While people are still debating whether the title of "China's No. 1 Foreign Trade City" will change hands again, Shenzhen has already started on a brand new, imaginative track.
This time, it's not mobile phones or drones, but the booming short dramas.
Recently, Shenzhen's Qianhai district unveiled two key platforms: the Guangdong (Shenzhen) Game Overseas Service Center and the Shenzhen Short Drama Overseas Service Platform.
Earlier, the "2025 China Short Drama Industry Comprehensive Strength City" list was released, with Shenzhen directly winning the title of "Short Drama Overseas Capital."
This city, renowned for its "Shenzhen speed," has added another "dominant" status after becoming the third city in China's APEC summit.
From a policy perspective, Shenzhen's actions have been swift and precise.
In July 2024, Shenzhen introduced measures offering subsidies of up to 2 million yuan for outstanding online short dramas and up to 5 million yuan for operating online short drama industrial parks.
In August 2025, the "Several Measures of Shenzhen Municipality to Promote the High-Quality Development of the Digital Creative Industry" elevated the overseas expansion of micro-dramas to an unprecedented strategic level. The document explicitly encourages micro-dramas to go global and expand into international markets.
Data shows that Shenzhen's micro-drama industry is developing well, with key enterprises experiencing significant growth. The industry's output value is projected to reach 6 billion yuan in 2025, doubling from 2024.
From an industry perspective, the overseas expansion of micro-dramas is no longer a small-scale undertaking; it is becoming the next golden track worth tens of billions of dollars.
Chinese "CEOs" and "warriors" are using platforms like TikTok and ReelShort to meet the emotional needs of global users with their efficient storytelling and universal resonance. Some organizations predict that global micro-drama revenue will reach $11 billion in 2025.
This is not only about cultural export, but also the export of a complete industry chain, including production, operation, payment, and traffic.
What Shenzhen aims to do is leverage its newly established "one-stop" platform to focus on industry issues such as the employment of foreign actors in micro-dramas and overseas distribution, standardizing and scaling up this model to lower the barriers to international expansion and promote the showcase and dissemination of high-quality micro-dramas on the international stage.
Many may ask, why has Shenzhen been dubbed the "Capital of International Expansion"?
The answer lies deep within Shenzhen's unique characteristics.
First, it is China's premier foreign trade city. Over 40 years of accumulated experience means Shenzhen possesses a highly mature global network of cross-border logistics, payment settlement, and commerce. These capabilities can be seamlessly integrated into the international expansion of micro-dramas.
Second, it is China's technological powerhouse. The creative incubation, AI scriptwriting, and post-production behind micro-dramas all rely on strong technological support. Shenzhen's robust internet technology industry provides a powerful foundation for micro-drama production.
More importantly, Qianhai, as a "special zone within a special zone," serves as a national window for the opening up of the financial industry, possessing unique advantages in policy experimentation and institutional breakthroughs, making it the ideal testing ground for micro-dramas going global. Furthermore, Shenzhen also boasts a strong foundation in the cultural industry. In 2024, Shenzhen had 3,754 large-scale cultural and related enterprises, achieving revenue of 1,287.508 billion yuan, accounting for half of the province's total (51.5%) and nearly one-tenth of the national total (9.1%).
At a deeper level, Shenzhen's attempts and explorations also represent a profound upgrade in its urban narrative.
In the past, Shenzhen exported hardware to the world. Components from Huaqiangbei, iPhones assembled by Foxconn, and drones from DJI... all witnessed the glorious era of manufacturing going global.
Now, Shenzhen aims to showcase its modern urban image and the flourishing of China's cultural industry to the world through short dramas—the most accessible and direct form.
From selling products to selling content, Shenzhen's upgrade path in the cultural industry outlines China's trajectory of boldly climbing the global value chain.
Undoubtedly, as Shenzhen embarks on a new journey, cultural barriers, localization challenges, and overseas policy risks are all hidden reefs it must traverse.
As a city that has emerged from fierce market competition, with its policy, industry, technology, and geographical advantages converging in one place, Shenzhen has already secured a significant foothold in the global arena of short dramas.
China's leading foreign trade city is striving to establish itself as a dominant force. This time, it aims to conquer the screens of audiences worldwide.
