbornness is at least a match for hers. The prose leaves something to be desired, but the author commits hard to her big emotional moments and dramatic set-pieces: she's heard of things like detachment and cool postmodern irony and decided no thanks. The author remains active on the baihe scene. For further details, see the author profile above.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Miss Forensics was commenced in 2021 (under the more literal title translation My Dear Miss Medical Examiner). To date, five chapters (out of 144) have been published.
Reading the Remnants (问棺, pinyin: wen guan) by Qi Xiao Huang Shu (七小皇叔). Changpei's answer to JJWXC's Miss Forensics, this 2021 novel catapulted its author to high levels of fame among baihe readers. Set in the Republican Era, this novel focuses on the adventures of a motley crew of five tomb-raiders: Li Shiyi (a veteran of the trade... or so we think), Song Shijiu (a creepy fast-growing baby found in a tomb... or so we think), A-Yin (a tomb-raider turned courtesan), A-Luo (the Overseer of Hell), and Tu Layao (a small-time hustler). The prose is stylish, occasionally veering on purple, though the structure of the novel and the setup of the romantic relationships leaves something to be desired. The author remains extremely active on the baihe scene: all her post-Reading the Remnants novels have been very popular among baihe readers. For further details, see the author profile above.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Reading the Remnants was commenced in 2021. To date, eight chapters (out of 115) have been published. A second fan translation was commenced in 2023. To date, three chapters have been published.
At Her Mercy (我为鱼肉, pinyin: wo wei yurou) by Ning Yuan (宁远). In this court intrigue novel, first published in 2017 on JJWXC, general Zhen Wenjun is tasked with killing Wei Tingxu, one of the most senior court officials in the empire. Predictably, she ends up falling in love with her target. One of the most popular historical baihe novels of the current generation. The author is highly active on the baihe scene. For further details, see the author profile above.
For the Rest of Our Lives (余生为期, pinyin: yusheng weiqi) by Min Ran (闵然). In this 2018 contemporary romance, published on JJWXC, young Lin Xian falls in love with family friend Xiao Wanqing, and an age gap — a popular baihe trope — romance ensues. The author is highly active on the baihe scene and has published a number of other popular contemporary novels. For further details, see the author profile above.
Her Mountain, Her Sea (她的山, 她的海, pinyin: ta de shan, ta de hai) by Fu Hua (扶华). First published in 2019 on JJWXC, this much-loved high school novel deals with the growing friendship (and later romance) between class loner Chi Tang and top student You Yu. The first half of the novel is particularly strong, where the author sketches out their personalities and developing relationship with a delicate but sure hand. This is the author's only baihe novel; she predominantly writes yanqing.
Burn (烧, pinyin: shao) by Chu Dao (初岛). First published in 2018 on Changpei, this showbiz tragedy* begins with a one-night-stand between aspiring photographer Xiao Zhou and up-and-coming model Lan Shan, which soon spirals into a tale of mutual(?) obsession. The novel is told entirely from Xiao Zhou's first-person point of view, and the star feature is undoubtedly her distinctive narrative voice, which is by turns vulgar and vulnerable and deeply jaded and hopelessly romantic. Burn is one of the genre's best-known tragedies, and is the author's only complete novel to date, although she is currently working on a high school romance which is tonally similar.
Note: For reasons that someone should write a monograph about, if they haven't done so already, baihe readers do not have the same issues over 'bury your gays' as audiences of Western-published queer genre media, and unlike Western genre romance, baihe is not required to end in a 'happily ever after' or even 'happily for now'.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Burn was commenced in 2023. To date, one chapter (out of 58) has been published.
A note about adaptations
I frequently see international baihe fans lament the lack of baihe adaptations. There really is no dearth of baihe adaptations — it's just that the vast majority of them are in formats which are less readily accessible to international fans, and/or in formats that international fans seem less interested in.
By far the most common form of adaptation is the audio drama. All of the novels listed under '10+ baihe novels that are helpful for understanding the genre' above have been adapted as audio dramas, some of which are multi-season, and this is also the case with the major works of the authors who are listed under 'Top 10 current baihe authors'. Even fairly niche novels have been adapted into audio dramas. The vast majority of these audio dramas can be found on the Fanjiao app, which specialises in baihe audio content, while most of the rest (especially earlier audio dramas) can be found on major audio drama platform MissEvan (also known as MaoerFM), which hosts danmei, yanqing and no-romance works in addition to baihe. A few can be found on smaller audio drama platforms such as Manbo.
A growing number of baihe novels have also been adapted into manhua, including popular ones such as Miss Forensics, Reading the Remnants, Burn and Her Mountain, Her Sea. However, the number of manhua adaptations remains very small relative to audio drama adaptations. For further information, see this post about baihe manhua.
There are, at present, no donghua or live action adaptations of baihe novels. However, a live action film based on the extra for Kissing a Gardenia by Qi Xiao Huang Shu (see author entry in the 'Top 10 current baihe authors' list above) is currently in post-production.
I am grateful to xiaozhu for providing valuable input (and making sure I didn't say anything too obviously wrong) into this post. Read their translation of baihe showbiz tragedy Burn here. Special thanks tosuperborb for doing the thankless grunt work of proofreading and checking each link.
The niche baihe specialists
- Lestory (悸话乐读). This app-only platform hosts baihe novels exclusively. A sense of the works available can be had via its official Weibo account, which posts about a featured novel once every couple of weeks or so.
- Yamibo (百合会). This platform hosts original baihe novels and manhua as well as baihe fanfic and fan comics.
Some authors have also been known to publish on Lofter, a platform meant primarily for fan works, WeChat, a major social media platform, or Afdian (爱发电), the Chinese equivalent of Patreon. A few have even been known to publish on the US-based fanfiction repository Archive of Our Own ('AO3') in a bid to avoid content restrictions.
On the state of baihe novel translations
Readers coming in from danmei fandom may be surprised to discover that there is a dearth of complete fan translations of baihe novels into English, and certainly no complete fan translations of any of the major works. Of the fan translations available, many are of works that are not particularly notable, and a very large proportion of these are machine translations. I can only surmise that this is due to baihe being a niche genre. I also find that international fans have a fairly underdeveloped sense of which works are popular in mainland (and generally Sinophone) reading circles, which may also partly explain this phenomenon. Hopefully this post will go some way towards ameliorating this.
In the lists of authors and works below, I will post links to relevant translations where they are available and where I can be satisfied on a balance of probabilities that they are not machine translations. However, you should be forewarned that the pickings are extremely slim.
There is, to my knowledge, no licensed, professionally published English translation of any baihe novel, though I'm aware of some that have received licensed translations into other Asian languages.
Note: The fact that I link to a translation should not be taken as an indication that I think the translation itself is good. That is a luxury we simply cannot afford given the current state of the field.
On the state of baihe novel translations
Readers coming in from danmei fandom may be surprised to discover that there is a dearth of complete fan translations of baihe novels into English, and certainly no complete fan translations of any of the major works. Of the fan translations available, many are of works that are not particularly notable, and a very large proportion of these are machine translations. I can only surmise that this is due to baihe being a niche genre. I also find that international fans have a fairly underdeveloped sense of which works are popular in mainland (and generally Sinophone) reading circles, which may also partly explain this phenomenon. Hopefully this post will go some way towards ameliorating this.
In the lists of authors and works below, I will post links to relevant translations where they are available and where I can be satisfied on a balance of probabilities that they are not machine translations. However, you should be forewarned that the pickings are extremely slim.
There is, to my knowledge, no licensed, professionally published English translation of any baihe novel, though I'm aware of some that have received licensed translations into other Asian languages.
Note: The fact that I link to a translation should not be taken as an indication that I think the translation itself is good. That is a luxury we simply cannot afford given the current state of the field.
Top 10 current baihe authors (plus several honourable mentions)
In this section, I begin by setting out — not without trepidation — a list of authors I consider to be the top 10 baihe authors currently working, based on their popularity and notability among mainland Chinese readers (insofar as I have been able to make this out). This has, of course, not been a rigorous scientific exercise, but I'm reasonably confident that no one could point to any name on the list and tell me that I'm obviously wrong.
Note: The English titles for the novels set out below are a mixture of my translations, translations chosen by the relevant fan translator (where there is one), translations arrived at through vague fandom consensus, and in cases where there is a print edition bearing an English title, the publisher's chosen translation.
The Top 10
The doyenne
Jun Sola (君sola) casts a long shadow over the genre. Her claim to fame rests on her tomb-raiding epic Exploring an Empty Tomb (探虚陵, pinyin: tan xu ling), which she began serialising in 2010. The novel, which is split into historical and modern sections, is now approximately four million characters long, and is still ongoing. This long-running novel is considered a classic within baihe circles. Jun Sola is known for being a perfectionist (this has sometimes been to her detriment) and has an Anne Rice attitude towards fanfic and even fan art. She publishes on JJWXC.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Exploring an Empty Tomb was commenced in 2022. To date, eight chapters (out of 300 for the historical section) have been published.
The heavyweights
Ning Yuan (宁远) has been writing steadily in the genre since at least 2008. She's a prolific author with a solid body of work behind her, and has written novels in a range of different subgenres. Of her more recent works, particularly notable are her historical court epic At Her Mercy (我为鱼肉, pinyin: wo wei yurou), its companion novel The Cultivation of a Prime Minister (养丞, pinyin: yang cheng), sci-fi thriller The Creator's Grace (造物的恩宠, pinyin: zaowu de enchong), and videogame/virtual reality-themed novel Middle-Aged Love Patch (中年恋爱补丁, pinyin: zhongnian lian'ai buding). She publishes on JJWXC, though has been known to post uncensored sex scenes for her novels to PO18.
Another prolific author, Ruo Hua Ci Shu (若花辞树) has been writing in the genre since 2012. She is probably best known for her historical novels, but she has also published a number of contemporary romances. Of her historical titles, the most notable is Minister Xie (谢相, pinyin: xie xiang), followed at a somewhat distant second by Song of the Peach Blossom (桃花曲, pinyin: taohua qu). She publishes on JJWXC.
The phenomenons (phenomena??)
Jiu Nuan Chun Shen (酒暖春深) shot to dizzying levels of fame on the strength of a single novel, the action thriller Miss Forensics (我亲爱的法医小姐, pinyin: wo qin'ai de fayi xiaojie), which began serialising in 2019. This title has the distinction of being the only baihe novel the average non-baihe-reading member of the public has a half-decent chance at naming. She publishes on JJWXC.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Miss Forensics was commenced in 2021 (under the more literal title translation My Dear Miss Medical Examiner). To date, five chapters (out of 144) have been published.
Qi Xiao Huang Shu (七小皇叔) had been toiling unnoticed in the word mines for a few years before earning acclaim with her Republican Era tomb-raiding novel Reading the Remnants (问棺, pinyin: wen guan), which began serialising in 2021. Since then she's swiftly released a trio of contemporary romances — Pat Me on the Back (帮我拍拍, pinyin: bang wo paipai), Evening Tide (晚潮, pinyin: wan chao) and Kissing a Gardenia (都什么年代了啊, pinyin: dou shenme niandai le a) — and her runaway popularity is such that they were licensed for print publication and audio drama adaptations before they had even finished serialising. She publishes on Changpei, but does not have an exclusive contract with them.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Reading the Remnants was commenced in 2021. To date, eight chapters (out of 115) have been published. A second fan translation was commenced in 2023. To date, three chapters have been published.
The queens of contemporary
Since 2015, Min Ran (闵然) has written a solid run of novels all popular enough to attract print publication, audio drama adaptations, and in two cases, manhua adaptations. She specialises in contemporary romances, and her two most notable works are the age gap romance For the Rest of Our Lives (余生为期, pinyin: yusheng weiqi) and the showbiz novel (with a dash of rebirth) Waiting for You (余情可待, pinyin: yuqing kedai; also known as My Feelings Can Wait). She publishes on JJWXC.
Yu Shuang (鱼霜) writes primarily contemporary romances, and is particularly known for her showbiz novels, though she does surprise one with the occasional wild card, such as the supernatural thriller Yin Yang (阴阳, pinyin: yin yang). More than half of her published novels have been popular enough to attract print publication and/or audio drama adaptations. Notable works include the showbiz novels The Light (微光, pinyin: wei guang) and Those Long Divided Must Soon Be United (分久必合, pinyin: fenjiu bihe) and the contemporary romances Those Long United Will Never Be Divided (合久不分, pinyin: hejiu bufen) and A Difficult Woman (难缠, pinyin: nanchan). She publishes on JJWXC.
Yi Zhan Ye Deng (一盏夜灯) has, to date, written contemporary romances exclusively. Her best known work is probably her first novel, the age gap romance Feelings Speak for Themselves (桃李不言, pinyin: taoli buyan), followed at a somewhat distant second by her second novel, Seasons of Love (春夏秋冬, pinyin: chun xia qiu dong). The most unexpected entry in her oeuvre is If Equal Affection Cannot Be (如果深情不对等, pinyin: ruguo shenqing bu duideng), an RPF inspired by the movie Maleficent, featuring Elle Fanning and Angelina Jolie. She publishes on JJWXC.
Qing Tang Shuan Xiang Cai (清汤涮香菜, literal translation: Clear Soup with Coriander) is known for her fluffy, slice of life contemporary romances. Almost all of her recent works have been licensed for print publication, audio drama adaptations, or both. Her best known work is Fascinating (入迷, pinyin: rumi), followed by Fall in Love, Save the World (你我相爱, 为民除害, pinyin: niwo xiang'ai, weimin chuhai). She publishes on JJWXC.
The wild card
Shi Wei Yue Shang (时微月上) had been gaining a steady readership with her slate of historical novels, but she came to the attention of the wider baihe audience with her 2021 infinite flow novel Players, Please Be On Standby (玩家请就位, pinyin: wanjia qing jiuwei). This is her best known work, followed by the transmigration xianxia novel Incantation for Subduing a Dragon (降龙诀, pinyin: xianglong jue). She publishes on JJWXC.
Note: Also known as unlimited flow, infinite flow is a genre in which the protagonist is thrown into a seemingly endless 'flow' or 'stream' of different game worlds where they are expected to complete various challenges; the penalty for failure is typically death. If the protagonist succeeds in completing all the challenges across different worlds, they receive a reward and/or are permitted to return to the 'real world'.
Honourable mentions
In this section, I set out several authors who specialise in niche subgenres that are not well represented in the top 10 authors' list above, but which I expect will be of interest to readers. This also serves to illustrate the breadth of the baihe genre itself.
The -xia specialist
Xianxia and (especially) wuxia novels are very under-represented in baihe. Among fans of these subgenres, the author Tai Yang Jun (太阳菌) is a particular favourite, known especially for two wuxia novels — Jianghu Demolition Squad (江湖拆迁队, pinyin: jianghu chaiqian dui) and Song of Everlasting Regret (长恨歌, pinyin: changhen ge) — and the xianxia novel The Dragon (见龙, pinyin: jian long). She publishes on JJWXC.
The purveyor of darkness
A specialist in dark thrillers is Hua Qiong Ran (华琼苒). Her best-known novel Suffocation (窒息, pinyin: zhixi) features a main character who can't seem to get away from (or want to get away from) her obsessive stalker/wife. She publishes primarily on Changpei, but also releases the more explicit material through Afdian.
The snake goddess of smut
Xiao Bao (晓暴), known affectionately as 'CEO Bao' to her fans, has written upwards of 20 novels, most of them featuring high levels of explicit sexual content. To give you an idea of the kind of work she specialises in, her published titles include Bait (诱饵, pinyin: you'er), an omegaverse novel featuring a mostly consensual poly relationship, and A Young Girl's Fancy is as Lovely as a Poem (少女情怀总是诗, pinyin: shaonü qinghuai zong shi shi), featuring a daughter-mother relationship with (at least initial) noncon/dubcon. Some of her less explicit novels are published on Changpei, while the rest are obtainable as ebooks through her Taobao store. She keeps a pet snake.
10+ baihe novels that are helpful for understanding the genre
In this section, I set out a list of baihe novels which I think are helpful for understanding the scope and development of the genre. This is not a list of the novels which I personally think are good, but the ones I think are worth reading or at least knowing about if you'd like to gain an overall appreciation of the genre. The reader will also note that there is relatively little overlap with the list of authors set out above, especially where earlier novels are concerned. This is even less of a rigorous scientific exercise than the previous section, again especially when it comes to earlier novels, about which I simply know too little. Still, someone has to start somewhere.
I have divided this list into 'first-generation' and 'current-generation' baihe novels, with 2015 as a not-entirely-arbitrary temporal dividing line, as I consider there to be a salient difference between the two categories. 'First-generation' novels tend to be less professionalised, I've found, but also less ossified in terms of tropes and character archetypes, with more potential to surprise.
First-generation titles
The Witch Nichang (魔女霓裳, pinyin: monü nichang) by Ba Qian Sui (八千岁). First serialised in 2011 on JJWXC, this wuxia baihe novel is essentially fanfiction of the wuxia classic The Bride with White Hair (白发魔女传, also translated as The Romance of the White-Haired Maiden) by Liang Yusheng (梁羽生). The Witch Nichang reverses the tragic fate of the title character, the literally-raised-by-wolves Lian Nichang, and gives her a romance with a transmigrator who has found herself in the world of The Bride with White Hair. A number of older baihe fans cite this and Exploring an Empty Tomb (see the next entry) as their entry point into the genre. The author is no longer active on the baihe scene. She has published a couple of other baihe novels, but neither of these is complete, nor are they anywhere as well-known as The Witch Nichang.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of The Witch Nichang was commenced in 2020. To date, 81 (out of 260) chapters have been published.
Exploring an Empty Tomb (探虚陵, pinyin: tan xu ling) by Jun Sola (君 Sola). Historical section here; modern section here. First serialised in 2010 on JJWXC, this well-known tomb-raiding baihe novel was a major entry point into the genre for many readers, especially older ones. The mammoth, 4-million-character (and still ongoing) epic tells of the adventures of sheltered but intelligent cultivator Shi Qingyi and the mysterious Luo Shen across multiple historical periods. The author is still active on the baihe scene: her efforts are primarily focused on the audio drama adaptation for Exploring an Empty Tomb, though she is also (very slowly) adding new chapters to the novel itself. For further details, see the author profile above.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Exploring an Empty Tomb was commenced in 2022. To date, eight chapters (out of 300 for the historical section) have been published.
The Collapsing Palace (宫倾, pinyin: gong qing) by Ming Ye (明也). First published in 2010, this is the baihe version of an imperial harem novel. The book tells the story of Rong Yuge, the emperor's niece, and her indefatigable, long-running scheme to turn her aunt-by-marriage, Empress Wei Mingxi, into her lover. It begins with Rong Yuge plotting to marry her cousin the crown prince so that she can spend more time with Wei Mingxi under the guise of filial piety, and it only escalates from there. There is also a modern-set sequel. The novel was originally published on JJWXC, but is currently locked in its entirety for content reasons (PDF and TXT files of the novel are in active circulation within the fandom; message
douqi if you'd like a copy). The author is still active on the baihe scene, though none of her other works have had the same impact as The Collapsing Palace.Zebra Crossing (斑马线, pinyin: banma xian) by Yi Bai Shou (易白首). I've included this contemporary baihe novel, first published in 2009 on JJWXC, as an example of an early CEO novel. It begins with a one-night-stand turned secret fuckbuddy arrangement between CEO Jin Yuge and police detective Qiao Xiaoqiao. Unusually, Jin Yuge is the main POV character of the novel and also the shou* in hers and Qiao Xiaoqiao's relationship (my sense is that in more contemporary CEO romances, the CEO tends to have very little interiority and tends also to be the gong*). The author has published a few other baihe novels, though none have had the same impact as Zebra Crossing. She is no longer active on the baihe scene.
Note: Gong/shou: top/bottom. Yes. 'fixed dynamics' is also a thing that happens in baihe (though not all baihe novels feature it). No, I do not understand how the gong is meant to come or why so many baihe gongs seem happy about never getting to come.
Miss Gu and Miss Qu (顾小姐和曲小姐, pinyin: gu xiaojie he qu xiaojie) by Wan Zhi (晚之). This novel, first published in 2013 on JJWXC, has been selected because, given the preponderance of showbiz novels in the genre, I felt it was important to highlight an early exemplar. The novel tells the story of two up-and-coming actresses who have exactly the same given name Xizhi, which sets them up as rivals in the eyes of the entertainment industry. This is the author's only published novel, baihe or otherwise. She is no longer active on the baihe scene.
Current-generation titles
Miss Forensics (我亲爱的法医小姐, pinyin: wo qin'ai de fayi xiaojie) by Jiu Nuan Chun Shen (酒暖春深). First published in 2019 on JJWXC, this novel is indisputably the biggest baihe sensation to date, and its popularity is such that it has crossed over into mainstream awareness. The novel is an action thriller featuring a push-pull relationship between a forensic pathologist on a one-woman crusade of vengeance and justice with a self-destructive streak a mile wide and a police detective whose stubbornness is at least a match for hers. The prose leaves something to be desired, but the author commits hard to her big emotional moments and dramatic set-pieces: she's heard of things like detachment and cool postmodern irony and decided no thanks. The author remains active on the baihe scene. For further details, see the author profile above.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Miss Forensics was commenced in 2021 (under the more literal title translation My Dear Miss Medical Examiner). To date, five chapters (out of 144) have been published.
Reading the Remnants (问棺, pinyin: wen guan) by Qi Xiao Huang Shu (七小皇叔). Changpei's answer to JJWXC's Miss Forensics, this 2021 novel catapulted its author to high levels of fame among baihe readers. Set in the Republican Era, this novel focuses on the adventures of a motley crew of five tomb-raiders: Li Shiyi (a veteran of the trade... or so we think), Song Shijiu (a creepy fast-growing baby found in a tomb... or so we think), A-Yin (a tomb-raider turned courtesan), A-Luo (the Overseer of Hell), and Tu Layao (a small-time hustler). The prose is stylish, occasionally veering on purple, though the structure of the novel and the setup of the romantic relationships leaves something to be desired. The author remains extremely active on the baihe scene: all her post-Reading the Remnants novels have been very popular among baihe readers. For further details, see the author profile above.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Reading the Remnants was commenced in 2021. To date, eight chapters (out of 115) have been published. A second fan translation was commenced in 2023. To date, three chapters have been published.
At Her Mercy (我为鱼肉, pinyin: wo wei yurou) by Ning Yuan (宁远). In this court intrigue novel, first published in 2017 on JJWXC, general Zhen Wenjun is tasked with killing Wei Tingxu, one of the most senior court officials in the empire. Predictably, she ends up falling in love with her target. One of the most popular historical baihe novels of the current generation. The author is highly active on the baihe scene. For further details, see the author profile above.
For the Rest of Our Lives (余生为期, pinyin: yusheng weiqi) by Min Ran (闵然). In this 2018 contemporary romance, published on JJWXC, young Lin Xian falls in love with family friend Xiao Wanqing, and an age gap — a popular baihe trope — romance ensues. The author is highly active on the baihe scene and has published a number of other popular contemporary novels. For further details, see the author profile above.
Her Mountain, Her Sea (她的山, 她的海, pinyin: ta de shan, ta de hai) by Fu Hua (扶华). First published in 2019 on JJWXC, this much-loved high school novel deals with the growing friendship (and later romance) between class loner Chi Tang and top student You Yu. The first half of the novel is particularly strong, where the author sketches out their personalities and developing relationship with a delicate but sure hand. This is the author's only baihe novel; she predominantly writes yanqing.
Burn (烧, pinyin: shao) by Chu Dao (初岛). First published in 2018 on Changpei, this showbiz tragedy* begins with a one-night-stand between aspiring photographer Xiao Zhou and up-and-coming model Lan Shan, which soon spirals into a tale of mutual(?) obsession. The novel is told entirely from Xiao Zhou's first-person point of view, and the star feature is undoubtedly her distinctive narrative voice, which is by turns vulgar and vulnerable and deeply jaded and hopelessly romantic. Burn is one of the genre's best-known tragedies, and is the author's only complete novel to date, although she is currently working on a high school romance which is tonally similar.
Note: For reasons that someone should write a monograph about, if they haven't done so already, baihe readers do not have the same issues over 'bury your gays' as audiences of Western-published queer genre media, and unlike Western genre romance, baihe is not required to end in a 'happily ever after' or even 'happily for now'.
Availability of English translations: A fan translation of Burn was commenced in 2023. To date, one chapter (out of 58) has been published.
A note about adaptations
I frequently see international baihe fans lament the lack of baihe adaptations. There really is no dearth of baihe adaptations — it's just that the vast majority of them are in formats which are less readily accessible to international fans, and/or in formats that international fans seem less interested in.
By far the most common form of adaptation is the audio drama. All of the novels listed under '10+ baihe novels that are helpful for understanding the genre' above have been adapted as audio dramas, some of which are multi-season, and this is also the case with the major works of the authors who are listed under 'Top 10 current baihe authors'. Even fairly niche novels have been adapted into audio dramas. The vast majority of these audio dramas can be found on the Fanjiao app, which specialises in baihe audio content, while most of the rest (especially earlier audio dramas) can be found on major audio drama platform MissEvan (also known as MaoerFM), which hosts danmei, yanqing and no-romance works in addition to baihe. A few can be found on smaller audio drama platforms such as Manbo.
A growing number of baihe novels have also been adapted into manhua, including popular ones such as Miss Forensics, Reading the Remnants, Burn and Her Mountain, Her Sea. However, the number of manhua adaptations remains very small relative to audio drama adaptations. For further information, see this post about baihe manhua.
There are, at present, no donghua or live action adaptations of baihe novels. However, a live action film based on the extra for Kissing a Gardenia by Qi Xiao Huang Shu (see author entry in the 'Top 10 current baihe authors' list above) is currently in post-production.
I am grateful to xiaozhu for providing valuable input (and making sure I didn't say anything too obviously wrong) into this post. Read their translation of baihe showbiz tragedy Burn here. Special thanks to
superborb for doing the thankless grunt work of proofreading and checking each link.Tags:
- authors: ba qian sui 八千岁,
- authors: chu dao 初岛,
- authors: fu hua 扶华,
- authors: hua qiong ran 华琼苒,
- authors: jiu nuan chun shen 酒暖春深,
- authors: jun sola 君sola,
- authors: min ran 闵然,
- authors: ming ye 明也,
- authors: ning yuan 宁远,
- authors: qi xiao huang shu 七小皇叔,
- authors: qing tang shuan xiang cai 清汤涮香菜,
- authors: ruo hua ci shu 若花辞树,
- authors: shi wei yue shang 时微月上,
- authors: tai yang jun 太阳菌,
- authors: wan zhi 晚之,
- authors: xiao bao 晓暴,
- authors: xiao wu jun 小吾君,
- authors: yi bai shou 易白首,
- authors: yi zhan ye deng 一盏夜灯,
- authors: yu shuang 鱼霜,
- novels: a difficult woman 难缠,
- novels: a young girl's fancy is as lovel,
- novels: at her mercy 我为鱼肉,
- novels: bait 诱饵,
- novels: burn 烧,
- novels: evening tide 晚潮,
- novels: exploring an empty tomb 探虚陵,
- novels: fall in love save the world 你我相爱,
- novels: fascinating 入迷,
- novels: feelings speak for themsleves 桃李,
- novels: for the rest of our lives 余生为期,
- novels: her mountain her sea 她的山她的海,
- novels: if equal affection cannot be 如果深,
- novels: incantation for subduing a drago,
- novels: jianghu demolition squad 江湖拆迁队,
- novels: kissing a gardenia 都什么年代了啊,
- novels: middle-aged love patch 中年恋爱补丁,
- novels: miss forensics 我亲爱的法医小姐,
- novels: miss gu and miss qu 顾小姐和曲小姐,
- novels: pat me on the back 帮我拍拍,
- novels: players please be on standby 玩家请,
- novels: reading the remnants 问棺,
- novels: resource post,
- novels: seasons of love 春夏秋冬,
- novels: song of everlasting regret 长恨歌,
- novels: song of the peach blossom 桃花曲,
- novels: suffocation 窒息,
- novels: the collapsing palace 宫倾,
- novels: the creator's grace 造物的恩宠,
- novels: the cultivation of a prime minis,
- novels: the dragon 见龙,
- novels: the light 微光,
- novels: the witch nichang 魔女霓裳,
- novels: those long divided must soon be,
- novels: those long united will never be,
- novels: waiting for you 余情可待,
- novels: yin yang 阴阳,
- novels: zebra crossing 斑马线,
- resource post: novels
no subject
Date: 2023-12-18 03:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-12-19 09:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-07 12:52 am (UTC)Definitely interested in dark + messy, and anything related to tomb raiding, court intrigue, and wuxia, so that's already plenty i can try looking for. I'm gonna look for their audio dramas instead!
no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 08:12 pm (UTC)