Chinese films and TV shows prove to be hit overseas

Guests cut the ribbon at the Africa launch of a French version of the Chinese TV series Minning Town in Dakar, Senegal, in November. While the popularity of Chinese movies and TV shows reflecting traditional Chinese culture continues to grow, productions based on the life of contemporary Chinese people and their values are also gaining appreciation among audiences worldwide. "There used to be a lot of historical and costume dramas that went overseas, but now there are a series of excellent reality-based dramas that are being well-received abroad," says Zhang Yiwu, a professor of Chinese literature at Peking University, talking about the diversified themes of modern Chinese TV series. Genres such as martial arts, modern life and urban romance dramas are popular among African audiences, says Zhang Jun, director of the Chinese channel of StarTimes, a Chinese media group that has become one of the most influential digital TV operators in Africa. "The increasing number of Chinese movies and TV series going overseas reflects the improvement of China's overall national strength, cultural soft power and cultural influence," says Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association.