Relying on favorable policies, a mature industrial system, and diverse dissemination channels, Shanxi's short drama industry is rapidly evolving and emerging as a new growth driver, strengthening the integration of culture with tourism, boosting employment, and promoting cultural exports.

The Shanxi Short Drama Industry Development and Exchange Event kicks off in Taiyuan. [Photo by Kang Shaoqiong/Shanxi Daily]

By the end of June 2026, there were 988 entities operating in Shanxi's short drama industry, with 1,386 dramas registered and released in the first half of the year. The industry employs 21,000 people directly and supports 65,000 jobs across the entire industrial chain.

Multiple cities within Shanxi are collaborating to create a thriving industry landscape. The five major short drama bases – Taiyuan, Datong, Linfen, Jinzhong, and Yuncheng – each draw on their own cultural heritage, historic architecture and natural scenery to create short dramas that promote local tourism and intangible cultural heritage while showcasing the unique character of each city.

Several high-quality productions have received national recognition and film awards. Their highly shareable nature has successfully promoted local culture, exemplifying the effect of short dramas boosting cities' fame.

Shanxi is also incorporating artificial intelligence to boost the short drama industry, revolutionizing production models and improving efficiency. The province is steadily promoting its dramas globally, with over 1,000 works reaching international audiences in the first half of the year, and sharing vibrant stories of Shanxi with the world.