Guo Yuxin Becomes the First Actress to Bring Vertical Short Drama to National TV

Kapanlagi.com - The Chinese entertainment world has once again delivered a big surprise. This time, the breakthrough comes from the realm of vertical short dramas, which are usually associated with mobile viewing. Who would have thought that the format, familiar with a 9:16 ratio, has now successfully penetrated national television screens.

The name Guo Yuxin suddenly became the center of attention after the short drama she starred in officially aired on one of the giant television stations, Dragon Television, also known as Dongfang Weishi. This is not just a personal achievement, but also a historic moment for the Chinese digital content industry.

1. Vertical Drama Airing in Prime Time China

Northeast Love Story: Flash Marriage Rose

Starting February 18, 2026, a short drama titled Northeast Love Story: Flash Marriage Rose or Dongbei Aiqing Wangshi zhi Shanhun Meigui will officially fill the Golden Theater slot at 9:00 PM.

This drama stars Guo Yuxin alongside Liu Haoqun and is the first vertical drama in the history of Chinese broadcasting to pass strict censorship and conventional television aesthetic standards.

Typically, dramas in vertical format only air on digital platforms and are watched via mobile phones. However, this format has now successfully graduated to prime time on national television. A step that was previously almost unthinkable.

2. Visual Adaptation That Sparks Debate

Northeast Love Story: Flash Marriage Rose - mydramalist

Transferring vertical content to a wide television screen is certainly not an easy task. To address the difference in screen ratio, Dragon TV employed a rather unique visual adaptation technique.

Creative black frames have been added to the left and right sides of the screen containing story summaries, trending topics, and ad slots. Meanwhile, the main show remains centered in its original vertical format.

Even though it occupies only about 40 percent of the horizontal screen area, the visual quality and the performances of the actors remain sharp. Guo Yuxin's expressions are still strongly conveyed to the audience.

However, this innovation has also sparked heated debates on social media platforms like Weibo and Douyin. Some netizens praise this bold move as the future of digital content, viewing it as a form of adaptation by the television industry to changing viewer behavior.

On the other hand, there are those who feel uncomfortable because the television screen seems narrower and not maximized.

3. The Charm of Guo Yuxin and Its Impact on the Industry

Guo Yuxin - DIOR

Regardless of the pros and cons regarding the format, the quality of the story in Northeast Love Story: Flash Marriage Rose has received much praise. This drama presents a Northeast setting in the 90s with a strong emotional atmosphere.

Guo Yuxin, who plays the character Yang Chunrong, is considered to perform naturally and with deep emotion. She successfully brings the character to life and makes it touching.

This success is evidence that the boundary between web short artists and television artists is becoming increasingly blurred. The Chinese entertainment world shows that the platform is no longer the main determinant of prestige.

Guo Yuxin's steps open new doors for actors and creators of vertical short dramas. Short-duration content, when packaged with strong storytelling and acting quality, can indeed penetrate the mainstream market even on national television.

This breakthrough could be the beginning of a major change in the landscape of the Chinese entertainment industry. And the name Guo Yuxin is now recorded as a pioneer in this new history.

(kpl/chn)