Today's Highlights：
1. Key Findings of the "China Mini Series Industry Development White Paper (2025)" Releases
2. "Great Figures from Hometown Residences" Mini Series Creation and Collection Action Plan (Sichuan Station) Launches
3. Qiantang District, Hangzhou, Strives to Build the "Nation's Top Mini Series Industry Hub"
4. Mini Series Shao Nian Bao Zheng Zai Lu Zhou (Young Bao Zheng in Luzhou) Starts Filming in Hefei
5. Local Mini Series Qi Huan Zhou Yu (Magic Spell) Starts Filming in Taiyuan Ancient County
6. Mini Series: How to Evolve from Fast-Produced Hits to Sustained High-Quality Productions
Key Findings of the "China Mini Series Industry Development White Paper (2025)" Releases
On November 11, Zhou Jie, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Netcasting Services Association, released the key findings of the "China Mini Series Industry Development White Paper (2025)" at the 3rd Hangzhou · Mini Series Conference. Between January and August, 2025, a total of 325 horizontal mini series were released across major comprehensive video platforms (a 24.52% year-on-year increase). The launch of vertical series on short video platforms, mini-programs, and mini series apps also saw significant growth, with an estimated 40,000 independently and fully produced vertical series expected to be released throughout 2025. Additionally, the large-screen sector also showed explosive growth in supply; by September 2025, 94 mini series had aired on national satellite TV channels, reflecting a 261.5% increase compared to the same period last year. Despite the surge in supply, nearly 60% of surveyed respondents reported they would rewatch their favorite series, underscoring the long-tail value of high-quality content.
"Great Figures from Hometown Residences" Mini Series Creation and Collection Action Plan (Sichuan Station) Launches
On November 10, the 2025 Chengdu-Chongqing Film and Television Development Conference was held in Chengdu, during which the "Cross-industry Integration · Film and Television Future—International Broadcasting, Television, Audio-Visual, and AIGC Innovation Partnership Plan" was launched. As part of this plan, the "Great Figures from Hometown Residences" mini series creation and collection (Sichuan Station) was also unveiled at the conference.
The "Great Figures from Hometown Residences" mini series creation and collection action plan (Sichuan Station) aims to thoroughly implement the spirit of the Seventh Plenary Session of the 12th Sichuan Provincial Committee. Focused on the theme "Beautiful Tianfu · Comfortable Sichuan—Touring Sichuan with Mini Series," it will gather projects such as "Exploring Ancient Shu Sites through Drama," "Exploring Three Kingdoms Relics through Drama," "Exploring Literary Hometowns through Drama," "Exploring Master Residences through Drama," "Exploring Red-themed Memories through Drama," and "Exploring Memories of the Third Front Construction in Central and Western China through Drama.
Qiantang District, Hangzhou, Strives to Build the "Nation's Top Mini Series Industry Hub"
On November 10, the China Netcasting Services Association Mini Series Creative Village and Talent Training Center (hereinafter referred to as the "Creative Village") was officially launched in Jiangdong Village, Hezhuang Street, Qiantang District, Hangzhou. This marks the beginning of a new phase in the development of Qiantang District's mini series industry, characterized by a "creativity-led, talent-driven, and ecosystem collaborative" approach. The launch injects strong momentum into the district's goal of becoming the "Nation's Top Mini Series Industry Hub." Currently, Qiantang District has attracted over 70 mini series enterprises from both upstream and downstream sectors, including six of the nation's top ten leading mini series companies. Data shows that in 2024, core mini series enterprises in Qiantang District achieved an impressive 129% year-on-year revenue growth, maintaining a robust growth rate of 45% in the first three quarters of this year.
Mini Series Shao Nian Bao Zheng Zai Lu Zhou (Young Bao Zheng in Luzhou) Starts Filming in Hefei
On November 11, the youth inspirational mystery mini series Shao Nian Bao Zheng Zai Lu Zhou (Young Bao Zheng in Luzhou) started filming at the Lord Bao Park in Hefei, Anhui. Presented in a vertical-screen format, the series consists of 50 episodes in total. Set in Luzhou during the Northern Song Dynasty, the story focuses on the school life and personal growth of Bao Zheng in his teenage years.
The series demonstrates young Bao Zheng who is smart, brave, honest, and full of curiosity. It tells the story of how he solves a series of mysterious cases in his hometown, and gradually forms his moral foundation of "a pure heart and a straight path," embodying the values of integrity and righteousness that would later define his legacy.
Local Mini Series Qi Huan Zhou Yu (Magic Spell) Starts Filming in Taiyuan Ancient County
Recently, the local mini series Qi Huan Zhou Yu (Magic Spell), written and directed by Wu Wentao and produced by Taiyuan Qianhui Cultural Media Co., Ltd., officially started filming in Taiyuan Ancient County, Shanxi.
Rooted in Shanxi's local agricultural products and tourist attractions, the series tells the story of a young man who returns to his hometown to start a business. After many ups and downs, he learns to stay grounded, free from envy, and comes to realize that working hard and living in the present is the true happiness.
Unlike traditional mini series that rely on advertising or paid streaming for monetization, Qi Huan Zhou Yu introduces an innovative "Drama + Commerce" model. This model deeply integrates products and services into the storyline, allowing them to drive the plot and enrich character development, rather than appearing as awkward product placements.
Mini Series: How to Evolve from Fast-Produced Hits to Sustained High-Quality Productions
Industry experts note that China's mini series industry is now at a key turning point, shifting from "quantitative growth" to "qualitative transformation." In terms of regulation, it is important to identify development bottlenecks and focus on key stages of the production process, helping the industry move beyond fast-produced viral hits towards a steady output of high-quality productions, achieving both cultural value and commercial success.
"The foundation of the content industry lies in the content itself." In the view of the industry insiders, to truly realize its structural role within the wider creative economy, the mini series format must keep improving the creative mechanisms and value system in the future, from narrative innovation to aesthetic expression, and from business logic to cultural communication. The focus should always be on strong content, building a solid creative foundation with cultural depth. Only then can mini series evolve from a short-lived trend into a long-term creative force that lasts through time.
