Shanghai's rise as a global creator hub is backed by institutional policy. The gala marked nearly one year since Shanghai launched several measures to support the creation of high-quality internet content.
In September 2025, the city further announced funding guidelines offering up to 2 million yuan for high-profile brand activities and up to 100,000 yuan in rewards for quality content-creation projects, along with creative resources, distribution channels and service support.
Building on this foundation, two new initiatives were unveiled during the event. The Shanghai internet quality content empowerment plan offers creators access to resources, collaboration channels and dedicated support to help them establish roots in the city. Simultaneously, major platforms, including Bilibili, Xiaohongshu, Tencent, and others, announced the 2026 co-creation plan to provide expanded opportunities and resources.
Wang Xiao, a content creator specializing in politics and history, describes Shanghai's unique advantages: "Creating content here feels both supportive and progressive."
The city constantly finds ways to let everyone focus on creation without other worries, he says, noting that with many platforms and peers, there is a clustering effect that allows mutual exchange and better content through interaction and competition.
Cultural content creator Yu Fu characterizes Shanghai as a creative gold mine. "Content creation in Shanghai is very fulfilling because the environment is relaxed. You can basically film whatever you want," he says.
"We never lack material here. For instance, you'll see buildings with a rich history while simply walking down the street," Yu adds. "For me, Shanghai is like a huge chocolate mountain. If you like sweets, every bite is satisfying."
"Creators' inspirations are always divergent. We want to combine more content that ordinary audiences enjoy watching," says Wang Yiran, founder of Turing's Cat Studio, which focuses on artificial intelligence.
"As AI creators, our topics extend beyond AI itself to different fields," he explains. "We've collaborated on projects combining AI with gaming, and we're planning future work in public welfare to help people with disabilities.
"What we need to do is ground the content in reality and make it meaningful and helpful, or bring educational value," says Wang.
For Iranian creator Mahya Mirsadeghi, who focuses on Chinese language and cultural exchange, the city's continuous evolution is the story itself. Having witnessed Shanghai's rapid transformation since her first visit in 2018, she remains clear on her mission.
"Shanghai has changed profoundly over the years," Mirsadeghi says. "My goal is simple: to show the real China to the rest of the world."
