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| New Rules for China’s Short Dramas: Less Chaos, More Quality |
Short dramas in China have been everywhere lately — fast, dramatic, and often completely over the top.
They’re the kind of bite-sized chaos that makes you go “just one more episode”, and before you know it, you’ve watched twenty in a row.
But now, China’s National Radio and Television Administration (CNRA) says it’s time to bring a bit of order to the madness.
Last month, CNRA announced a set of new guidelines called the “Micro Short Drama Management Measures” (微短剧管理办法), which will keep a close eye on three big things: wild storylines, ultra-rich CEO fantasies, and overly dramatic clickbait titles.
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The short drama boom isn’t slowing down any time soon. With their punchy storytelling and addictive emotional swings, they’ve become the favourite form of entertainment for millions across China — and even beyond.
According to recent data, there are now around 696 million short-drama users nationwide, and the industry was valued at nearly 50 billion yuan last year. It’s expected to climb even higher in 2025.
Most of these mini-series thrive on themes like betrayal, revenge, rich-poor romances, or “accidental babies of destiny”. It’s wild, unrealistic, and sometimes hilarious — but that’s exactly what makes them so bingeable.
What the New Chinese Short Drama Rules Actually Target
Deputy Director Han Dong explained at a September 25 press event that while the short-drama scene is creative and booming, it’s also becoming a bit chaotic.
The new regulations are meant to promote “healthy, authentic, and responsible” storytelling. Here’s what’s being watched closely:
1️⃣ Exaggerated or Absurd Storylines
Some short dramas push fantasy to cartoonish levels — like a woman giving birth to 99 children for a royal heir, or a billionaire who falls for a cleaning lady who turns out to be his long-lost god-sister.
CNRA says stories like these “distort reality” and might gradually disappear from major streaming platforms once the new measures take effect.
2️⃣ The Almighty CEO Trope
Everyone knows this one — the icy-cold billionaire who melts for an ordinary girl and fixes her life with money and power. It’s practically a genre of its own.
But officials argue that these dramas “over-glorify wealth and dominance” and risk spreading unrealistic ideas about love and success.
Creators are now encouraged to portray entrepreneurs as grounded, hardworking, and human — not flawless saviours with unlimited bank accounts.
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3️⃣ Sensational or Misleading Titles
Titles like “When the Actress Becomes the Boss’s Bride Overnight” or “My Rich Mother-in-Law’s Secret Baby” might soon vanish too.
The CNRA believes attention-grabbing headlines that don’t match the actual plot can mislead audiences and lower storytelling quality.
But it’s not all restriction and rules.
The CNRA also wants to guide short dramas towards better storytelling, higher production value, and even international collaboration.
Instead of endless “CEO x poor girl” setups, the goal is to highlight relatable struggles, family bonds, and cultural pride — things that can also resonate overseas.
Series like The Wind of Journey and Finding Home in Blossoms are being cited as examples of how mini-dramas can be short yet meaningful.
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The agency has also hinted that cooperation with foreign actors and production teams — including Korean and Southeast Asian creatives — will be encouraged to help short dramas go global.
As soon as the news dropped, social media lit up with mixed reactions.
Some people think it’s a good move — after all, not every show needs to be a melodramatic roller-coaster.
But many fans are sceptical, saying it could ruin what made short dramas fun in the first place.
“They’re popular because they’re messy and unrealistic. That’s the charm!”
“Work stress isn’t regulated, but short dramas are?”
“If you sanitise everything, who’s going to watch it?”
Despite the backlash, CNRA insists the goal isn’t to limit creativity — just to make sure the booming short-drama industry grows responsibly, without losing its storytelling roots.
With nearly 700 million viewers and more than 50 billion yuan in play, the short-drama market is too big to ignore. It’s shaping trends, careers, and even how stories are told across Asia.
The new rules might tone down the crazier tropes, but if creators can adapt — keeping the spice but adding more depth — China’s mini-drama world could end up stronger, smarter, and more exportable than ever.