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Out-of-work Chinese actors turn to theme parks as immersive characters after AI squeezes short-drama jobs_我的网站

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Chinese actress Luo Xinyuan played Huang Rong, a beloved wuxia heroine, at Hengdian World Studios. Photo: Courtesy of Luo XinyuanAs China's once-thriving live-action short drama industry looses speed due to the weight of AI-generated content and shrinking investment, a growing number of young actors who once starred in micro-dramas are moving to a different kind of stage: playing roles at cultural tourist attractions.
There, they play martial arts heroes and folk characters for live audiences, finding steadier income and real-time connection with viewers.
"Earning a living with your own hands is nothing to be ashamed of," actress Luo Xinyuan told the Global Times, even as many still hold out hope, waiting for good scripts.
The migration reflects a stark reality. In the first quarter of 2026, AI micro-dramas accounted for more than 95 percent of all micro-dramas released industry-wide, sharply squeezing the space for live-action productions.
By July, pay for leading actors had shrunk by over 50 percent, mid-tier actors by more than 80 percent on average, and daily wages for bottom-rung extras had fallen into double digits, China's CCTV reported.
Luo, a 21-year-old actress, experienced the downturn firsthand. She came to Hengdian, China's largest film and television production base, to shoot short dramas. "When I first arrived, there were many crews preparing in one hotel. Now sometimes there are only one or two, or none," she told the Global Times.
This May, she began playing the role of Huang Rong, a beloved wuxia heroine, at Hengdian World Studios. Her daily routine includes interactive stage competitions, parades and live audience interactions, working nearly 13 hours daily during the peak summer season.
"It's tiring but fulfilling," Luo said. "There are no scripts here. It's more about playing with visitors face to face." The change has eased her anxiety. "When I was filming, I kept worrying about the next job. Now I feel more stable."
Yin Jiaxuan, 25, took a different route. He started his career as a professional character performer at major theme parks, starring in immersive shows based on popular game and film IPs before transitioning to short dramas and online movies in mid-2024.
At the industry's peak, he moved seamlessly between sets.
"One crew wrapped, and the next was already arranged. I'd go straight to makeup the next day and start filming the day after," he said. Now he keeps both identities, taking film roles when they come and returning to scenic spots during holidays.
Yin rejects the stigma that screen acting is the only proper path.
"Screen acting is seen as the professional main road, while street-level performance is treated as amateur work. This invisible prejudice has trapped many performers," he said. Yet the tangible stage offers something the camera cannot.
"Performance comes from life and is higher than life - that is the core of film creation. But now I realize that beyond artistic expression, performance is about building human connections."
Both actors shared that theme park characters must do more than act; they must draw tourists into the scene, delivering emotional value on demand. Visitors come to the scenic spot not just to sightsee, but "to step into a fantasy."

Yin Jiaxuan Photo: Courtesy of Yin JiaxuanScenic areas are reaping the benefits. Media outlets have reported that in Kaifeng's Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City, Central China's Henan Province, tourists who interacted with these characters stayed an average of 2.3 hours longer per day.
Every extra 30 minutes of stay raises the probability of secondary consumption by about 25 percent, according to local data. Revenue jumped from about 80 million yuan ($11.86 million) in 2022 to 1.27 billion yuan in 2025.
While Hengdian World Studios has used characters to boost repeat visits, with annual pass holders returning multiple times "for a specific character."
Cultural scholar Yu Jinlong told the Global Times that the influx of trained actors is upgrading immersive tourism.
"In the past, theme park characters were mostly amateurs doing costume photos. Now professional actors can build complete characters, improvise and connect storylines, turning scenic spots into open-air theaters," he said.
Yu pointed out the uniqueness of China's character boom compared with global immersive entertainment.
"Unlike Western theme parks that rely heavily on mature imported IPs and standardized performances, China's scenic character culture is rooted in local wuxia (martial hero) history and folk customs, encouraging personalized improvisation. Many local scenic spots create hit immersive projects with small investments, forming a unique online-offline communication loop via social media," Yu said.
As China's cultural consumption shifts from sightseeing to participation, Yu said the young actors swapping short drama sets for scenic spots may be shaping a new hybrid career for the country's entertainment workforce.
For Luo, the recognition from visitors is a reward in itself.
"There are tourists who travel from far away just to see my performance. It feels good to be recognized," she said. "Actually, I'm still exploring too. But I think you should do what you love, as long as you have the ability."
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B | 德林小学引进夹娃娃机和转盘等游戏作为培养学生自律的创新方式。理查尔(中间)说自推出游戏后,学生连续两个学期的迟到情况明显减少。(取自早报网) (新加坡讯)新加坡一所小学引进抓娃娃机和转盘等游戏,不仅让学生上学体验更有趣,还鼓励他们培养良好行为。学生的迟到现象在两个学期内明显减少,上课更为专注,作业也能按时完成。

C | 《联合早报》报道,德林小学于2022年第四学期采用游戏方法鼓励学生,协助改善纪律问题和培养他们的积极行为。家长和教师都对该计划表示满意,认为游戏能激励学生通过守时和良好表现,获取玩转盘(Wheel of Thrill)或抓娃娃机的机会。

D | 游戏分两种,所有学生都能参与。其中在“任务卡”游戏中,学生通过完成教师布置的课堂任务来收集印章,如准时到校和一起专心上课。学校内还设有各“任务区”,让学生在区内通过良好行为如遵守秩序等获取印章。另一种挑战式游戏由教师设定目标,如让学生在尝试解答数学题前划出关键词等以获取印章。学生一旦积累一定数量的印章,就可转动轮盘来赢取限量版贴纸或硬币,并用它们来玩抓娃娃机。学校共有两台抓娃娃机,设在靠近食堂的角落。为让全校师生参与游戏,学校还设计视频和网站来创造故事,让学生体验当中角色的冒险之旅。

E | 学生管理主任理查尔说:“通过将游戏元素融入日常任务和挑战中,学生更愿意积极参与,并改善行为和学业表现。”家长何幸妆(42岁,家庭主妇)育有三名孩子,其中两名孩子有机会参加游戏并赢得娃娃。

F | 她说:“孩子赢得娃娃后,回到家和家人自豪地分享在学校获得奖励的事,并期待下一次还有机会玩抓娃娃机。”尽管在推出游戏后面临一些挑战,如高年级学生的反应不如低年级学生的热情,但这并不影响学校继续推行这种新方式。理查尔说:“我们必须尝试不同的方式,来与Z时代的孩子沟通和教导他们。要在新旧方法之间找到平衡,才能有效地与他们沟通并让他们学习。”
中正中学(义顺)去年也实施了一项名为“我做好事被发现”(I Was Caught Being Good)的倡议,旨在通过小而有意义的方式激励学生采取积极主动的行为,这些好事可包括主动帮助同学,或帮助老师打扫教室。学生管理部主任奈尔回复记者询问时说,该倡议取得良好成效,不仅肯定学生的积极行为,还加强家长和学校间的关系,为学生提供安全、有利的成长环境。

G | 当发现学生做了某件好事,教师们会发放“我做好事被发现”的小卡片,在背面写上对学生行为的肯定和鼓励,并让学生把卡片带回家给父母看。

H | 同时,班主任和家长会收到关于学生良好行为的通知,学校也会在早上公开表扬。最近有一名学生在学校救了一只小鹦鹉,并为它制作临时容器,给它喂水。学生还积极与关爱动物研究协会(ACRES)合作,联系协会收养这只小鹦鹉。学生的善举得到了教师和家长的赞扬,也在班上分享,成为校内一件受人瞩目的事迹。
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