Best Manhua For Beginners

Summary

• Chinese comics (manhua) offer unique cultural themes like love, action, and fantasy.
• Popular genres like romance and slice-of-life dominate but there’s a wide range to explore.
• Beginner-friendly manhuas cover a variety of themes and are engaging for new readers.

Chinese comics or manhua are completely different from the Japanese and Korean versions. The characters not only have Chinese names, but the themes in all these stories portray parts of the culture that not many readers know about. These parts can either pertain to traditions in love, spiritual connections, or even mythical beings.

Manhua create a different outlook and the way they are written is distinguishable from what readers might be used to. They can indeed be a little different, but there are some amazing comics out there that can ease beginners into the genre. This topic will tackle some memorable, easy-to-read manhua that range from romance to slice of life, and action.

Updated February 24, 2025 by Aditi Jeyanathan: Chinese comics are mostly known for the ancient whimsicality or heartwarming wholesomeness that each story brings. With popular genres like romance and slice-of-life taking precedence over others, readers should not forget there’s a whole other list of genres to explore.

Some of the greatest stories in manhua come from the exciting action and fantasy stories that seem like they go on forever. If readers are having trouble deciding where to start, they can refer to this list of beginner-friendly manhuas that are short, sweet, and easy to digest.

1

Love Like Cherry Blossoms

The First Spring Of Youth That Welcomes Love, Growth, And Friendship

Lin Lu has a secret she would take to her grave, and it’s her crush on her friend Gou Feng. Gou Feng is the typical nice guy and though he has many admirers, he’s not the type for romance. When the supposed bad boy of her school, Xia Yi, finds out her secret crush, Lin Lu, is pretty much a goner at this point. But to her luck, she finds out that he’s the son of a celebrity, something that no one must find out.

The only thing they can do is make a deal to keep each other’s secrets hidden, but Xia Yi decides to help her confess to Gou Feng. He might just be teasing her, but as the two of them spend more time, they begin to unknowingly fall for one another instead. Love Like Cherry Blossoms is a great starter Manhua as this story addresses a variety of themes, whilst also keeping it light-hearted with some comedy and romance aspects.

2

Accidental Love

What Started As Revenge Soon Became Something To Cherish

In Accidental Love, Zheng Shuyi has it all; youth, beauty, and a great job, but the one thing she doesn’t have is a faithful boyfriend. After catching him in the act, she decides she’s done feeling sorry for her mistakes, and instead decides to show him that she can do better. It’s here that she meets the renowned CEO Shi Yan, a public figure that she has been dying to score an interview with.

Shi Yan is supposedly the uncle of the girl her ex-boyfriend cheated on her with, and what better way to get her revenge, than by turning their family upside down? She’s on a mission to seduce him and become her ex-boyfriend’s Auntie! This manhua brings together a hilarious female lead and a gap-moe male lead, who have no idea just how perfectly they complement each other, despite their social statuses.

3

Protect My Star

The Life Of An Idol Isn’t As Glamorous

Lu Yan was an unknown trainee who had little to no fans. The only reason he blew up in the idol world is because an influencer in the fandom, Hua Can, drew him as her ideal type. Drawings of him cross-dressing and paired in yaoi situations circulated the internet, and this shot him to stardom. Although grateful, the last thing Lu Yan wants is for his fans to see him as a “feminine” man, so he sets out to find Hua Can and convince her that he’s anything but.

Protect My Star not only focuses on the budding romance between Lu Yan and Hua Can but also dives into the struggles of the entertainment industry. Lu Yan and Hua Can’s relationship against such a backdrop is also discovered in a way that’s easy when it comes to the idol genre. The terms aren’t overly daunting and for a beginner manhua, this would do well for readers who enjoy seeing couples in the limelight.

4

The Evil Ring

The Awakening Of The Descendant Of God

In a world divided by power and politics, Shan Yue is the long-lost remaining descendant of the Divine God who was hidden away eighteen years ago for his safety. Struggling to make ends meet, he joins a fight club, and his identity is immediately exposed to the upper class who have been looking to get rid of him.

It’s only together with five gifted individuals who have been tasked as his “protectors” does Shan Yue slowly begin to learn about his background, and come to terms with his powers, and the many sacrifices he will need to overcome. The Evil Ring brings in fantasy and action, incorporating it with amazing art and cute moments to balance out the heaviness that this story can bring.

5

Papa Wolf And The Puppy

A Light-Hearted Family Drama

Papa Wolf and The Puppy brings together two opposite characters in this manhua. The story is non-linear and involves the daily life of a wolf who finds a puppy in the woods. The story is split into two versions, with the first section depicting their lives as animals, and the second with a human counterpart alternate version. Both are equally adorable as readers get to see how these two very different species learn to cohabitate.

The wolf is aggressive and grumpy, whereas the puppy is an adorable ball of sunshine that always manages to melt his hard exterior. Since the puppy was adopted by the wolf, watching him try to raise and teach him the ways of the world proved to be quite hilarious. Readers will certainly find this manhua enjoyable since it’s very light-hearted, with short chapters and cute moments that make one go “aw.”

6

Nan Hao and Shang Feng: The Odd Couple

An Anthology Of Chaotic Best Friends

Nan Hao and Shang Feng are two ordinary high school boys, or at least that’s what they try to be and fail miserably at. The two of them are class clowns and every situation they’re in ends up being ridiculously comical. Whether it be at home with their families, at school with their classmates, or spending time outdoors, these two best friends know how to make the most of every moment.

Nan Hao and Shang Feng: The Odd Couple is a little different in comparison to other manhua. There is no set plotline that the story follows, and each chapter includes various instances in which the two boys find themselves. This manhua is great for beginners since it sets a lighthearted tone and can easily make one laugh.

7

The Daughter of Duke Doesn’t Want to Be Spoiled

From Spoiled Princess To Independent Warrior

Yvette Winchworth is the sheltered daughter of her family, hidden away from society and pampered endlessly. Unfortunately, her lethargic life is uprooted due to political turmoil, and she’s then forced to move to the border with a trustworthy mercenary group.

The Daughter of Duke Doesn’t Want To Be Spoiled perfectly illustrates what it means to become a hardworking individual and do things yourself. Yvette is by no means a capable character, but her tenacity to learn and grow is something that readers may appreciate. Additionally, the story doesn’t focus much on the romance and brings a more comedic, feel-good aspect to Yvette and her companions’ lives.

8

I Just Want To Mooch Off Your Luck

A Delusional Love Always Ends In Yearning

Zhao Mingxi died a miserable death and after going back in time, her only hope is to cut off ties with her petty family and improve her health. The only way she can do that is with the help of the luck system that manifests, and the young master of a wealthy family, Fu Yangxi, is overflowing with luck. She needs to do whatever she can to make him happy and mooch off enough luck that will guarantee her life.

In this cute, school-life romance, I Just Want To Mooch Off Your Luck, takes an adorable tsundere male lead and pairs him with a nonchalant female lead. This manhua dutifully touches on topics of mental health, family burdens, and abandonment quite well, and for a starter manhua, this is the perfect option.

9

Secret Love/My First Crush

The First Blossoming Romance

Bai Ling has the biggest crush on her classmate, An YuZhe, but what she also doesn’t know is that he also has a crush on her. The two of them have no choice but to keep their secret crush hidden from their friends, as the two of them are in completely different friend groups. Their shared time is limited, so Bai Ling and An YuZhe do whatever they can to get closer to one another.

Readers will enjoy the wholesome fluff that is in Secret Love, as they’ll get to see Bai Ling and An YuZhe try to get each other’s attention without being overly direct. The hidden jealousy and stolen glances eventually turn into purposefully falling in trouble just to spend time with their crush. This manhua is sure to take the reader back to their high school days when they used to crush on their first love. It reminds one of the heart-thumping nervousness whenever their crush walks past or speaks to them.

10

Guiding A Rival To Become The Emperor

Transmigrated Into A Novel Set In Ancient China

After transmigrating into the body of the rotten princess of the Ye family, Mu Ye has her work cut out for her to return to the real world. She needs to find a special map and the only way she can attain it is by helping an enemy of her family, Lin Yan Mo.

Much like the ancient China seen in history books, Guiding A Rival To Become The Emperor incorporates many of the same cultural practices that are easy for readers to understand. The struggle for the throne is an ongoing battle, with lost princes, traitorous clans, and scheming royals. If readers are looking for a manhua that brings in politics, action, and romance, this story is the perfect one.

11

Heaven Official’s Blessing

A Love That Spanned Eons

Manhua readers who enjoy the BL (Boys Love) genre may feel right at home with Heaven Official’s Blessing. Xie Lian was once the most noble crown prince in all the land, revered for his exceptional skills and service to his realm. This earned him a position among the Gods, but when it was time to ascend to the Heavenly realm, he was cast down three times due to unlucky circumstances. It’s only on his third try does he miraculously gain entry to the Heavenly Realm after living a mortal life, and he meets Hua Cheng.

This story is especially heartwarming as the love that Xie Lian feels for Hua Cheng cannot be easily described using words. Despite the romance teetering on the edge of a slow burn, the two of them have great chemistry, work well together, and somehow manage to create something beautiful for themselves. The added background stories which involve various mysteries, political struggles, and magical entities further add to the world-building and the character’s past which will easily hook beginners in.

12

Once More

A Second Chance To Love

Muli Yang and An Xun are the definition of wrong time, right person. They met in high school and bonded over their shared hobbies and interests. It’s only when a misunderstanding forced them apart, that they went their separate ways and vowed to forget about each other. However, the two of them end up meeting seven years later as teachers working for the very same school they graduated from.

They’re older, more mature, and more cautious of their past mistakes. In Once More, Muli and An have the chance to relearn what it’s like discovering their first love, whilst simultaneously navigating through their tumultuous adult life. This manhua brings readers a raw outlook of how relationships work and how the choices that are made can not only affect the individual but their significant other as well.

13

My Delicious Dream Boy

Nothing Stops A Demon From His Meal

Mara is the popular guy in college. He’s got good looks, decent grades, and tons of friends. He’s a socialite, but the one thing that sets him apart from others is the fact that he’s a demon. Mara is a special type of demon that feeds on the dreams of people he comes into contact with, but lately, his choice of ‘meals’ seems to be scarce. Nightmares are what give him the most sustenance and when he meets the new kid, Joel Lin, Mara finally has the opportunity for a better meal.

Joel, on the other hand, has been plagued by nightmares for the past ten years of his life. He doesn’t know what it’s like to have a friend and Mara talking to him is his once-in-a-lifetime chance to find out. My Delicious Dream Boy takes readers on a hilarious ride as Mara tries to use old-fashioned methods to get Joel to open up to him, while Joel seems to be unaware that all his crush wants are his delectable dreams.

14

I Am The Fated Villain

A Bad Guy Who Loves Being Bad

Unlike textbook main characters who get reincarnated into villains and choose to change their lives, Gu Changge is quite the opposite. He’s reborn into the body of the most powerful villain in the story and his only goal of survival is manipulating the ‘heroes’ to get what he wants. He needs to harvest their luck stat and characters who have any connection to these heroes can be used too.

There’s nothing happy or comedic in I Am The Fated Villain, as this manhua focuses solely on the bad deeds Gu Changge does to get by. Whether it’s manipulation, lying, murder, or genocide, his power scaling is that of a God, and all he cares about is using the heroes and heroines to his benefit. It’s a great manhua to pick up if readers are looking for a main character who is ruthless and stays true to his character as a “villain.”

15

Find Me In The Dark

A Story About Finding The Light, Even In The Darkest Times

Reya Tang survived a kidnapping attempt when she was young, but that unfortunately left her partially blind. The aftermath turned her into the black sheep of the family and now she’s nothing but a burden to them, silently lingering in the shadows as her sister steals the spotlight. For her, meeting Zayn Luo is just the light she needs in the darkness she has become accustomed to.

Find Me In The Dark incorporates the bad boy-good girl trope alongside a rags-to-riches story. Readers may enjoy Zayn’s character development and personality growth, which was heavily impacted by his love for Reya. Their love story is bittersweet with a lot of tragedy blended in due to Reya’s circumstances, but Zayn being her guiding light is something all readers can look forward to.

16

The Warrior Ascends From The Rubble

Revenge Is A Dish Best Served With A Blade

Fan Zuo has been at the bottom of society’s barrel after his father was wrongly accused of treason. He’s been labeled as the ‘traitor’s son’ and despite living in a world overrun by monsters, he didn’t seem to find any difference between the ones within the borders and the ones in the woods. Humans have indeed been cruel to him and his tipping point was when he and a fellow teammate were backstabbed and left to die in a dungeon.

It’s only when he’s at death’s door does the “God of War system” activate, and he can suddenly level up his stats. As the name suggests, The Warrior Ascends From The Rubble takes a struggling E-class warrior, who turns into an Advanced General with a few modifications to his statistics through various leveling-up methods. This manhua is pretty easy to understand, with not much technical jargon and if readers enjoy a good action-packed sequence, Fan Zuo and his allies always aim to impress.

17

Closer Heartbeat

A Heartwarming Childhood Friends Romance

Ye Su doesn’t like to keep up appearances and prefers to say what’s on her mind. To her, trying so hard to please everyone comes at the cost of her comfort, so she’d rather say what she wants and move on with her life. This is why everyone else in her class seems to have the wrong impression of her, calling her closed off and rude. Her only friend is Shu Zheng and she’s known him since elementary school.

The two of them are practically inseparable and Ye Su is the only one who knows Zheng’s hidden side. He is the ‘prince’ of the school and like every popular guy, he has an image to keep up. The only time he actually gets to let loose is around Su Ye. Closer Heartbeat is a childhood friends-to-lovers romance of two very different, but identical individuals trying to understand what it means to fall for someone.