#China #Beijing #iQIYI #online entertainment #mini-dramas

iQIYI’s 2025 World Conference: A New Era for Entertainment

On April 23, 2025, Beijing was abuzz as iQIYI, known as China’s leading online entertainment portal, hosted its highly anticipated World Conference. The event unveiled over 400 new titles alongside ambitious strategic initiatives that signal a significant evolution in how content will engage viewers in the coming years.

More than Just New Titles

Under the leadership of Yu Gong, Founder and CEO of iQIYI, the conference emphasized an innovative approach to content delivery — merging long and short storytelling formats. According to Gong, “2025 is a turning point for the industry,” highlighting the need for high-quality storytelling and the expansion of mini-drama formats that appeal to today’s quickly shifting viewer preferences.

As part of its new content strategy, iQIYI is rolling out an impressive slate of programming that spans various genres—from drama series and mini-dramas to documentaries and animation. At the forefront of this transformation are five key drama brands: “Laugh On,” “Light On,” “Love On,” “Masterpiece,” and “Microcosm” Theaters. Each brand aims to offer serialized content that presents a mix of genres, ensuring that both traditional and contemporary audience tastes are met.

Emphasis on Mini-Dramas

Among the most exciting initiatives presented was iQIYI’s commitment to mini-dramas, short episodes lasting just 1 to 5 minutes. The