Award winners and cast and crew pose for a group photo. [Photo/Yantai Media Group]

China's most prestigious government honors for television programming are being awarded in Yantai, Shandong province, marking a milestone for the coastal city's fast-growing film and television industry.

The gala took place on the evening of Oct 9, marking the first time the Flying Apsaras Awards have come to Shandong.

Hosted by the National Radio and Television Administration, the two awards serve distinct purposes: the 35th Flying Apsaras Awards recognizes TV dramas and web series, while the 29th Starlight Awards honors television and online audiovisual variety and arts programs. Entries for both awards cover works premiered between 2024 and 2025.

The Flying Apsaras Awards unveiled 16 winners for outstanding TV drama, alongside four individual prizes for direction, screenwriting, best actor and best actress. Lu Min, chief screenwriter of Silent Glory, won Outstanding Screenwriter. Director Liu Jiacheng took the Outstanding Director award for two series shot largely in Shandong. Song Jia earned Outstanding Actress for her portrayal of educator Zhang Guimei in She and Her Girls, while Wang Renjun won Outstanding Actor for his performance in The Forerunner.

The Starlight Awards recognized 14 winning productions across six categories: variety shows, TV operas, documentaries, TV arts programs, children's programs and animated works.

Yantai's hosting of this prestigious dual-award gala rests not merely on its coastal scenery, but years of steady investment in its film and television sector. The city has rolled out targeted funding, built shooting bases and launched a one-stop filming service, striving to become a "City of Film and Television". The newly completed Yantai Media Zhongchuang Film and Television Base underpins its shift from a scenic shooting location to a hub for original content creation.

For Yantai, landing this national ceremony is hard-earned proof of the success of its long-term industrial strategy.