Today's Highlights：
1. China Tightens Regulations on Children's Mini Series to Curb Adultification, Instrumentalisation, and Entertainment-Driven Content
2. CMG Unveils 55 Major Dramas and 3 Mini Series, with Five Flagship Dramas Premiering for the Spring
3. China's First Science-Based Fitness Mini Series Shou Wo Jian Fei Mi Ji, Gu Ren Bei Wo Juan Ku Le Officially Launches
4. Launch Event for Qing Shan Qing, the First Vertical Mini Series Across the Taiwan Strait, Held in Beijing  
5. The Vertical Short Dramas Fen Xue Tang Xin and Kai Gua Ren Sheng Begin filming in Changbai Mountain

China Tightens Regulations on Children's Mini Series to Curb Adultification, Instrumentalisation, and Entertainment-Driven Content 
 

China's National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) has issued new regulatory guidance aimed at tightening oversight of children-focused mini series, calling for a clampdown on three problematic trends: "adultification," "instrumentalization," and excessive "entertainment-driven" content. The guidance, released recently by the NRTA's Online Audiovisual Programmes Department, comes amid a surge in mini series branded with labels such as "cute kids" and "parent–child," a genre that has expanded rapidly on short-video platforms. While these productions have diversified short-drama formats, experimented with new narrative styles and reflected contemporary family relationships, regulators say some have increasingly veered into inappropriate creative territory.

According to the guidance, children's mini series must not deliberately portray child characters as scheming, calculating or morally ambiguous in order to manufacture dramatic conflict, nor should they rely on tropes such as time travel or rebirth to justify narratives centred on manipulation, power struggles or the notion of "using evil to counter evil." The notice explicitly prohibits children from being cast in storylines involving "domineering CEO" archetypes, school bullying, or plots that incite confrontation and antagonism—elements deemed characteristic of adult-oriented drama.

The guidance also warned against the commercial exploitation of child performers under the guise of talent development. Children's mini series, it said, must not engage in "star-making" hype that treats children as tools for profit, promotes the idea that fame should come early, or equates appearance with value. Content that encourages families to pay excessive fees for training, packaging or promotion is strictly forbidden. Production teams are also barred from subjecting child actors to excessive working hours or involving them in scenes featuring violence, horror, or intense emotional conflict beyond their physical or psychological capacity.
The guidance further calls for a rejection of content that uses humour or entertainment as a pretext for producing vulgar, illogical material that falls outside children's cognitive understanding. Regulators stressed that "artistic imagination" should not be used to justify the promotion of utilitarian or overly competitive notions of childhood development. An official from the NRTA's Online Audiovisual Programmes Department stated the measures are intended to strengthen protections for minors and prevent creative practices that could harm children's physical and mental well-being.

CMG Unveils 55 Major Dramas and 3 Mini Series, with Five Flagship Dramas Premiering for the Spring
 

On January 9, China Media Group (CMG) released its 2026 television slate under the banner "Major Dramas on CMG," announcing the spring premieres of five flagship dramas: Xiao Cheng Da Shi (Big Stories of a Small Town), Sheng Ming Shu (Burn to Be Alive), Tai Ping Nian (Swords into Plowshares), Hao Hao De Shi Guang (Good Times Ahead), and Zhu Jue (The Protagonist). The launch event unveiled a total of 55 major dramas and three premium mini series, featuring themes of family and nation, everyday warmth, and social transformation. The lineup invites audiences to welcome the new year through stories that reflect the beauty of life and the spirit of the times.

The three premium mini series announced are Kan De Jian Feng Jing De Chuang (A Window with a View), which focuses on the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" and showcases Zhejiang's island regions through a story of returning-home entrepreneurship; E Mei, which blends realism and fantasy to portray Mount Emei's sacred landscapes, integrating elements of Chan Buddhism, tea culture, and martial arts aesthetics; and Bai Nian Xiang Yu (A Centennial Encounter), which highlights the enduring ethos of national enterprises, emphasizing their commitment to real industries and their ability to stand at the forefront of changing times.

The event also marked the launch of the CMG Premium Mini Series Creative Conference on Innovation and Creation. CMG announced it will continue its partnership with Shenzhen to bring together creative talent, incubate high-quality content, and enable premium mini series to tell China's stories through broader themes and more mature narrative forms.

On the same day, the strategic partnership for the CMG China Television Drama Annual Gala was unveiled. The 4th CMG China Television Drama Annual Gala will take place in Zhuhai, featuring a series of events, including a themed music gala, field research activities for film and television professionals, and creative forums. Set in the vibrant coastal city, the gala aims to open a new chapter in the deep integration of television drama culture and urban identity.

China's First Science-Based Fitness Mini Series Shou Wo Jian Fei Mi Ji, Gu Ren Bei Wo Juan Ku Le Officially Launches
 

On January 9, China's first science-based fitness mini series, Shou Wo Jian Fei Mi Ji, Gu Ren Bei Wo Juan Ku Le (With Weight Loss Secrets, I Drove the Ancients Crazy), officially launched. The series responds to the joint initiative "Exercise with Mini Series" launched by the General Administration of Sport of China and the National Radio and Television Administration. By creatively integrating modern scientific fitness concepts into an ancient setting, the drama uses a humorous "collision between past and present" to convey fat-loss knowledge and resonate with audiences' aspirations for a healthy lifestyle.

The story follows Lin Tian (played by Wang Haoxiang), a modern fitness coach who time-travels to ancient times and becomes known as the "fattest man in town." Armed with scientific fitness and nutrition knowledge, he successfully reshapes his body and persuades his equally ridiculed fiancée, Liu Yueru (played by Guo Jing), to join him in establishing an ancient-era "slimming studio," where they promote evidence-based dietary and training methods.

With "science" at its core, the creative team ensured that the fitness techniques and dietary principles featured in the series were distilled by experts, while the actors' movements were guided by professional trainers. At the same time, the China Institute of Sport Science under the General Administration of Sport compiled a companion handbook titled Fat Terminator: A Scientific Guide to Exercise-Based Weight Loss. Presented in a Q&A format, the handbook explains the principles and methods of fat loss, linking fragmented knowledge into a coherent system and helping viewers move from simply "watching for fun" to truly "understanding the science," achieving a dual gain of entertaining viewing and science-based health education.

Launch Event for Qing Shan Qing, the First Vertical Mini Series Across the Taiwan Strait, Held in Beijing 
 

On January 9, the launch event for Qing Shan Qing (Green Mountains, Ever Green), the first vertical mini series of the "920 Just Love You" Cross-Strait Series, was held in Beijing. Zhu Fenglian, Deputy Director General of the Publicity Bureau and Spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council; Zhang Liansan, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of Shandong Province; Dai Wei, Deputy Secretary-General of the Internet Society of China; along with representatives from the production team and actors from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, gathered with nearly 100 guests to witness the official release of this work imbued with deep cross-strait sentiment.

As the inaugural vertical mini series of the "920 Just Love You" Cross-Strait Series, Qing Shan Qing is jointly produced by the Qingdao Municipal Taiwan Affairs Office, Taiwan.cn, and Beijing Jinli Culture Media Co., Ltd. Adopting the innovative format of mini series, the series creates a new platform for youth exchange across the Taiwan Strait. Centered on a young Taiwanese's journey across the sea to trace family roots, the story weaves together nearly a century of intergenerational connections, portraying the shared cultural lineage that unites both sides of the Strait. Filmed entirely amid the coastal mountains and seascapes of Qingshan Fishing Village in Qingdao, the drama also brings together Qilu culture and Taiwan Strait traditions in a vivid on-screen encounter.

Looking ahead, Taiwan.cn will continue to deepen its focus on cross-strait themed creations, launching more high-quality cultural and artistic works to further strengthen the bonds between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through cultural exchange.

The Vertical Short Dramas Fen Xue Tang Xin and Kai Gua Ren Sheng Begin filming in Changbai Mountain
 

On January 9, the vertical short dramas Fen Xue Tang Xin (Powdered Snow, Sweet at Heart) and Kai Gua Ren Sheng (A Life on Easy Mode), jointly guided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Changbai Mountain's Working Committee, Changchun Film Group Co.,LTD., and Golden Global Media Co., Ltd., officially began filming in Changbai Mountain. Both productions are scheduled to premiere during the Spring Festival on the Hongguo Short Drama platform.

Fen Xue Tang Xin takes romance as its main storyline and incorporates the ice-and-snow landscapes of Changbai Mountain. Through a fresh and lively visual style, it tells a warm and romantic winter fairy tale set among crystal-clear snow-covered peaks, storybook rime ice, and misty hot springs. Kai Gua Ren Sheng uses the uniquely Northeastern Chinese sense of humor to tell a story rooted in the belief that "good-hearted simplicity brings its own rewards, and sincerity outweighs calculation," highlighting the truth, goodness, and beauty of human nature.

Set against the magnificent ice-and-snow scenery of Jilin Province, the two short dramas deeply integrate local folk customs with the spirit of the times. Through youthful and down-to-earth storytelling, they not only showcase signature locations such as the snowfields, forests, hot springs, and ski resorts of Changbai Mountain, but also convey heartwarming stories. In doing so, they explore a new model of cultural and tourism integration that "promotes destinations through drama and enhances drama through scenery."

A representative of the creative team noted that filming will focus primarily on locations in the Changbai Mountain area, with an emphasis on highlighting Jilin's distinctive winter tourism resources. Through emotionally engaging visuals, the productions aim to portray a contemporary image of Northeast China as vibrant, open, warm, and romantic.