diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_text.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_text.py
index 83b65be400db..b43222cbb9c4 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_text.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_text.py
@@ -1317,3 +1317,8 @@ def test_draw_text_as_path_fallback(monkeypatch):
     _test_complex_shaping(subfig[0])
     _test_text_features(subfig[1])
     _test_text_language(subfig[2])
+def test_small_chinese_character_rendering():
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    ax.text(0.5, 0.5, '字体', fontsize=6)
+    # Smoke test to ensure it renders without crashing
+    fig.canvas.draw()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/ft2font.cpp b/src/ft2font.cpp
index 3e53a87343a6..a2bcad884421 100644
--- a/src/ft2font.cpp
+++ b/src/ft2font.cpp
@@ -639,7 +639,8 @@ bool FT2Font::load_char_with_fallback(FT2Font *&ft_object_with_glyph,
 
 void FT2Font::load_glyph(FT_UInt glyph_index, FT_Int32 flags)
 {
-    FT_CHECK(FT_Load_Glyph, face, glyph_index, flags);
+    // Force vector outlines by ignoring embedded bitmaps to fix small character rendering
+    FT_CHECK(FT_Load_Glyph, face, glyph_index, flags | FT_LOAD_NO_BITMAP);
     FT_Glyph thisGlyph;
     FT_CHECK(FT_Get_Glyph, face->glyph, &thisGlyph);
     glyphs.push_back(thisGlyph);