600-year-old village becomes short drama filming hub

A 600-year-old village in Central China's Henan province has become a bustling hub for short film productions. Yuanqiao village in Dengfeng has preserved its historic charm while transforming into a natural film studio, creating new economic opportunities.

Even the local animals are often cast in supporting roles. A donkey, for instance, can earn up to 500 yuan ($77) per day for its on-screen appearances.

"At first, we just thought it was fun. We never imagined we could actually make money from it," said a villager.

"It started almost by accident, matching the needs of short dramas with what we already had here," said Liu Wantao, Party secretary of Yuanqiao village.

Before 2018, Yuanqiao was like many rural Chinese villages: mostly elderly and children, with young adults working far away in cities. The first wave of returnees arrived between 2018 and 2021, drawn by improving village conditions and early tourism projects.

Then in 2025, the short video and micro-drama boom sparked a second—and larger—wave of returning youths.

"Our goal is to make the village a place where young people want to stay, work, and build a future," Liu said.