Six years after the alleged incident, a Chinese court on Wednesday is hearing a landmark case that analysts say could define the future of the country's #MeToo movement.

Zhou Xiaoxuan - also known online by her nickname Xianzi - has taken one of the country's most prominent TV hosts to court, accusing him of sexually harassing her in 2014.

He denies all wrongdoing and has in turn sued her and her supporter for damaging his reputation as well as mental wellbeing.

It is rare in China for such cases to even get to this stage and the stakes are high, analysts say.

Ahead of the hearing, which will not be public, Xianzi told the BBC that whatever happens, she will have no regrets. "If I win, this will encourage many women to come forward and tell their stories; if I lose, I'll keep appealing until justice is served."

In the summer of 2018, shortly after Xianzi learned about the slew of legal cases against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein, she decided to write down her own experience in Chinese on her WeChat account - in part to show solidarity to a childhood friend, who once told her that she was a survivor of rape.

In the 3,000-word essay, the then 25-year-old recalled a 2014 experience where she alleged that while interning at China's state broadcaster CCTV that year, one of the country's most high-profile TV hosts Zhu Jun sexually harassed her. Xianzi alleged that she did complain to the local police, but claims they told her to drop the accusation because Mr Zhu was a prominent TV host and his "positive impact" on society should make her think twice.

Xianzi's writing soon became a viral post on the Chinese internet after her friend, an NGO worker named Xu Chao, reposted it on her public Weibo account. By then, the term "sexual harassment" had become a part of the Chinese media discourse thanks to the #MeToo movement in the United States and Europe, and a small number of successful complaints in China.

In January that year, a Beijing university fired a professor accused of sexually harassing a former student. A few months later, a well-known charity founder stepped down from his role after being accused of raping a volunteer during a fundraising event back in 2015.

Chinese media outlets soon took a great interest in Xianzi's complaint, as the man she accused is a household name in the country. Many women - as well as men - expressed disbelief and showed solidarity online. But Xianzi claimed that, very quickly, she was told that censors had banned media reporting of the alleged incident.

A few weeks later, Xianzi and Xu Chao were sued by Mr Zhu for damaging his reputation and mental wellbeing. Ironically, it was only then that the story really captured the widespread attention of Chinese media. Paparazzi wanted photos and Xianzi said thousands of survivors of sexual harassment - both women and men - have been in touch through social media since then.

Xianzi told the BBC ahead of Wednesday's court hearing: "It has brought me much harm. At one point, I was accused by the alleged perpetrator that I have a delusional disorder, and I had to prove that I am a normal person.

"And in the process of collecting evidence that dates back to 2014, I had to re-live my experience over and over again. And each time was a torture and humiliation."

Xu Chao is now studying in England. She told the BBC that if the court rules in favour of Mr Zhu, that would mean that his suit against both women would continue. "But I'm getting prepared to fight the charges - even remotely."

Mr Zhu has consistently denied all the allegations. The BBC's requests to interview Mr Zhu and his lawyers ahead of the hearing went unanswered.