Mainland China's 'Hidden Sea Chronicles' Makes Waves in Taiwan, Breaking Cultural Boundaries
The drama '藏海传' has successfully spread from mainland China to Taiwan, generating significant buzz and breaking viewership records within just 38 hours on Youku. The show's dialogue and emotional delivery by the actors, particularly Xiao Zhan, have been praised for being touching and memorable. The marketing strategy of breaking the 'fourth wall' to increase audience engagement has been noted by industry analysts as particularly effective. Taiwanese audiences have shown strong interest in the drama, with fans specifically highlighting memorable quotes and scenes.
12 June 2025
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers from both mainland China and Taiwan connecting with the emotional depth of the dialogues and performances. The drama's ability to resonate across regional boundaries suggests its universal appeal and quality storytelling. '藏海传一句句台词传到台湾' can be translated as 'Every line of dialogue from Zang Hai Zhuan (Hidden Sea Chronicles) has spread to Taiwan.' The show has been consistently ranking in Taiwan's top 10 most-watched shows, with lead actor Xiao Zhan's performance receiving significant attention.
CCTV News, a state media outlet, has reported on the drama's success in Taiwan, emphasizing the cultural connections between mainland China and Taiwan and welcoming Taiwan audiences to experience mainland Chinese entertainment. Director Cao Yiwen revealed behind-the-scenes dynamics with Xiao Zhan, noting his playful personality on set, contrary to his initial impression. Taiwan media has been actively covering and following the drama, highlighting memorable quotes from the show and reporting that viewers find the show highly engaging.
The phenomenon has become a symbol of cultural exchange between mainland China and Taiwan, demonstrating shared cultural roots through entertainment media. The show has achieved phenomenal popularity in Taiwan, with dialogues and catchphrases becoming part of daily conversations, demonstrating the continuing strong cultural bonds between mainland China and Taiwan despite political differences. The shared cultural references and emotional resonance show how entertainment can transcend political boundaries.
The success of '藏海传' signals the growing influence and quality of mainland China's cultural industry, showing potential for further cross-strait entertainment collaboration and market opportunities. It demonstrates that mainland productions can compete effectively in Taiwan's sophisticated media market. Cultural exchanges continue to thrive despite official restrictions from Taiwan authorities, with entertainment serving as an important bridge for cross-strait relations. Popular culture helps maintain people-to-people connections when formal channels are limited.
The increased demand for mainland content could open new revenue streams, and the success may lead to more cross-strait entertainment industry cooperation. It could influence future cultural industry policies and regulations. The series premiered on CCTV-8 in mainland China on May 18, 2025, with initial strong ratings, and later launched on Disney+ Taiwan, reaching a broader international audience via streaming platforms. The show maintained the #1 position on the "Taiwan Daily Top 10" for 7 consecutive days, reaching 190+ countries through Disney+ and Youku International.
The series concluded with a strong finale, with Taiwanese viewers creating "secondary content" adaptations. The show's success has been attributed to cultural resonance rather than star power, with Taiwan educators and cultural critics actively discussing the show's cultural elements and dialogue. Key factors in the show's success in Taiwan include strong platform distribution, cultural authenticity and resonance, word-of-mouth spread through social media, and positive reception from Taiwan media and critics. The drama's dialogue has resonated widely with Taiwan audiences, with many quoting lines from the show in daily conversations, further solidifying the cultural exchange between mainland China and Taiwan.
