Chinese Drama to the Peak: This is Its Strength, How It Differs from K-Dramas, and the Challenges of Regulatory Rules

One of the main reasons why Chinese dramas are becoming more popular is their very diverse stories. There are historical dramas set in royal times, fantasy about gods and goddesses, modern love stories as smooth as a highway, family tales, and even dramas with criminal themes and school romances. The genres are complete, just choose according to your taste.

In addition, Chinese actors and actresses are known for their attractive visuals. The handsome and beautiful faces that grace the screen certainly make viewers enjoy following the story.

Moreover, now Chinese dramas are increasingly accessible through various OTT platforms such as iQIYI, WeTV, Netflix, and Viu, complete with subtitles. This brings Chinese dramas closer to international audiences, including in Indonesia. The prices of these OTT services are also relatively cheaper.

Considering the continuously rising popularity, what is the actual potential of Chinese dramas in the future? It can be said that the prospects are quite bright, but there are still challenges that must be faced. The Chinese government, through the NRTA (National Radio and Television Administration), has issued a number of strict regulations. For example, the number of episodes in one drama should not exceed 40 episodes to maintain story quality.

Furthermore, stories about time travel, reincarnation, or Boys' Love (BL) themes are strictly prohibited. This is all done so that the dramas aired are considered more "wholesome" according to cultural standards there.

The government also limits actor payments. The total fee for all actors in one drama must not exceed 40% of the production costs, and the lead actors can only receive a maximum of 70% of the total salary of the cast. This policy makes it difficult to gather top-tier actors like Yang Mi or Angelababy in the same project, as production costs can balloon.

When compared to Korean dramas, there are some interesting differences. For example, in terms of the number of episodes, Korean dramas usually have 12–24 episodes, while Chinese dramas can reach 30–40 episodes, or even more for costume dramas.

Then, Chinese dramas generally must be fully completed before airing (pre-produced) because they have to pass strict censorship. Meanwhile, Korean dramas sometimes use a live-shoot system, where filming and airing happen almost simultaneously, allowing the story to be adjusted according to audience reactions. However, some Chinese dramas take a very long time to air after filming, and some may not air at all.

Additionally, in China, there is something called "melon," a term for rumors about who will star in a drama before it is officially announced. In Korea, such things rarely happen openly because they are usually reported first by the media.

Another distinction is that for costume dramas in China, much of the filming is done at Hengdian World Studios—a massive film studio complex in Hengdian, Zhejiang Province. Hengdian is often referred to as "Hollywood of China" due to its extraordinarily large size, about 330 hectares (larger than many small towns!).

There are various sets of magnificent buildings, ranging from replicas of the Qin and Tang Dynasty palaces, ancient villages, to traditional markets, all specifically built for film and drama production. Many famous costume dramas such as Eternal Love and The Long Ballad were filmed here. Due to its complete facilities, many drama productions choose Hengdian for efficiency in time and cost.

Another trend that is currently on the rise in China is microdrama. Microdrama is a short drama with each episode lasting only about 2–10 minutes, specifically designed for viewing on mobile phones. This microdrama has become a crazy trend, even reaching a market value of over 37 billion yuan in 2023 and is predicted to surpass 100 billion yuan in the coming years!

Interestingly, microdrama is not only popular among women but is also very popular among young men. According to a report from iiMedia Research, about 70% of microdrama viewers are men aged 19 to 35. The stories in microdrama are usually fast-paced, exciting, and get straight to the point, making them suitable for those who want quick entertainment without spending too much time.

Seeing this trend, Chinese dramas have a great opportunity to continue to grow, although they still need to adapt to various strict regulations. With creative stories, talented actors, and new innovations like microdramas, it is not impossible for Chinese dramas in the future to become even stronger, potentially becoming a major competitor to Korean dramas in the international market.