Novels like Tales of the Canal and the Sea
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Tales of the Canal and the Sea, best match first.
- 1 The Big Dipper Splits the Purple Tenuity 北斗裂紫微 In the final years of the Western Jin dynasty, the Five Barbarians ravaged China and the heartland fell. Imperial authority crumbled as the Ziwei Star split apart, while foreign armies trampled the land. The central conflict revolves around the Seven Divine Weapons of the Big Dipper, said to be capable of turning China's fate around, and the prophecy that the Ziwei Emperor Star will be restored: “Where Ziwei splits, the Han banners rise”; “The Big Dipper swallows Ziwei, and Chixiao will break t —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 The Windbound Wanderer 风归客 (No female lead) The martial world is ablaze with conflict, as bandits and powerful warlords carve out their own territories. Li Zhijian enters the world alone, carrying a Tang saber. He cuts down bullies, hones his blade and tempers his heart, finds a wise mentor and sworn brothers, battles formidable foes, and unravels sinister schemes. He builds a fearsome reputation with his saber and gathers allies through trust. From a passing stranger in the martial world to a leader of heroes, he wields 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 Biographies of the Divine Maidens 神女列传 A treasured sword knows no distinction between male and female, so how can anyone say a woman is inferior to a man? See how several women of different backgrounds and temperaments enter the world to pursue cultivation. With a three-foot sword in hand, they sweep clean the universe. Thus is written The Chronicles of the Divine Maidens. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 Killing Intent in the Frost 杀气飞霜 Travel the martial world as a hero; prove the Way as a Confucian. This is The Heroic Confucian Way! Legend has it that the peerless demonic saber known as Frost-Killing Aura appears once every eighty years, and never remains in the world for more than twenty. Whoever obtains it is destined to be a lone star cursed by fate. By a twist of fate, Han Che, the eldest young master of the Four Excellences, becomes the saber's fourth owner. What fate will this demonic blade bring him? This is a heartfel 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 The Long Tassel Breaks the Enemy: A Chronicle 长缨破虏记 On horseback, he wields the Eight-Treasure Dragon-Subduing Spear; on foot, the Bright Silver Coiled Dragon Spear; in desperate straits, the Sun-and-Moon Twin Spears. Watch Qiu Lang ride out beyond Beijing, trampling enemy camps beneath his horse’s hooves. His three unmatched arts and four spears shake Shandong. He displays his peerless skills at the Grand Gathering of the Three Teachings and spends his life upholding justice. Yet even he cannot escape treachery and deceit. He is slowly losing hi —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 The Hanging Coffin and the Precious Sword 悬棺宝剑 A dream of swordplay shared by an ordinary person, and a swordsman who must endure hardship before achieving greatness. One finds the martial world as deep as the sea, while the other finds the court as deep as the sea: such is their helpless lot. Perhaps every one of us has dreamed of becoming a swordsman. 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 A Hero's Path Through the Snow 侠路雪漫天 Young A Qi takes his master to Luozhou to seek treatment, but his master's real purpose seems to be more than just finding a doctor. The people pursuing them from behind seem to have known all along that they would take the road to Luozhou. Gu Wan and Shen Heng, whom they meet along the way, claim to be traveling with them, but each has their own secrets. And no one has mentioned the case from nine years ago, when A Qi's father was brutally murdered on his way to the capital. This isn't just a s 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 The Heroic Chronicles of Jingming 惊溟侠记 In the final years of the Tang Dynasty, the Twelve Jingming Sacred Steles, which celebrated the empire’s founding heroes, were destroyed. A prophecy soon spread among the people: “When Jingming appears again, the Tang will fall.” From then on, the martial world of the Tang was no longer at peace, and the imperial court and the jianghu became intertwined through Jingming. The orphaned boy Jiang Yunque has no desire to enter the jianghu, but is swept into its conflicts all the same. At the Mount T 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 The Tale of the Swordsman and the Book 书剑侠义传 In the final years of the Yuan dynasty and the early Ming, powerful factions rise and fall as war spreads across the land. Ji Ziqian, a scholar from Jiangnan, rescues the wandering swordsman Qian Buyi, drawing him into the martial world. Court politics and the martial world, ghosts and fox spirits, all reveal the shifting nature of the human heart. People may be cunning, but there is still a sword beneath heaven, wielded by a scholar, that can soothe the heart. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 The Legend of the Golden Jade Swordsman 金玉奇侠传 [Wuxia, in the style of a storytelling performance, suited to listening] [Inspired by The Legend of Tong Lin] During the Shunji era of the Great Yan, the street thug Shi Jinyu joined the Boundless Sect by a twist of fate and learned astonishing skills. On his first trip down the mountain, he struck an Arhat with his palm and swept away a Vajra with his staff, earning the fearsome reputation of the "Sea-Calming Hero Who Shakes the Blue Seas"... [I'm a huge fan of The Legend of Tong Lin, which is —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 The Azure Blade Chronicles of the Late Tang 残唐青锋录 Historical setting: From the Tianfu era of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang (901) to the first year of Kaiping under the Later Liang (907). Regional warlords vie for power, and Zhu Wen usurps the Tang dynasty. Core plot: The former dynasty’s imperial jade seal, the Heavenly Mandate Treasure Mirror, resurfaces in the martial world, sparking a struggle among rival factions. Dou Yanfeng must fulfill his family’s mission and protect the national treasure, while Huangfu Che is drawn into the conflict as he —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 Tales of the Merchant Knight 商侠传 A single act of compassion gives rise to an epic. In the Zhizheng era at the end of the Yuan dynasty, the realm is in chaos. Corrupt officials rule, and the people are starving. Huang Shunwei, the only son of Ningjiang Prefecture’s richest man, is naturally kindhearted. When he releases a spirit turtle with a strange shell pattern into a lotus pond, he accidentally awakens the power of his family’s treasured heirloom, the Lotus Jade. That good deed is like a stone dropped into stagnant water, —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 The Swordsmith: My Blade Can Cut the Moonlight 铸刀师：我这一把可斩月光 Swordsmith: This blade of mine can cleave moonlight 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 Blood Chronicles of the Setting Sun 残阳血记 On the bloody night of 1644, Yan Xuanfeng, a Jinyiwei officer, detonated explosives and died for his country. His loyal servant fled south with the orphan and entrusted the swaddled baby Yan Hengyun to Wudang. The child carried three sparks vital to Chinese civilization: the Sunset Sword, the Star-Pattern Compass, and a sheepskin map. Yan Hengyun grew up on Wudang Mountain. At fourteen, he descended the mountain and roamed the martial world under the name Lingyun. He befriended Bai Wugou, Mu Qi —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 The Weishan Swordsman’s Tale: The Phoenix Perches on the Parasol Tree 微山侠客传之凤栖梧 {Jianghu + court politics + wuxia + legends of immortality + folk legends} Feng Qiwu, the Longxi Hall, and the Luoning swordsmen belong to the jianghu. Emperors, ministers, eunuchs, and officials of the ninth rank belong to the court. Descendants of Nuwa, chivalrous heroes, and lovers devoted to one another belong to wuxia. After Nuwa mended the heavens, a group of people followed her for a long time. They eventually called themselves the Feng Clan. Half human and half immortal, they lived in t —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 The Iron Swallow: A Sequel to the Wuxia Novel Brocade Silk 武侠小说铁燕锦绫续集 Synopsis of the wuxia novel Sequel to Iron Swallow and Brocade Silk: This novel tells the story of love and chivalry among its four protagonists: Tie Shouhua, Li Yanhong, Ye Yanjin, and Ji Ling. It is called a “romantic wuxia tale” because the author's portrayal of love is tender and intricate, heartrending and bittersweet, quite unlike the styles of Jin, Gu, and Liang. In a word, it's tragic. But the novel offers more than tragedy; it also has its chivalrous side. Tie Shourong earns the name “W 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 The Flying Hero of Guangyang Island 广阳岛飞侠传 This book will take you into a fantastical, passionate world of martial heroes. Follow the steadfast steps of the heroes of Guangyang Island, feel the sweeping tides of the martial world, experience its twists and turns of love and vengeance, and pursue the undying light of justice. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 Memories of a Rainy Night 夜雨忆阑珊 The Ye family fell into decline a century ago, and now it is all but gone. The second young master, Ye Tianyu, bears a heavy burden and faces life-and-death trials to kindle a flame of hope for his family. As the times change, his love for the heroine grows ever deeper. There is brotherly devotion, and there are women who give him their hearts. Set in an alternate history, this story follows the protagonist as his family falls from power and he fights to survive. There is no right or wrong, only —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 The Great Chu Heroic Legend 大楚豪侠传 The jianghu is a mountain. Some people are halfway up, while others are at its foot. Those at the foot fight for their lives, and the survivors make their way toward the middle. But some people are born at the summit. No matter how lofty the imperial court, it cannot stop the greed in people's hearts. No matter how powerful you are, the battlefield is still nothing but a handful of sand. The jianghu and the imperial court, the nation and the battlefield. Heroes and great men in this world are wo —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 A Knife from the Start 开局就送一把刀 Watch as the young Qi Xiao carves his name into legend with a single blade on the path of the jianghu. 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 The Book of Wishes 如意经 A manual said to contain peerless martial arts has become the object of everyone’s desire. As schemes and treachery spread through the martial world, a thrilling tale of the martial arts world unfolds... 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 A Vast World 天地宽 I'm a guy who absolutely loves traditional martial arts. There's a saying: "Jin Yong laid down his pen and Gu Long passed away; only Heroic Aspirations remains in the jianghu." I've waited year after year for Heroic Aspirations to finish. Even my family knows that Master Sun, nicknamed "Wild Dog," has yet to complete it. One day I said, why not write a wuxia story myself? Fewer people may read them these days, but doesn't everyone have their own great hero in their heart? My writing may not be v 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 The Golden Gate Swordswoman 金门女侠 Synopsis of Gu Long's martial arts novel The Heroine of Golden Gate: Wang Ruofang, a woman with extraordinary martial arts skills, sets out to find a treasure map and catch the culprit after the Zheng family in a neighboring village is murdered to the last person over their ancestral Map of Mount Lu's Scenic Wonders, one of four maps, the C map. Hoping to avoid being implicated, she leaves home to investigate. Along the way, she stumbles into the heart of a storm: powerful factions are hunting L 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 Beauty Like Jade, Sword Like a Rainbow 美人似玉剑如虹 This is the story of a young man accidentally drawn into the martial world, who resolves to wipe out every evil under heaven. In an age of chaos, the youth heads north with his sword, quelling the flames of war across the northern lands. He returns to the martial world, traveling the roads of heroism with a beautiful companion and leaving countless tales behind. There are perilous battles, the distant reaches of the martial world, and the treachery of the imperial court. Waves of turmoil crash o 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 A Game of Mountains and Rivers 山河弈局 (A traditional wuxia story, with no fantasy elements, no System, and no wish-fulfillment. If that's not your cup of tea, please read no further. This is dedicated to those who still dream of the jianghu.) During the upheaval of the Five Barbarians, the martial world is divided into north and south by the river. The Shanhe Society rallies under the banner of “protecting the realm,” but hidden power struggles gradually drive a wedge through its ranks. A sudden upheaval in the maple forest sets eve 6Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 26 The Lone Hero of Mountains, Rivers, and Seas 山河江海孤侠 A hero is a person caught between two sides: benevolence on the left, righteousness on the right, with the sky above and the earth beneath. Love gives rise to hate; compassion gives rise to sorrow. Since victory crowns kings and defeat brands villains, we aid the weak and support the downtrodden. Since the world has strayed from the Way, we take up arms against its laws... If you missed Jin Yong and Gu Long, then you must not miss this sweeping ensemble tale of wuxia. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 A Jianghu Prelude 江湖前传 Since ancient times, those without virtue or principle have occupied mountains as bandits; the righteous and benevolent have occupied them as kings; while those who embody virtue, principle, righteousness, benevolence, and wisdom have made them their home. Those of great virtue in the past are now petty villains; those once without honor now strive to make a living and look after themselves. Yet in times of chaos, the capable emerge in droves. Those who have found the Way hold fast to their true —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 My Master Made My Junior Sister Date Me, So I Flipped the Board 师父控制小师妹跟我谈恋爱，我直接把棋盘掀了 My master makes my junior sister date me against her will, so I flip the whole board over. 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 The World Is Harsh, but I Was Born Talented Enough to Hit a Wall 世态炎凉，天生我才撞南墙 The world is fickle, and human relationships bring both warmth and cold. Wherever there are people, there is a world of martial arts! And wherever there is a world of martial arts, there are social conventions and the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak! The martial world is a grand stage, with all manner of strange characters taking their turns in the spotlight, acting out life’s joys and sorrows, its ups and downs, its reunions and farewells! Sha Yuantu has mastered peerless 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 The Dragon Atlas of Mystical Heroes 玄侠龙图 Set during the Southern Song dynasty, this story follows a child burdened with a blood feud who is bullied by everyone until a fortuitous encounter grants him peerless martial arts. To uphold justice, he leads the various martial arts sects in fighting traitors who have betrayed their country and restoring the realm. This novel has just been released. Readers are welcome to read and enjoy it. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 What Martial World? I Call the Shots 什么江湖，还不是我说了算 [Transmigration] + [Martial Arts] + [Mystery and Wild Ideas] + [Feel-Good Action] + [One Female Lead] After finishing his college entrance exams, Gu Ming went out to eat with his classmates. He was hit by a car and left lying on the ground, unnoticed by everyone. He thought his life was over. But when he regained consciousness, he had arrived in a world of martial arts. Only, this place was nothing like the books. Here, He wanted to leave, but circumstances kept him from going. He wanted to let —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 Devouring Demons 啖魔 A thousand-year-old legend of gods and demons, and an eternal struggle between good and evil. A mighty imperial dynasty teeters on the brink of collapse. Swordmasters whose martial arts approach the divine lie hidden in the darkest reaches of the martial world and among towering mountain peaks. Yet there are beings even more powerful than they: the Demon God of antiquity. Though his body was destroyed, his consciousness remains, sealed in slumber beneath the Nine Hells as he awaits awakening. Hu 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 Flying Sword, Singing Sleeve 袖剑飞吟 [Swordsmanship + Fantasy + Martial Arts + Xianxia] The greatest sword technique under heaven: Sleevesword Flying Song. It burst onto the scene, said to have been created by a young man in blue. What was the young man’s surname and given name? Stay tuned. 9Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 34 One Frost-Cold Blade to Pacify Five Provinces 一刃霜寒定五州 A traditional wuxia setting, with a slow pace. No transmigration, no System! The martial world, the imperial court, martial arts, family and country, emotions, bloodshed... It’s traditional wuxia, but with a little something new. 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 Chronicles of a Chaotic Age 清风乱世录 A century ago, Yang Feng, an unparalleled master, fell in a world-shaking battle. That moment set the stage for the rise of another genius: the young Lin Qing. Join the author in witnessing their love and hatred, their joys and sorrows. From a mere household slave, he will gradually ascend to become a legend of the martial world. Will he follow the same path as Yang Feng? 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 Wherever We Wander, We Are Like Tumbleweeds 歧涯俱是转蓬身 The moon shatters upon the vast waves; stars sink beneath jade-like tides. A lone peak stands above the northern rivers and lakes. A solitary sail drifts east with the tide, hanging far away against the Azure Cloud Cliffs. Fame and fortune ride on warm winds; fine wine makes fools of us all. A hero’s passion surges across misty waters. In the mortal world, we draw our swords to comfort kindred spirits. Tomorrow, we’ll raise our cups and never forget. [Wuxia] + [Multiple Storylines] + [Multiple P —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 Legends of the Young Hero 天骄侠影录 In the final years of the Southern Song dynasty, the realm is beset by turmoil. Dugu Qi and Dugu Ying are brothers from a small fishing village outside Cangzhou. They have different temperaments and fates. One wants only to live out his days in peace and find a secluded paradise where he can escape the world. The other cannot abide an ordinary life and is determined to rise above his station. One is devoted to love, longing to win one person's heart and grow old together, yet ultimately dies alo 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 The Golden Cauldron, the Wandering Dragon 【金鼎游龙】 The title The Golden Tripod and Dragon refers to a tale of heroes fighting over the Luo Family Golden Tripod. Legend has it that the belly of the “Luo Family Golden Tripod” contains nine miraculous powers of unsurpassed wonder. In years past, nine great martial artists, including Buddhist and Taoist masters from the demonic path and experts from the five regions, fought for this “Luo Family Golden Tripod” atop “Emei Golden Summit” for a hundred days. In the end, they exhausted their inner streng 67Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 Chronicles of Iron Hooves and the World 铁马乾坤录 Cavalry appears, the Qianlong era awakens, and war dust rises along the road to battle. Generals are gifted, soldiers steadfast, while the martial world’s turmoil tangles in old grudges. How can a princess’s deep love leave the heart at peace? In prosperity, there are sighs; in decline, there are sighs. Deep within the palace, women’s resentment and sorrow fill the six courts. Love entwines, hatred binds, and bonds of gratitude and affection are hard to resolve, ending in illusion. Iron cavalry —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 Hero of the Age 当世英雄 Lan Nu’s origins are shrouded in mystery. Her martial arts are peerless, and her swordsmanship is hailed as divine. After completing her training, she descends the mountain to seek the enemy who wiped out her clan, making bitter enemies among the martial world and getting swept into a tangled whirlpool of conflict between the imperial court, the martial world, and her personal vendettas. After a series of strange encounters, she joins forces with Gu Suyou, leader of the Salt Gang. As they resist 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 The Calamity of the Ink Blade 《墨刀劫》 The Ink Blade Tribulation 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 The Two Prides of Tianya Ke 天涯客双骄 Twenty years ago, at Liuxian Manor, its master Liu Chi unexpectedly met Shangguan Feng, a maid from the Star-Seizing Palace. Deeply attracted to each other, they fell in love. But the Star-Seizing Palace had strict rules requiring its disciples to sever their seven emotions and six desires. Under these rules, love was forbidden. In the end, the two eloped for love and lived in seclusion in the countryside, where they had twin sons. But after they broke the palace rules and someone informed on th —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 Chronicles of the Anti-Mongol Campaign in Bashu 巴蜀抗蒙录 During the Chunyou era of the Southern Song dynasty, on Mount Lingxiao in Sichuan. After Mongke ascends the Mongol throne, the reclusive young Qi Lingxiao enters the martial world for the sake of the people of the Song. Sword in hand, he roams the land and leads the people of Bashu in a valiant struggle against invasion. Through his actions, he embodies the true spirit of the great hero, serving his country and its people, and creates a magnificent epic. Note: 1. This book is based on Lingxiao C —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 The Sword Qi Ballad of Mountains and Rivers 山河剑气歌 The Jingkang Catastrophe tears the land apart and stains rivers and mountains with blood. Lu Huaizhen, a young swordsman burdened with a blood feud and half of a mysterious jade token, is swept into the whirlpool of the Song-Jin standoff and the conflicts of the martial world. As he searches for the truth, he faces the question, “Is martial arts meant for killing or for protecting?” He struggles to choose between family vengeance, national hatred, and the limits of chivalry. From the ferocity of 3Reads7.2Score—14d adds
- 45 The Blade’s Edge in the Flames of War 烽火刀锋 Forged from flesh and blood, the backbone of a nation: this novel offers a sweeping portrait of Chinese youth from different backgrounds and factions who, amid the fourteen-year War of Resistance, stake their lives on the solemn vow that “everyone is responsible for the fate of the country.” It celebrates the Chinese nation’s indomitable spirit and its rebirth through fire in the face of formidable foes, while highlighting the Communist Party of China’s pivotal role and arduous sacrifices in the —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 The Legend of the Azure Dragon 青冥蟠龙传 The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907–979) was one of the most chaotic eras in Chinese history, a time when military strongmen ruled and rival powers rose on every side, rife with war, intrigue, betrayal, and fleeting loyalty! The Legend of the Azure Dragon tells the story of Chai Yanzhao and Li Zhongqing, whose extraordinary journey through this turbulent age explores family and country, honor, trust, and the pursuit of their ideals. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 The Warring States Martial World 战国武林风 Across the vast land of Shenzhou, seven kingdoms stand side by side, war rages without end, and countless heroes aspire to unite the realm. In the martial world, the great sects clash over their interests, bringing bloodshed and turmoil. Amid this vast and wondrous world, the story of a young man quietly begins. He is Lin Wanfeng, a disciple from Weihuai Mountain. With his iron flute swordsmanship and sonic arts, he roams the land and travels the martial world, forging his own heroic legend. 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 Beacon Fires Reflect on the White Lotus 烽火映白莲 This book is richly detailed, tightly plotted, and faithful to the course of history. Its figures in a time of turmoil feel vivid and real, and historical events are brought to life, such as Chen Youliang sending assassins after Ming Yuzhen, Xu Shouhui being bludgeoned to death, and the defense of Hongdu. Readers can savor a turning point in history through an accessible martial arts novel. The story spans from the eleventh year of the Zhizheng era, when Han Shantong was killed and Liu Futong la 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 The Young Martial Hero: Nine-Dragon Phoenix Diagram 武侠少年：九虬凤凰图 [Wuxia] + [No wish fulfillment] + [Action-packed from start to finish, not a dull moment] + [Swordsmanship] + [No golden finger] + [No transmigration] + [Brotherhood] + [Mystery solving] A story with two male leads. This isn't the kind of novel where everything goes smoothly. It follows the events that unfold as they seek the truth behind the death of Zhang Tong, the beloved of the hero Pan Da. The writing style leans toward Gu Long and Jin Yong. 20Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 50 Peerless Poet and Swordsman 诗剑无双 In the second year of the Kaicheng era, the poet Jia Dao was banished to Shu. Along the way, a chance encounter led him to save a child’s life. Twenty years later, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Chen, sat on the throne. His achievements earned his reign the name “Great Governance of Dazhong.” The child grew into an adult, studying literature at Qinglian Academy and martial arts under the Taibai Sword Sect. But as the late Tang was swept by turbulent change, the young man ventured alone into the Ji 1Reads—Score—14d adds
