Source: Global Times
The website of "Deutsche Welle" published an article on December 28, titled: "Chinese Drama Viewership Surges Globally". Qiao Lin moved to Norway from Malaysia in her twenties, thus beginning her journey of watching Chinese TV dramas. As a Chinese overseas, Qiao Lin hopes to reconnect with her cultural roots. At that time, a friend recommended Chinese TV dramas (C-drama, short for "Chinese dramas") to her. Qiao Lin said that what really attracted her was the cultural aspect, and watching Chinese dramas became a way to explore her cultural roots.
Tanveer Khan from Bangladesh, after completing his secondary school exams in 2018, accidentally saw a clip of a Chinese historical costume drama while browsing videos and was immediately captivated. Tanveer said that some scenes could instantly resonate with people, and at that moment he knew this was exactly what he wanted to watch. Since then, he has become a devoted fan of Chinese dramas. Now, he is studying at a university in Dhaka and also manages a Facebook group for Chinese drama fans, which has over 700,000 members worldwide. He often translates English subtitles into Bengali. He said that the quality of Chinese dramas is very high, and he wants to share them with his friends.
The global rise of Chinese entertainment products began around the year 2000. The film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" brought Chinese stories to the world with its poetic martial arts narrative and grand visuals. This momentum later extended to the television drama field, with themes evolving from historical epics to modern love and fantasy works. Industry analysts say that Chinese dramas have become an important pillar of the Asian premium on-demand market. They bring sustained audience engagement and cross-border influence.
Scholars believe that the sharp increase in the viewership of Chinese TV dramas is not only about entertainment or revenue, but also a form of soft power output.
Qiao Lin, a Chinese drama fan, said that for international audiences, the high accessibility of Chinese soft power is evident in the ease of access to these TV dramas. Many producers release complete episodes on online platforms, update subtitles quickly, and offer a variety of language options. She said that this is a clear signal that they hope to reach a global audience. Qiao Lin and many other viewers around the world believe that these Chinese dramas provide a unique perspective, reflecting a corner of contemporary China. (Author: Ola Tangen Junior)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7589043755643863579/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.