In the wave of digital technology sweeping the globe, short videos, with their "short, flat, and fast" dissemination characteristics, have reconstructed the ecology of cultural expression and dissemination, becoming the core engine driving cultural innovation and development. From the modernization of traditional culture to the creation of popular products in the cultural and tourism industry, from the revitalization and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage skills to the digital practice of rural revitalization, short videos are empowering cultural development through diversified innovative paths, reshaping the breadth and depth of cultural dissemination.
1、 Technological Empowerment: A New Form of Cultural Expression
Short videos inject modern vitality into traditional culture through technological innovation. The application of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies allows users to "immerse" themselves in historical scenes. For example, with the help of VR technology, users can "travel" to ancient palaces or cultural sites to intuitively experience the weight of Chinese civilization. In addition, short video platforms use algorithm recommendations and intelligent editing tools to lower the threshold for creation and stimulate public participation enthusiasm. For example, stickers, special effects, and music templates launched by platforms such as Tiktok and Kwai enable ordinary users to easily complete artistic creation, and promote the transformation of cultural content from "professional production" to "universal co creation".
Technological innovation is also reflected in the precision of cultural dissemination. Short video platforms use big data to analyze user preferences and achieve personalized content push. The "Follow Micro Drama Tour Henan" activity launched by Henan Province is precisely through the mode of integrating drama scenes, deeply binding micro dramas with cultural and tourism scenes, attracting tourists to "go to a city for one drama", and successfully creating new cultural landmarks such as Mangdang Mountain and Wansui Mountain Wuxia City.
2、 Emotional resonance: a bridge for cross-cultural communication
Short videos use emotions as a bond, crossing regional and cultural barriers, and becoming a "soft power" carrier for international communication. Li Ziqi's short videos on rural life have sparked heated discussions overseas. Through the delicate presentation of daily labor and the beauty of nature, it has aroused resonance among global audiences towards Eastern aesthetics. This' empathetic communication 'strategy transforms grand cultural narratives into micro life scenes, effectively reducing' cultural discounts'.
In international communication, the narrative approach of "other perspectives" further enhances credibility. Foreign bloggers use Vlogs to record their travel experiences in China, from high-speed rail speeds to everyday fireworks. Short videos have become a window to showcase China's modernization process and cultural diversity. Scenes such as Harbin Ice and Snow World and Chongqing Light Rail Transit have shaped an open and inclusive national image through independent dissemination by overseas users.
3、 Integration of Culture and Tourism: Transforming Traffic into Development Momentum
The deep integration of short videos and the cultural tourism industry has given rise to the "internet celebrity economy" and "check-in culture". In the Spring Festival of 2025, topics such as "Chaoshan English Song and Dance" and "Huizhou Fish Lantern Festival" will explode on short video platforms, driving a wave of offline travel consumption. Harbin responds quickly to tourist demands through the "listening to advice style cultural tourism", transforming online popularity into a driving force for service upgrades, achieving a leap from "traffic" to "retention". Such cases demonstrate that short videos are not only promotional tools, but also drivers of urban image shaping and industrial upgrading.
Local cultural and tourism departments collaborate with platforms to explore the dissemination model of "UGC (User Generated Content)+PGC (Professional Production Content)". For example, Henan Province has launched a cultural and tourism micro drama in collaboration with hundreds of filming locations, combining historical allusions with real-life tourism through works such as "The Traces of Mangdang" and "Seeing Ouyang Xiu Again", promoting "drama becomes popular due to scenery, and scenery is passed down due to drama". This linkage of "content+scene" injects sustained vitality into the cultural and tourism industry.
4、 Revitalization of Intangible Cultural Heritage: A New Path for Traditional Culture
Short videos provide an innovative platform for the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage. By simplifying the display of skills and integrating popular elements, traditional art is able to reach young audiences. The aria of Huangmei Opera "Nvfu Ma" was played more than 27 million times in Tiktok, and young people competed to imitate it; The Shadow Puppetry Challenge attracted 4 billion clicks, transforming intangible cultural heritage from "museum exhibits" to "social currency". In addition, short videos promote the commercialization of intangible cultural heritage. For example, Rongjiang County in Guizhou Province has cultivated "village spokespersons" to drive online sales and offline experiences of intangible cultural heritage products, achieving a win-win situation between cultural value and economic value.
5、 Rural Revitalization: Digital Highlighting of Local Culture
Short videos on agriculture, rural areas, and farmers showcase the charm of rural areas through original ecological records, becoming a "new agricultural tool" for rural revitalization. The Guizhou "Village BA" and "Village Super" competitions have been spread through short videos, with a cumulative view count of over 10 billion times, driving local tourism revenue to exceed 2 billion yuan. Short videos not only showcase agricultural culture and natural scenery, but also help sell agricultural products through the "short video+e-commerce" model. The outdoor live broadcast room is embedded with ancient villages or intangible cultural heritage workshops, allowing consumers to perceive cultural heritage while shopping, forming a virtuous cycle of "promoting production through culture and promoting culture through production".
The innovative practice of short videos has proven that the enhancement of cultural development cannot be achieved without technological drive, emotional connection, and industrial synergy. Only by innovating in inheritance and standardizing in innovation can we unleash the cultural potential of short videos and help Chinese culture shine brighter in the digital age.