People visit Yuanqiao Village in Dengfeng City, central China's Henan Province, Feb. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Ren Zhuoru)

　　ZHENGZHOU, March 17 (Xinhua) -- When a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) scholar steps into his courtyard, he might find that a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) wedding is unfolding next door. Both scenes can be spotted simultaneously in Yuanqiao Village, where visitors could be forgiven for feeling that they were in parallel universes.

　　Indeed, this village, nestled in the city of Dengfeng, central China's Henan Province, has gained prominence as a filming location for micro dramas. It has been dubbed as a "Shudian," and is somewhat akin to China's Hollywood, Hengdian Township, located in east China's Zhejiang Province. The Chinese characters "Shu" and "Heng" literally mean vertical and horizontal, respectively. Micro dramas, notably, tend to be shot using a vertical format.

　　"Thanks to micro dramas, we saw a surge in visitors during the Spring Festival," said 75-year-old villager Yuan Tiefang, who is in his sixth year working as a caretaker for these old buildings.

　　The village, boasting a history of over 600 years and housing over 420 families, preserves a vast expanse of Ming and Qing courtyards. In 2018, a renovation project was initiated to restore the buildings.

　　"The well-preserved ancient architecture in this village is a rarity in central China," said Lyu Hongjun, president of the Songshan culture research association of Dengfeng.

　　Liu Wantao, Party chief of the village, told Xinhua that they had previously considered developing tourism, only to discover that tourists showed scant interest in the village.