Why Are Chinese Dramas Always Long? Here Are the Rarely Known Reasons Behind It

Kapanlagi.com - If you have ever watched Chinese dramas and felt that your time was consumed just for one season, you are not alone. Many global viewers wonder: why can Chinese dramas reach 40 to 70 episodes, while other series only have a dozen episodes? The answer is not simply because viewers enjoy them.

This long duration is actually the result of many factors, ranging from business strategies, local viewing culture, to story sources adapted from web novels with thousands of pages. In an increasingly competitive entertainment world, quantity has become part of the strategy to reach a wider audience and generate greater revenue.

With the growing popularity of Chinese dramas on international streaming platforms like iQiyi and WeTV, understanding the reasons behind the long episodes becomes important, not only for viewers but also for content creators and entertainment industry observers.

1. Episode-Based Payment System

Why is Chinese drama production always long? (credit: mydramalist)

One of the main reasons why Chinese dramas have so many episodes is the episode-based payment system. Platforms like iQiyi pay drama producers per episode, not per project.

This encourages producers to create longer dramas to gain more profits. Furthermore, more episodes mean more opportunities for product placement within the story.

2. Adaptation from Long Novels and Web Novels

Why is Chinese drama production always long? (credit:mydramalist)

Many Chinese dramas are adapted from very long web novels, which can even reach 2 million words. This is double the word count of the entire Harry Potter series.

To align the length of the story with its source material, drama makers tend to create as many episodes as possible to avoid disrupting the original plot. Additionally, web novel writers are also paid based on the number of characters written, which encourages them to intentionally extend the story.

3. Regulations That Were Once Loose Are Now Starting to Be Restricted

Why is Chinese drama production always long? (credit:mydramalist)

Before 2020, there were no strict limits on the number of episodes in a drama. Some titles, such as Empresses in the Palace, even reached 76 episodes, and The Mystic Nine delayed the main plot until the 18th episode.

However, due to much criticism from viewers who felt that dramas were too "watered down" (too many fillers), Chinese broadcasting authorities eventually limited the maximum number of episodes to 40. But even with this restriction, a single season of a drama can still last over 30 hours.

4. Local Viewing Habits That Support the Long Format

Why is Chinese drama production always long? (credit: mydramalist)

In China, dramas typically air 2 episodes per night or per week, both on TV and digital platforms like iQiyi. This release pattern makes the length of episodes feel reasonable to local viewers.

Additionally, binge-watching culture also contributes. Viewers enjoy marathon-watching dozens of episodes at once, so long dramas still have a loyal following.

5. Efficient Production and Supportive Infrastructure

Why is Chinese drama production always long? (credit: mydramalist)

Production facilities like Hengdian World Studios allow for fast and efficient shooting. Comprehensive infrastructure encourages producers to record many episodes in a shorter time.

With this efficiency, the production of long dramas feels more logistically and financially sensible. It also helps production teams manage rising salaries for actors and crew.

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(kpl/vna)