Why Chinese Dramas Are Trending in Russia

Chinese Dramas Take Over Russia as Esther Yu, Bai Lu & Xu Kai Win Global Hearts (Wu Zimin)

The global takeover of Chinese dramas is officially in full swing, and the proof’s in the numbers, hearts, and Instagram feeds. At the recent “From Local to Global—Pathways to International Communication Breakthroughs” forum—held on 24 June as part of the 30th Shanghai TV Festival—industry leaders broke down just how far Chinese pop culture has travelled. Spoiler alert: it’s far.

Held at the iconic Shanghai Exhibition Centre, the forum wasn’t just corporate fluff—it brought in big guns from all over, including Vietnam’s Yeah1 Group chairwoman Lê Phương Thảo, Google China’s short drama team, and Meta’s Head of Global Partnerships for Greater China, Wu Zimin. And what they had to say about C-drama’s international rise is music to fan ears.

Esther Yu is a certified global girl

According to Meta's Wu Zimin, actress and idol Esther Yu Shuxin—best known for her sparkly personality and star turns in dramas like Love Between Fairy and Devil—has gained over a million new Instagram followers in the past year alone, now sitting pretty at 4.2 million. Her fans? Not just in China, but across Southeast Asia, Brazil, and even the U.S. Wu mentioned that Yu’s international charm is partly thanks to her social media activity, where fans often comment things like “Thanks for sharing! We love you!” in multiple languages. Bilingual queen behaviour.

Bai Lu, Xu Kai & Wang Xingyue: Huanyu’s international aces

Esther Yu Shuxin’s not the only one making waves. Huanyu Entertainment’s other hot properties—Bai Lu, Xu Kai, and rising heartthrob Wang Xingyue—are all seeing their global clout rise like a stock market chart. Bai Lu has clocked in 2.3 million Instagram followers, with Xu Kai close behind at 2.1 million. 

Even Wang Xingyue, who’s relatively new to the spotlight, already boasts 513k followers. Altogether, that’s over 5 million fans who are tuned in from literally everywhere. Wu added that their reach goes far beyond Asia, with increasing numbers of fans hailing from Latin America.

Russia is fully in its C-drama era

If you still think Chinese dramas are a niche genre, tell that to the Russians. Elena Sambom, Chairwoman of the Moscow World Content Market, revealed that ten Chinese dramas have been smashing it in Russia this year, scoring ratings between 7.4 and 8.8.

Topping the chart is The Double, which is currently sitting at a whopping 8.8. Hot on its heels are romantic titles like Blossom in Adversity, The Tale of Rose, The Legend of Shen Li, and Amidst a Snowstorm of Love—all major fan-faves that are doing the rounds on social media and streaming platforms.

And it’s not just your typical historical fantasy dramas that are making a splash. To the Wonder, a contemporary series set in the breathtaking Altay region, has charmed Russian audiences with its emotional storytelling and cinematic backdrops. Other recent hits include A Moment of Youth, Will Love in Spring, and The Wind Chaser—each praised for solid acting, heartfelt plots, and visuals that scream export quality.

Not just a trend—it’s a movement

This isn’t just about pretty faces and romantic tropes. The rising popularity of Chinese content overseas signals a bigger shift in how entertainment travels across borders. With more celebrities engaging fans globally via Instagram, and more platforms licensing C-dramas for international audiences, the East-to-West wave is real—and only getting stronger.

So whether you're in Bangkok, São Paulo, or Moscow—chances are, someone nearby is binge-watching a Chinese drama right now. And we can’t blame them.