iQIYI, Inc. announced the launch of "iQIYI Vertical Zone", a new channel on its mobile app devoted entirely to video that can be watched in portrait mode on a smartphone. The announcement makes iQIYI China's first regular length video platform to launch a channel dedicated to portrait mode video. The iQIYI Vertical Zone launches with a selection of 25 sets of video, including the groundbreaking "Ugh! Life", iQIYI's first professionally produced vertical video-exclusive short-form comedy series, as well as selected clips including interviews and behind the scenes footage from iQIYI original content such as "The Rap of China", "I, Actor", "U Can U Bibi" and "The Chinese Youth." iQIYI also announced a sustained commitment to producing vertical video content, with twenty new portrait mode series planned for release this year, at rate of 1-2 per month. The new portrait mode content will include multiple content formats such as dramas, variety shows and cartoons. The release of the iQIYI Vertical Zone is part of iQIYI's commitment to continued investment in portrait mode video, a viewing method the company predicts will become increasingly prominent as greater numbers of users view video content on their mobile devices. A recent survey by QuestMobile found that iQIYI's core demographic of young urbanites and members of Generation Z spend nearly 10% of their time on mobile devices watching short-form video. iQIYI's Vertical Video Zone also represents a step forward for the company's cutting edge self-developed technology. The company was able to accomplish the conversion of massive quantities of horizontal video into vertical format through the use of high-end AI processing technology. iQIYI ensured a smooth viewing experience for its mobile users through the use of rendering and preloading technology and high-speed cloud storage, eliminating worries about lag or loss of video quality.