C-dramas make waves with overseas viewers

Other influential TV series overseas in this category include With You, an anthology series showcasing various individuals' battles against the COVID-19 pandemic, and Faith Makes Great, a collection of 40 stories chronicling the 100-year history of the Communist Party of China.

Additionally, some popular dramas highlighting China's decades-long friendship with foreign countries have also captivated audiences on both sides.

For instance, Welcome to Milele Village, inspired by the real-life stories of more than 30 Chinese medical teams dispatched to African countries, has garnered over 2 million views overseas.

The drama received an award highlighting the friendship between China and Tanzania from Samia Suluhu Hassan, the president of Tanzania, in late August last year.

"These excellent TV dramas embody distinctive Chinese values, showcase the striving spirit of the Chinese people, offer a fresh array of options for international audiences, and open new doors for Chinese dramas to reach global viewers," says Zhu.

However, costume dramas, as one of the earliest genres to attract overseas audiences, such as the 1986 TV series Journey to the West, continue to be the most popular type of Chinese television drama in the international market.

A report from the giant streamer Youku reveals that Chinese costume dramas have been translated into a total of 16 foreign languages, including English, Spanish and Arabic, and distributed on multiple Youku overseas platforms, reaching over 200 countries and regions from April 2022 to July 2023.