In recent years, some Chinese TV series have not only pulled in high viewing figures in China, but have also struck a chord with people abroad. Recently a promotional event related to the export of Chinese films and television series, especially to countries in other parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America, was held in Beijing.
The Happy Life of Jin Tai Lang, an urban TV drama about a girl married to a gynecologist, despite her mother’s opposition, is one of 10 hit Chinese TV series going to be exported to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It has been translated into 5 languages and is being promoted here.
In 2011, Chinese TV series "A Beautiful Era for Daughter in Laws" caused a stir when it was broadcast in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, in Swahili. Then, China Radio International, who translated it, sped up the project. Over the past two years, it has translated 10 TV series, 52 movies, 5 animations and 4 documentaries into 8 languages. Native speakers from targeted countries were recruited to dub the actor’s voices.
Wang Gangjian, Director, Translation Center for Films & TV Dramas, CRI, said, “The eight languages include Arabian, Swahili, Hausa, English and French. The translated versions have proved very popular in targeted countries.”
CRI has established a department exclusively for translating films and TV series for overseas broadcast, and the work is a profitable spin-off for the station. Using 65 languages broadcasting overseas, China Radio International aims to introduce even more Chinese screen hits to the world.