Just like children in the West grow up with shows like Sesame Street, Tom and Jerry, or Peppa Pig, Chinese children have their own beloved world of cartoons and children’s programming. These shows not only entertain but also subtly teach values such as kindness, family unity, cleverness, and perseverance. If you learn Mandarin online and are trying to understand Chinese culture, these shows provide a playful but deeply informative window into childhood experiences. A good Chinese teacher online will also dwell on them as you go on studying about Chinese culture!
One of the most iconic Chinese cartoons is 《大头儿子和小头爸爸》, or Big Head Son and Small Head Dad. It began airing in the 1990s and tells heartwarming, sometimes humorous stories about a cheerful boy with a very large head and his caring father with a small one. The episodes often focus on their domestic life, and the show remains deeply nostalgic for many who grew up with it.
Another enormously popular series is 《喜羊羊与灰太狼》 (Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf), which tells the story of a clever goat who continually outsmarts a wolf trying to eat him. This light-hearted cat-and-mouse dynamic made it a huge hit among younger kids, spawning movies, video games, and merchandise. Almost every child born after the 2000s has watched it at some point.
If you’re looking for a show that combines fun with learning, 《蓝猫淘气三千问》 (Blue Cat Naughty 3000 Questions) was designed for exactly that purpose. It uses an adventurous blue cat character to explain science, history, technology, and health topics in a kid-friendly way. The show’s blend of curiosity and imagination made it China’s answer to The Magic School Bus.
For a more dramatic and heroic style, children in the 1980s and 1990s loved watching 《黑猫警长》 (Black Cat Detective). This black cat is a brave and noble police officer who solves crimes and protects fellow animals. The tone was more serious, with bold music and suspenseful storytelling, giving young viewers a taste of justice and discipline wrapped in cartoon form.
Another cult classic is 《葫芦兄弟》 (Calabash Brothers), a short animated series about seven magical brothers born from gourds, each with a different superpower like strength, fire, invisibility, or water control. Together they battle evil spirits and monsters in a rich, fantasy-laden world. Though it was animated in a traditional style, the striking visuals and moral themes made a lasting impression.
Not all shows were animated. Channels like CCTV’s 少儿频道 (Children’s Channel) provided live-action educational shows, talent programs, and animated blocks like 动画城 (Animation City), which introduced many foreign cartoons to Chinese audiences. These shows shaped routines and even vocabulary for countless young viewers.
Speaking of foreign influence, many children in China also grew up watching dubbed versions of international cartoons. Japanese series like Doraemon (哆啦A梦), Crayon Shin-chan (蜡笔小新), and Pokémon (精灵宝可梦) became hugely popular. Western shows like Tom and Jerry (猫和老鼠) also found their place in the rotation. Many Chinese children can still sing these theme songs in Mandarin years later.
Understanding which shows Chinese kids watched gives real insight into the shared childhood experiences that bond people of a generation. From everyday humor to moral lessons and fantastical powers, these series helped shape emotional memories and language.