Chinese developers turn empty properties into profitable micro-drama filming locations amid economic slowdown

Chinese real estate developers are pursuing new revenue streams from micro-drama production crews amid the sluggish economy, leveraging their inventory of lavishly decorated commercial properties as ready-made filming locations.

In third-tier cities across Sichuan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, and Hebei, numerous commercial properties have opened their doors to micro-drama crews, renting out spaces as shooting locations for daily rates ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 yuan.

Statistics show that the mainland micro-drama market exceeded 50 billion yuan last year and is projected to reach 100 billion yuan by 2027, surpassing the total box office revenue of the film market.

Greenland Group established a micro-drama production base in a mixed-use real estate project in Zhengzhou. This massive project, spanning 604 acres, was initially launched in 2012 and includes plans for Grade A office towers, commercial centers, hotels, and residential complexes.

Another landmark project by the group in Henan, Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza, will also incorporate micro-drama production operations.

In the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, a shopping mall was converted into a short video production base last year, featuring multiple pre-built settings such as offices, courtrooms, banquet halls, and hospitals.

The facility has produced nearly 700 micro-dramas so far, with the capacity to host eight to nine crews daily amid growing demand.

Furthermore, many high-end office buildings in first-tier cities also expect to attract short video production crews as temporary tenants to alleviate heavy operational pressure caused by high vacancy rates. 

“Major developers overlooked these small earnings when the market was thriving,” said a commercial property leasing agent in Guangzhou. “However, they now strive to accommodate any opportunity that boosts revenue.”