Chongqing - Da Yuan, an actor with Maiya Media, never imagined that his career would take off in China's rapidly growing short drama industry. After years of uncertainty - from barely scraping by as a stand-in actor in Beijing to working as a fitness coach in Chongqing - he found his breakthrough in short dramas, a format that has revolutionized entertainment consumption in China and beyond.

China’s short drama market is projected to reach 107 billion yuan (approximately USD 1.49 billion) by 2027, driven by surging demand for fast-paced, emotionally engaging storytelling. Among the industry leaders is Maiya Media, which has gained international traction by translating its signature short dramas—ranging from urban romances to fantasy adventures—into multiple languages.

Maiya’s streaming app, NetShort, now ranks among the top five most downloaded short drama platforms overseas, reflecting a 1,200% year-on-year increase in global viewership in 2024. One of its latest viral successes, Love’s Labour Lost, stars actor Da Yuan as a warlord from the early 1900s. The series was shot in just eight days and has captivated audiences both in China and abroad.

Da Yuan, formerly a popular Maiya influencer, made a deliberate shift toward acting and has quickly become a recognizable face in the short drama space. He reflected on his transition: "I hope to appear in many more short dramas in the future. They may not be high art, but they help people relax after work. If viewers can laugh, enjoy dinner, and feel at ease while watching my dramas, then I’m proud of what I do."