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n Xingyang, Henan, Evergrande’s stalled development exposes two stark realities. Buyers who paid for their apartments years ago demand updates, while the opulent sales hall now hosts micro‑drama shoots beneath glittering chandeliers.

    The on‑screen luxury contrasts with the idle construction site, a pattern seen nationwide as unfinished projects are converted into film sets amid the micro‑drama boom.

    Over the last two years, micro‑dramas have become one of China’s fastest‑growing entertainment sectors. The China Television Drama Production Industry Association reports a 2024 market value of 50.5 billion yuan (US$7.1 bn), rising to 63.43 billion yuan in 2025 and potentially 85.6 billion yuan by 2027.

    In 2024, micro‑drama audiences exceeded 660 million, spanning tier‑one cities to smaller towns, and for the first time surpassed national box‑office receipts.

    Urban romance stories set in lavish offices and apartments drive demand for premium shooting locations. At a time when tighter regulations and cash‑flow crunches delay many projects, these high‑end sites become attractive alternatives for producers.

    On social media, purchasers who paid for their apartments years ago post pleas for progress, while the same sales hall, once a showcase of luxury, now hosts scenes of family conflict and romantic entanglements for micro‑drama productions.

    This duality mirrors a national trend: stalled residential and commercial sites are increasingly converted into film sets, driven by the micro‑drama boom that has turned China’s entertainment landscape into a lucrative backdrop for productions.

    Evergrande, the world’s most indebted developer, exemplifies how stalled developments are being repurposed to meet the micro‑drama industry's soaring appetite, turning idle construction into profitable sets.