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Quiet on the Sets
The explosive growth of AI-generated shows resembling live action has shaken China’s multi-billion-yuan microdrama industry. Studios sit idle, while performers and content creators are struggling to find their roles – and engage audiences burned out on AI slop
Crafting the Future
Former CCTV anchor turned cultural advocate argues that the longevity of traditional crafts lies not only in commerce and creativity, but also in their power as mindful,everyday practices that elevate the human experience
Paper Trails
Low-budget indie film Dear You has gone viral in China, touching millions of viewers with its authenticity and storytelling based on the UNESCO-listed letters of the Teochew (Chaoshan) diaspora
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Age Inappropriate
Micro-drama productions featuring young child actors, often playing questionable roles with adult themes in grueling working conditions, are leaving production companies and parents open to accusations of exploitation as experts call for more legal protections
KICKING IT OLD SCHOOL
As traditional martial arts cinema faces a decline, 81-year-old action choreographer and director Yuen Woo-ping defends the genre's legacy with Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert
Knight Riders
A former construction worker turned food delivery rider, Wang Jibing has written thousands of poems inspired by life on the road, giving voice to China's unseen urban laborers