A 600-year-old village in Zhengzhou City, central China's Henan Province has become a hot location for the filming of micro dramas, attracting film crews with its beautiful scenery and well-preserved ancient architecture.
Yuanqiao Village was first discovered and favored by a production team as a filming location in 2024. Since then, it has hosted more than 50 production teams. Village houses form part of the films' sets, and rental fees have become a key source of revenue.
In 2025, micro dramas accounted for 20 percent of the village's collective income. Many villagers, like 59-year-old Yang Niu, have shifted from farming to acting on screen, earning money as extras.
"When crews come here and said they need background actors, we joined in. Being hired by a film crew makes me proud," Yang said.
"Yuanqiao Old Town exudes a strong sense of everyday life, making it ideal for the scenes they need. Word soon spread among filmmakers about its good scenery and suitability for period dramas, prompting more and more crews to arrive to shoot here," said Si Jianbin, manager of Yuanqiao Village Operation and Management Company.
Old village in central China becomes popular shoot location for micro dramas
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday held a symposium at the Great Hall of the People with winners of 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award and representatives of foreign experts who work in China.
Li extended Chinese New Year wishes and sincere greetings to the foreign experts, and thanked them for their long-term care and support for China's modernization efforts. He also listened to their opinions and suggestions on China's development and government work.
Experts from countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Uganda, Bulgaria, Belarus, and Germany, delivered speeches on topics such as scientific and technological innovation, agriculture development, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, talent cultivation, and investment and cooperation.
Li said that opening up and cooperation is common aspiration of all and the right way forward for humanity, and China will always pursue the basic state policy of opening up and expand international cooperation in various fields.
China hopes that foreign experts will continue to serve as a bridge between the country and the wider world, playing a greater role in fostering understanding and trust, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning for shared benefits, Li said.
Li also said that innovation outcomes and accomplishment that foreign experts achieved in China have broad and positive influence, benefiting not just China, but also the wider world.
Noting that the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan was adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), outlining a blueprint for China's development over the next five years, Li expressed the hope that foreign experts can seize the opportunity, continue to deepen their engagement with China, and work together for a better future.
The premier also stressed that foreign experts working in China are sincere friends of the Chinese people, and the Chinese government will create a better environment for their work and life, strengthen support through innovation policies, and improve services such as visas, social security, healthcare, and education for their children.
The goal, Li said, is to help global talents working in China feel secure in their work, comfortable in their lives, and confident in their development, achieving professional success while also feeling at home in China.
Chinese premier holds symposium with foreign experts in China
