The 1986 Journey to the West TV series is widely considered the most iconic adaptation of China’s legendary Monkey King story. Even decades later, it remains the version most Chinese viewers grew up with and one of the best shows for Mandarin learners interested in Chinese culture.
Table of Contents
Key to understanding ChinaMost iconic adaptation of the novelStill the best: 1986 (TV series)For Mandarin learners: Reading Journey to the WestOther adaptationsRecommended: 1986 (TV series) on YouTubeFAQ: Journey to the West (1986 TV Series)
In this guide, you’ll learn why the series became a classic, whether it still holds up today, and how useful it is for learning Chinese.
“Journey to the West” (西游记) is one of the four great novels of Chinese literature. Over the years, countless TV-adaptations have been produced. Everything from decent to mediocre to barely watchable.
One of the oldest, the 1986 version, was so strong and convincing that it achieved classical status. It seems almost all mainland Chinese people grew up watching this CCTV-production of Journey to the West and it still can be seen on Chinese television today. (It’s one of those series Chinese national television just keeps repeating.)
From today’s perspective, the special effects are obsolete and bizarre. And the story evolves much slower and more long-winded than Netflix addicts are used to nowadays. The striking thing though: China and its film industry have developed so much since then, but they never quite managed to top the 1986-series! In terms of story line, costumes, portrayal of characters, it still is considered the most original and authentic rendition of the story. As a matter of fact, some of the newer adaptations are hardly more than imitations that fail to bring convincing interpretations to the plot and characters.
Key to understanding China
Most people who are serious about learning Chinese, watch or read Journey to the West at some point. There is just no way around it. The legendary journey of the Buddhist monk and his apprentices somehow is fundamental to Chinese culture. The adventures of the Monkey King have left their traces in the Chinese language. Journey to the West is a key to understanding China, although it leaves you with many new questions. About Chinese mythology and religions for example.
Most iconic adaptation of the novel
It’s undisputed that the 1986 Mainland Chinese TV series Journey to the West is one of the most iconic adaptations of the classic 16th-century novel of the same name by Wu Cheng’en. It was produced by China Central Television (CCTV) and directed by Yang Jie. The series is famous for its faithful adaptation, groundbreaking special effects (for its time, please don’t laugh), and memorable performances.
Quick facts:
Original air date: 1986 (first 11 episodes), with all 25 episodes from the first season aired in 1988.
Director: Yang Jie (杨洁)
Number of episodes: 25
Genre: fantasy, adventure, mythology
Language: Mandarin
Network: CCTV
Plot:
The story follows Tang Sanzang (Tripitaka), a Buddhist monk from the Tang Dynasty, on his journey to India to obtain sacred Buddhist scriptures. Accompanying him are his three disciples:
Sun Wukong (Monkey King) – The powerful and rebellious monkey with magical abilities.
Zhu Bajie (Pigsy) – A pig-like creature with a love for food and women.
Sha Wujing (Sandy) – A quiet and loyal river demon.
They face monsters, demons, and gods, many of whom seek to capture and eat Tang Sanzang, believing his flesh grants immortality (长生不死).
Cast:
Liu Xiao Ling Tong (六小龄童) (his stage name) as Sun Wukong (Monkey King) – His performance is legendary and widely regarded as the definitive Monkey King portrayal.
Xu Shaohua (徐少华) / Chi Chongrui (迟重瑞) as Tang Sanzang – Two actors played the monk at different points in the series.
Ma Dehua (马德华) as Zhu Bajie (Pigsy)
Yan Huaili (闫怀礼) as Sha Wujing (Sandy)
Why is it so iconic?
Faithful to the novel – The series closely follows the original text, with many classic lines and poetic verses preserved.
Cultural influence – The show shaped how generations of Chinese viewers perceive the Journey to the West story.
Innovative special effects – Though primitive by today’s standards, wirework, stop-motion, and practical effects were groundbreaking in 1986.
Unforgettable music – The opening theme song “敢问路在何方” (Where is the Road?), sung by Jiang Dawei (蒋大为), became an instant classic.
Hardship in production – The crew faced budget constraints, extreme weather, and technical challenges, often filming in remote locations across China.
Legacy:
Still rebroadcast every year in China, making it a cultural staple.
Inspired many remakes and adaptations, but none have matched its popularity.
Sun Wukong’s portrayal by Liu Xiao Ling Tong remains the most recognized version in China.
Still the best: 1986 (TV series)
Release year: 1986–1988
Episodes: 25 X 45 min.
Director: Yang Jie
Best known for: Definitive Monkey King portrayal
Language level: (Upper) Intermediate Mandarin learners
Where to watch: YouTube (Chinese and English subtitles available)
The complete 1986-adaptation you can find on YouTube with English subtitles.
For Mandarin learners: Reading Journey to the West
The online dictionary Pleco offers its own graded reader series for the Chinese Classics, suitable for non-native speakers. Pleco’s Journey to the West is an abridged version for intermediate learners which stays true to the original as far as I can tell. Watching the series and reading the story with its additional notes on places, monsters and demons together can be very helpful. If you have the time, that is! The story is meant for HSK 4 or 5 learners.
Other adaptations
Countless other adaptations have been made. I can’t guarantee this list is complete. It doesn’t include cartoons for example. Unfortunately, most of them lack quality. I found only one exception.
1996 (TV series)
1999 (TV series)
This is the second season of 86′ version.
2000 (TV series)
2010 (TV series)
2016 (Movie)
Watchable. Famous actress Li Gong plays the “white bone demon” (白骨精). The actor who plays Sun WuKong does a good job as well.
2018 (Movie)
Tangseng visits the legendary 女儿国. High budget, heavy on special effects, but not convincing.
2019 (TV series)
This seems to be a remake of the 1986 CCTV-adaptation.
2022 (Movie)
This movie “齐天大圣” tells the story of Sun Wukong who escaped from Wuzhishan and brought his oppressed demon brothers back to the Heavenly Palace. It has a horrible score on the Chinese movie database Douban, so it can’t be much good.
Recommended: 1986 (TV series) on YouTube
This is the CCTV-version from 1986 with English subtitles.
Did I miss one of your favorite adaptations of Journey to the West or am I being too harsh? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
FAQ: Journey to the West (1986 TV Series)
Is Journey to the West (1986) accurate?
The 1986 Journey to the West TV series is considered one of the most faithful screen adaptations of the original Ming-dynasty novel, although it simplifies parts of the story for television. Many episodic adventures, major demons, and key character traits closely follow the source material, especially the personalities of Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.
However, the series condenses the full novel – which contains 100 chapters – into 25 episodes, meaning some journeys and religious themes are shortened or combined. Despite these changes, Chinese audiences widely regard the 1986 version as capturing the spirit, humor, and moral themes of the classic better than later remakes.
Where can I watch Journey to the West (1986)?
The 1986 Journey to the West TV series is widely available online with subtitles. All episodes can be found on YouTube (like many other Chinese film classics) through official or licensed uploads, often including English subtitles. Depending on your region, the series may also appear on Chinese streaming platforms or archival television channels that specialize in classic dramas.
Because the show remains extremely popular in China, restored versions and remastered clips continue to circulate online, making it one of the easiest classic Chinese TV dramas to access internationally.
How many episodes are there in Journey to the West (1986)?
The original broadcast of Journey to the West (1986) consists of 25 episodes, aired between 1986 and 1988. These episodes cover the most famous adventures from the novel, including the Monkey King’s rebellion in Heaven and the pilgrimage to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures.
Later broadcasts sometimes group episodes differently or include sequel content filmed in the late 1990s, but the core 1986 production is generally recognized as a 25-episode series.
Is Journey to the West (1986) good for Mandarin learners?
Yes, Journey to the West (1986) is often recommended for intermediate Mandarin learners interested in Chinese culture and mythology. The dialogue is relatively clear and theatrical, with slower pacing compared to modern dramas, which makes listening comprehension easier.
Learners benefit from (and get challenged by) repeated cultural expressions, classical references, and mythological vocabulary that frequently appear in Chinese media and everyday idioms. While some language reflects historical or literary styles rather than modern conversation, subtitles and episodic storytelling make the series accessible and rewarding for language learners seeking cultural context alongside listening practice.
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