C-POP Classics and Popular Songs: Recommended Tracks and Hit Songs from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan
In this article, we’ll introduce many classic C-pop songs that have been growing in popularity year by year!
C-pop is widely loved.
As an umbrella term for music from the Chinese-speaking world—centered around Mandarin-based Mandopop, along with music originating from Taiwan and Hong Kong’s Cantopop—you’ll find yourself captivated by its many styles.
You’ll surely be drawn in by the high level of musicality and the powerful, skillful vocals.
There are popular theme songs as well as singers and bands who have collaborated with Japanese artists, so keep an eye on those connections too, and be sure to check them out.
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C-POP Classics and Popular Hits: Recommended Songs and Chart-Toppers from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan (1–10)
Kaijōka (Strange Sentiment Song)Yoga Lin
Yoga Lin, a singer-songwriter from Taiwan, rose to fame after winning the audition show One Million Star in 2007, captivating audiences with his expressively rich vocals.
One of his songs blends a nostalgic yet innovative sound reminiscent of 80s power ballads, striking a chord with listeners.
Centered around the piano, its layered sonic world is paired with lyrics that sing of a humorous yet honest, straightforward love.
In the music video, in which he stars, his acting—so heartfelt that he was moved to tears during filming—is another highlight.
Released as a single in May 2025, the track is a lead song from the album “Untitled,” out in July of the same year.
Its unconventional yet warm message of love is sure to resonate with many.
In My Songkyoku anbantei
She is a singer-songwriter from China.
She has studied music since childhood and has won numerous awards.
She also spent time in Canada, so she is fluent in English.
Above all, her singing voice is beautiful, and this song’s harmony of piano and vocals is simply captivating.
Only twenty-threeKhalil Fong
Khalil Fong is a Hawaii-born, Hong Kong–based singer-songwriter who leads the C-pop scene with a sound rooted in R&B and soul.
Released in August 2024, this song centers on the passage of time and personal growth.
Using the age of 23 as a symbolic motif, it portrays the journey from youth to maturity and the transience of life.
Fong’s signature profound lyrics and emotionally rich vocals are captivating, and his deft use of nature’s cycles as metaphors is striking.
As his comeback after a two-year hiatus from music, the release has drawn considerable attention and heightened fan expectations.
It’s a perfect track for anyone who wants to feel the changing seasons of life.
[C-POP Classics & Popular Songs] Recommended and hit songs from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan (11–20)
Skinny person Skinny LoveTei Seikō
Ding Shiguang is active as a Chinese male singer, songwriter, and music producer.
He has created numerous songs for influential artists from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, including David Tao, Yoga Lin, and Bibi Zhou.
The R&B numbers for which Ding handled the lyrics, composition, and arrangement are imbued with deep emotion and inner conflict.
They delicately express complex feelings, evoking strong empathy and resonance in listeners.
Rapidly shifting emotions and the contradictions within intimate relationships—the ineffable nature of love and the loneliness it brings—are depicted throughout.
Immerse yourself in the sound world woven by Ding Shiguang’s emotive vocals and refined R&B rhythms.
Ten million imaginingsZhang Jie
Jason Chang, one of China’s leading male singers.
Released in May 2025, this track is a medium‑tempo pop ballad distinguished by strings and piano.
Its gentle, restrained melody conveys delicate emotion, creating a lovely, comforting atmosphere that seems to nestle close to the listener’s heart.
The lyrics portray introspective feelings—repeatedly envisioning, imitating, and trying to verify the shape of a memory—imbuing the song with a bittersweet warmth that lingers.
Expressing lingering attachment in love, the ambiguity of memory, and the unfinished longing to say what truly needed to be said, this piece is perfect for moments when you want to recall a past romance and bask in its warm yet wistful afterglow.
Since his debut in 2004, Jason Chang has been highly active, producing numerous songs and even founding his own label.
sunsetStefanie Sun (Sun Yanzi)
Hailing from Singapore, Stefanie Sun continues to captivate many with her overwhelming vocal prowess.
Marking the 25th anniversary of her 2000 debut, this work, released in January 2025, is a track that tugs at the heartstrings of its listeners.
It powerfully sings of universal themes—life’s light and shadow, and the passage of time—set to a grand, deeply resonant melody.
The title also lent itself to part of her Asia tour that same year, which spanned 18 performances, and the seamless blend of music and stagecraft was truly moving.
It’s a perfect recommendation for moments when you want to reflect deeply or unwind into a slow, immersive night of music.
Need to be togetherShūshin
Born in 1992 and renowned for his stunningly beautiful high-tone voice, Zhou Shen is also hugely popular as an anime singer.
“Yao Yi Qi” is a beloved hit song known as the theme for the massively popular TV drama “The Sword and the Brocade,” starring Wallace Chung and Tan Songyun.
Its atmosphere perfectly complements the drama’s world, which follows the emotional dynamics of a family—it really hits you.
Why is the harmony between Zhou Shen and ballads just so extraordinary?
