Chinese online literature, once a niche segment, is increasingly recognized as a significant cultural bridge to the world. Encompassing serialized novels and their adaptations across television, gaming, and animation, it captivates millions of international readers with vivid narratives and provides fresh perspectives on contemporary China. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences reports that in 2024, the overseas market for this literature surpassed 5 billion yuan ($695 million).
This expanding global community now boasts 460,000 overseas web novel authors and over 350 million readers spanning more than 200 countries and regions. Personal stories illustrate its reach: in Cannes, France, a mother, inspired by a scene depicting a Chinese dessert in the fantasy novel *Release That Witch*, handcrafted “ice-skin baozi” for her children, eager to bring a taste of China into her home. Meanwhile, in Quebec, Canada, a young woman working in a kindergarten dedicates her nights to translating her favorite Chinese web novels into French, sharing them online with fellow readers.
“Chinese online fiction doesn’t just captivate through fantasy. It reflects real emotional and moral concerns,” stated Charles Dewees, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Chireads, France’s largest hub for Chinese web novel translations. Founded in 2017, Chireads attracts nearly one million monthly active users primarily from France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, and Canada, with users averaging over 50 minutes daily on the site. The platform thrives thanks to licensing agreements with major Chinese platforms like Qidian and China Literature, ensuring high-quality translations preserve the original texts’ nuance.
User comments like “Fantastic!”, “Engaging!”, and “Legendary!” attest to its popularity. Dewees views Chinese web literature as both a “storytelling powerhouse” and a “cultural ambassador,” noting, “With its thrilling plots, imaginative fantasy, and heartfelt emotion, it resonates far beyond China’s borders.”
For Andeez Ziauddin, a Bangladeshi student at Fudan University in Shanghai, Chinese online fiction has been formative. Her first encounters occurred during childhood visits to Guangzhou, China, accompanying her entrepreneur parents. Discovering Chinese novels, including web fiction, in local libraries instantly hooked her, a passion she maintained even after returning to Bangladesh for secondary school. Now 27 and in her seventh year at Fudan, Ziauddin, a fan for over two decades, believes the appeal lies in shared cultural values: “South Asian readers can relate deeply to Chinese stories about perseverance, destiny and justice.”
In South Korea, translator Park Nu Lee has witnessed the rising appeal firsthand. Her initial exposure came through TV adaptations like *Joy of Life* and *Nirvana in Fire*, which spurred her interest in the source novels. She now collaborates with professional institutions to translate more works for Korean audiences. “The influence of Chinese web literature in South Korea has grown remarkably, with adaptations into television dramas winning popularity among young audiences,” Park noted. She highlighted the genre’s diversity, covering history, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, wuxia, and romance: “There’s something for everyone.” Park credits the genre’s momentum partly to the strength of China’s online literature industry and its mature ecosystem of spin-offs and adaptations. “In South Korea, many learn about Chinese web novels through TV shows or animations, then return to the original works. That adaptation cycle – how it loops back to the source – is something quite unique,” Park explained.
