Chinese online literature has gained popularity overseas, particularly among Generation Z.
The British Library recently expanded its Chinese collection by adding printed copies of 10 Chinese web novels. This follows the library’s first inclusion of 16 titles of online Chinese literature in 2022. It is part of a three-year collaboration between the British Library and the Chinese online literature company Yuewen.
The novels, spanning genres from history to science fiction, include titles such as Soul Land, Joy of Life and Lord of Mysteries. Now, they are sharing shelf space with literary classics like Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
This photo shows some hard copies of online Chinese novels during their inclusion event at the British Library.
The novels have built up a strong fanbase across world. Among them, The King’s Avatar, a story of esports, has attracted 135 million readings from overseas readers.
Jas Rai, Chief Operating Officer of the British Library, said that Chinese online literature showcases the growing diversity in storytelling, offering innovative ways for global audiences to connect with stories.
Qianshanchake, a Chinese web novelist, expressed excitement and surprise at the recognition. She believes the adventurous themes and Oriental elements will resonate with British and European readers. “The core themes of novels are universal, transcending cultural boundaries,” she added.
International Platform Attracts Contributors and Readers
All 10 novels were initially published on Yuewen, China’s biggest online literature platform.
In 2017, Yuewen launched its international platform, WebNovel. It now hosts 650,000 original works by 430,000 contributors all over the world.
Hou Xiaonan, CEO and the president of Yuewen, revealed that WebNovel has attracted 16,000 contributors and over 6.83 million visitors in the UK alone.
Yuewen has successfully adapted many of its popular titles into films, dramas, games, and animations.
A recent example is My Vampire System by UK-based author JKSManga. It has been translated into six languages and adapted into audiobooks and comic formats.
Online Literature Helps Overseas Readers Understand China
As Chinese online literature continues to gain popularity, particularly among Generation Z, it has emerged as a lucrative commercial market.
According to the 2023 Report on the Development of Chinese Online Literature, as of the end of 2023, China’s online literature market has reached 40.43 billion yuan. The number of online literature users reached 537 million, which means half of Chinese internet users consumed literature online.
Overseas online literature has attracted 230 million overseas visiting users, covering more than 200 countries and regions, the report said.
Reading Chinese online literature helps overseas readers gain an understanding of traditional Chinese culture and contemporary China, says Yang Chen, editor-in-chief of Yuewen.
China-related words frequently appear in readers’ comments. The most mentioned Chinese elements include Taoist culture, food, martial arts, tea culture, and pandas. The top five Chinese cities mentioned are Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macao, and Hangzhou.
Like Chinese fans, the international youth also participate in discussions, offline activities, and have set up literature works’ encyclopedias and communities. Many of them even start to learn the Chinese language.
Written by Liu Sha, additional reporting by Xinhua, China Daily, and Global Times.
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