17日凌晨,正在中国进行国事访问的俄罗斯总统普京抵达哈尔滨,继续访华之旅。

Chinese actress Luo Xinyuan played Huang Rong, a beloved wuxia heroine, at Hengdian World Studios. Photo: Courtesy of Luo XinyuanAs China's once-thriving live-action short drama industry looses speed due to the weight of AI-generated content and shrinking investment, a growing number of young actors who once starred in micro-dramas are moving to a different kind of stage: playing roles at cultural tourist attractions.
There, they play martial arts heroes and folk characters for live audiences, finding steadier income and real-time connection with viewers.
"Earning a living with your own hands is nothing to be ashamed of," actress Luo Xinyuan told the Global Times, even as many still hold out hope, waiting for good scripts.
The migration reflects a stark reality. In the first quarter of 2026, AI micro-dramas accounted for more than 95 percent of all micro-dramas released industry-wide, sharply squeezing the space for live-action productions.
By July, pay for leading actors had shrunk by over 50 percent, mid-tier actors by more than 80 percent on average, and daily wages for bottom-rung extras had fallen into double digits, China's CCTV reported.
Luo, a 21-year-old actress, experienced the downturn firsthand. She came to Hengdian, China's largest film and television production base, to shoot short dramas. "When I first arrived, there were many crews preparing in one hotel. Now sometimes there are only one or two, or none," she told the Global Times.
This May, she began playing the role of Huang Rong, a beloved wuxia heroine, at Hengdian World Studios. Her daily routine includes interactive stage competitions, parades and live audience interactions, working nearly 13 hours daily during the peak summer season.
"It's tiring but fulfilling," Luo said. "There are no scripts here. It's more about playing with visitors face to face." The change has eased her anxiety. "When I was filming, I kept worrying about the next job. Now I feel more stable."
Yin Jiaxuan, 25, took a different route. He started his career as a professional character performer at major theme parks, starring in immersive shows based on popular game and film IPs before transitioning to short dramas and online movies in mid-2024.
At the industry's peak, he moved seamlessly between sets.
"One crew wrapped, and the next was already arranged. I'd go straight to makeup the next day and start filming the day after," he said. Now he keeps both identities, taking film roles when they come and returning to scenic spots during holidays.
Yin rejects the stigma that screen acting is the only proper path.
"Screen acting is seen as the professional main road, while street-level performance is treated as amateur work. This invisible prejudice has trapped many performers," he said. Yet the tangible stage offers something the camera cannot.
"Performance comes from life and is higher than life - that is the core of film creation. But now I realize that beyond artistic expression, performance is about building human connections."
Both actors shared that theme park characters must do more than act; they must draw tourists into the scene, delivering emotional value on demand. Visitors come to the scenic spot not just to sightsee, but "to step into a fantasy."

Yin Jiaxuan Photo: Courtesy of Yin JiaxuanScenic areas are reaping the benefits. Media outlets have reported that in Kaifeng's Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City, Central China's Henan Province, tourists who interacted with these characters stayed an average of 2.3 hours longer per day.
Every extra 30 minutes of stay raises the probability of secondary consumption by about 25 percent, according to local data. Revenue jumped from about 80 million yuan ($11.86 million) in 2022 to 1.27 billion yuan in 2025.
While Hengdian World Studios has used characters to boost repeat visits, with annual pass holders returning multiple times "for a specific character."
Cultural scholar Yu Jinlong told the Global Times that the influx of trained actors is upgrading immersive tourism.
"In the past, theme park characters were mostly amateurs doing costume photos. Now professional actors can build complete characters, improvise and connect storylines, turning scenic spots into open-air theaters," he said.
Yu pointed out the uniqueness of China's character boom compared with global immersive entertainment.
"Unlike Western theme parks that rely heavily on mature imported IPs and standardized performances, China's scenic character culture is rooted in local wuxia (martial hero) history and folk customs, encouraging personalized improvisation. Many local scenic spots create hit immersive projects with small investments, forming a unique online-offline communication loop via social media," Yu said.
As China's cultural consumption shifts from sightseeing to participation, Yu said the young actors swapping short drama sets for scenic spots may be shaping a new hybrid career for the country's entertainment workforce.
For Luo, the recognition from visitors is a reward in itself.
"There are tourists who travel from far away just to see my performance. It feels good to be recognized," she said. "Actually, I'm still exploring too. But I think you should do what you love, as long as you have the ability."
。当天,中国国家副主席韩正在哈尔滨同普京共同出席第八届中俄博览会开幕式,宣读习近平主席贺信并致辞。普京会见韩正时表示,我同习近平主席进行了内容充实、富有成效的会晤,为两国关系发展作出长远规划,访问取得圆满成功。双方要密切协调配合,加强各领域务实合作,进一步推进远东—东北地方合作,推动两国关系实现更好发展。

二 | 俄REN TV电视台网站17日报道称,普京此次专程前往哈尔滨,参加第八届中俄博览会和第四届中俄区域合作论坛开幕式,体现了俄方对两国地方合作的重视。黑龙江省是中国对俄经贸合作的重要省份之一,该省不仅同俄接壤,还留有宝贵的历史文化记忆,双方各领域合作成果丰硕。俄卫星通讯社17日称,普京此次访华的主要成果体现了俄中两国在地区和国际事务中的战略协调和合作,并向外界传递了两国坚定维护多边主义和国际秩序的决心。
习近平在致第八届中俄博览会的贺信中指出,在两国共同努力下,中俄关系一步一个脚印扎实向前迈进,以实实在在的合作成果造福两国人民。今年是中俄建交75周年。站在新的历史起点上,两国关系将迎来新的历史机遇,展现更加广阔的发展前景。习近平强调,经过多年培育、发展,中俄博览会已经成为推动双边经贸合作的重要平台。希望两国各界充分利用本届博览会契机,深入交流,共享机遇,共同为推进中俄互利合作添砖加瓦,为两国新时代全面战略协作伙伴关系发展注入新动力。
俄总统新闻秘书佩斯科夫17日对俄《消息报》表示,中俄博览会为两国拓展更多领域合作、实现更大互利共赢提供了重要平台。地方合作是俄中经贸合作的重要组成部分,双方在该层面合作内容非常丰富,具有广阔前景。
今年是中俄建交75周年。中俄政治互信持续深化,经贸合作结出累累硕果。据俄卫星通讯社17日报道,普京在第八届中俄博览会开幕式致辞时表示,俄罗斯支持中方在俄境内进行本地化生产,并愿意为投资者提供优惠、帮助和支持。普京还强调两国间运输物流通道的蓬勃发展,并承诺将继续缩短俄中边境货物和车辆的检查时间。此外,俄地方政府深入研究、细化了相关领域的倡议。例如,卡卢加州打算同中国在汽车领域开展合作。据俄塔社17日报道,此次访华期间,俄代表团成员之一的俄经济发展部长列舍特尼科夫表示,俄中各领域合作正在稳步拓展,每年都有新的合作项目补充投资组合。目前,双方在运输、物流、汽车工业、农业、天然气化工和采矿等领域有80多个大型项目正在进行,总投资约2000亿美元。