In the heart of Zhejiang province, Hengdian World Studios – often called 'China's Hollywood' – buzzes with round-the-clock activity as crews produce vertical short dramas at unprecedented speeds. This multi-billion dollar industry, revolutionizing digital storytelling, now completes entire series faster than traditional productions film single episodes.
'What TikTok did for video length, Chinese studios are doing for narrative structure,' explains CGTN's Ankit Prasad from a bustling Hengdian soundstage. Productions here leverage AI-assisted scripting and modular sets to create 100-episode romance or thriller series in under seven days, tailored for smartphone audiences.
The sector's 2025 growth aligns with China's digital economy expansion, attracting overseas investors while setting new benchmarks in content monetization through microtransactions. Industry analysts note these bite-sized dramas now account for 18% of China's domestic streaming revenue, with platforms like Tencent Video and iQiyi reporting triple-digit year-on-year growth in short-form consumption.
