China’s online literature reached 250 million overseas readers in 2025, with more than 130,000 works exported and its global influence continuing to grow.
China’s online literature continued to expand its global reach in 2025, attracting about 250 million overseas readers and exporting more than 130,000 works, according to the 2025 China Online Literature Blue Book released on July 30th.
The report was unveiled at the 2026 China Online Literature Forum in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province.
By the end of 2025, China’s online literature industry had produced more than 33 million works and attracted over 500 million readers. Overseas platforms added 40 million new registered users during the year, while active users covered more than 200 countries and regions.
In addition, overseas platforms for Chinese online literature and related micro-dramas recorded a combined 60 million daily active users and generated more than 8 billion yuan (about £830 million) in overseas revenue.
UK Among Fastest-Growing Markets
The Blue Book shows that Chinese online literature has published more than 5,000 printed books overseas and over 120,000 e-books.
According to WebNovel, Brazil posted the fastest growth in active users among its top 10 overseas markets. The United States, India, France and the United Kingdom also maintained strong growth.
At the same time, Chinese online literature IPs are reaching wider global audiences. The report says the term “C-Drama” has become increasingly popular overseas, while adaptations such as The Legend of Shen Li, The Prisoner of Beauty and Love Between Fairy and Devil have gained international attention.
Industry Continues to Grow
He Hong, director of the Network Literature Centre under the China Writers Association, said Chinese online literature has moved beyond exporting texts and business models. It is now sharing storytelling methods and cultural narratives with readers around the world.
A separate report released earlier by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences also points to continued industry growth. China’s online literature reading market reached 50.21 billion yuan (about £5.2 billion) in 2025, up 16.6 per cent year on year. The market for IP adaptations grew to 367.61 billion yuan (about £38.3 billion), an increase of 23.13 per cent.
It also found that overseas original content continues to expand. By the end of 2025, about 1.3 million local writers had created more than 2 million original works across over 100 subgenres, including fantasy, romance, science fiction and mystery. Overseas revenue reached 5.64 billion yuan (about £590 million), up 11.2 per cent year on year.
Additional reporting by Xinhua, CNS.
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