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.
- Popular Chinese singer and artist active in the Chinese-speaking world [C-POP]
- [Taiwanese Singers] Recommended Artists in C-POP and Taiwanese Music
- Recommended bands from Taiwan: Notable groups energizing the Asian scene
- K-POP Masterpieces & Best Hits [Latest and Classic Popular Songs + Editor’s Select]
- Ballad songs that are easy to sing at karaoke. Recommended classics and popular hits.
- Western pop music popular with Gen Z. Hit songs.
- Popular Western music among women in their 20s. World-class masterpieces and hit songs.
- [Must read] Songs with great lyrics. Moving songs you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics
- Cute Western music: A special feature on stylish and adorable songs from around the world!
- Classic and popular recommendations in ethnic music
- [Ones to Watch in 2026!] Recommended Female Singers & Recent Female Artists
- 【2026】The State of World Music Now: Introducing Masterpieces to Enjoy Diverse Musical Cultures
- Coldplay Popular Song Rankings [2026]
C-POP Classics & Popular Songs: Recommended Tracks and Hit Songs from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan (141–150)
Kakuaiani Ippai Love You One More Timenasu tamago EggPlantEgg
A rock ballad by the popular Taiwanese band EggPlantEgg, released digitally in December 2021.
The title means “Love You Once More,” and it’s a love song that portrays the heartfelt regret of someone who keeps missing their chance, only to realize it for real just before their beloved ends up with someone else.
The music video even shows him setting out to go to her, which really turns up the heat.
It’s wistful yet powerful—the striking guitars and expansive sound amplify the song’s world, making you feel like you want to take off running.
Riding on a solitary, light-and-shadow journey — Glimpses of a JourneyTian Fuzhen Hebe Tien
Hebe Tien, known affectionately as “Hebe,” is a member of S.H.E, the Taiwan-born idol group that has been widely active and gained popularity in Japan.
Since releasing her solo album in 2010, she has continued working as a solo singer and remains energetically active into the 2020s.
Her song Far Journey in Unmanned Light and Shadow, released in August 2023, is a beautiful masterpiece whose highlights include the distinctive interplay between acoustic guitar resonance and distorted guitar tones, its dramatic development, and its gorgeous choral work.
The lyrics are also wonderful, expressing tender yet heartbreaking feelings toward a lover who seems to have already gone.
Be sure to give it a listen.
Hereafter, UsWuyuètiān Mayday
A ballad by Mayday, Taiwan’s beloved rock band also known for collaborations with Japanese artists.
The song is from their 2016 album “History of Tomorrow,” but the film “Us and Them,” released in China in 2018, became a huge hit and features a newly arranged acoustic version.
Be sure to check out the music video, which offers glimpses connecting it to “Suddenly I Miss You.” It’s a song that cheers on a former lover—though it’s a breakup song, it portrays a positive parting that affirms what came before.
Like this song, keeping precious memories in your heart can surely give you strength.
It’s a song that supports the paths each of us will walk.
Not Rock feat. AccusefiveEighty-three Day
Following Mayday as one of Taiwan’s representative rock bands, Eighty-Eight Rising (831) released the song “Not Rock” on their September 2021 album [Life Is For XX] 2021 Online Birthday Party (Live Session).
It features Accusefive, who shot to fame with the hit “Lost You In This City.” The track wraps you in an emotional yet laid-back atmosphere that showcases the strengths of both bands.
A gentle, tear-tinged, beautiful melody seeps in, enriched by the harmonies of male–female twin vocals.
Let romance take the lead — RomanticismSai Ken’ga Tanya Chua
Tanya Chua, a singer from Singapore, excels not only in Mandarin but also in performing songs in English.
Her track “Let Romance Take the Lead,” included on her 2021 album DEPART, tells a poignant love story set against a warm, interlacing guitar sound.
It vividly portrays the overwhelming emotions that follow the loss of a loved one.
The song depicts the slow, tentative steps of moving forward after a heartbreak so painful it’s hard to accept.
Be sure to check it out along with its dramatic music video featuring mannequins.
I rememberZhao Lei
Jiao Lei is a folk singer who creates warm, healing songs that soothe the heart.
His 2022 release “I Remember” (“Wo Jide”) evokes a heartwarming story about the interactions with people we meet throughout life.
Its sound weaves together the warmth of clean-toned guitar, harmonica, and his vocals.
It conveys a nostalgic atmosphere that brings to mind familiar scenes and faces.
As he confronts his own memories, the song delivers messages that resonate deeply.
Let yourself receive the kindness and compassion that flow through the entire track.
fragile heartO Aming Zhi & Chen Fang Yu
Glass Heart is a uniquely charming love song.
It’s a duet by Malaysian multitalent Namewee and popular Australian singer Kimberley Chen.
As soon as it was pre-released from the November 2021 album Ingenious Music, it became a massive hit, racking up 20 million views in two weeks and even charting in New Zealand, Canada, and the UK.
Set to gentle tones, the song says “I’m sorry for hurting you.” The lyrics, sung from her perspective, are adorably expressive.
It reminds us that while speaking your mind is important, sometimes it’s just as vital to wrap your words gently and deliver them with kindness.