Streams of fine gold

Ivanov's enthusiasm is typical of a new wave behind the growing popularity of Chinese television productions in recent years.

On popular video sites such as YouTube, Viki and DramaFever, hundreds of Chinese dramas with subtitles in foreign languages are attracting countless viewers whose comments range from admiration for the cast to discussion about plotlines.

China is one of the largest producers of television and online content, producing at least 400 dramas a year, with half of them being sold overseas, the Beijing news magazine Vista says.

In addition, at least 213 internet series were aired last year, five of them attracted more than 4 billion views, says a report issued recently by Chinese tech giant Tencent, proprietor of the social media app WeChat.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television says that in China more than 1,600 domestic movies and television productions have been translated into 36 languages over recent years, including English, French, Russian, Spanish, Arabic and Portuguese, and they have been or are being aired in more than 100 countries.

Overseas markets have become a pivotal part of Chinese producers' business plans, as well as a significant platform to demonstrate the country's soft power, industry analysts say.