China’s AI microdrama boom joins a global surge in mobile viewing

Tencent has introduced Lüpaopao, a free short-drama service inside WeChat, offering AI-generated series alongside live-action and animated titles. This move adds another distribution channel to China's expanding market for serialized mobile entertainment. ByteDance's Hongguo has reached 168 million daily active users, surpassing the combined app-level daily audiences of major streaming services in China.

The growth of AI-generated series and short-drama apps in China is part of a global trend, with international demand for short, serialized viewing on the rise. The combination of free viewing, social discovery, and AI-produced content is changing the way people consume entertainment, with platforms like Hongguo and Lüpaopao competing with traditional streaming services for everyday viewing time.