Market extends reach abroad, leading to TV adaptations, translated works
Legend of Fuyao premiered in China in June and generated nearly 14 billion views in less than two months, making the online fantasy series a summer blockbuster hit.
The show, which first aired on Zhejiang TV from June to August, is based on the novel Empress Fuyao by Tianxia Guiyuan and focuses on Meng Fuyao, a servant with magical powers who was brought up in a martial arts clan.
She journeys across five mythical kingdoms trying to unravel the mystery behind her innate powers.
However, the series has not just been a hit in China, it has attracted millions of fans across Asia and also has followers worldwide.
Its success as an online show testifies not only to the novel's massive appeal, it is also one of several examples showing that China's online literature has extended its reach beyond the local market.
Online literature refers to original works created and distributed on the internet.
China Securities (International) Co, a Hong Kong research company, said the translated works have won followers in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas. According to the company's latest report, Chinese online literature's foreign readership now stands at 7 million.
CSCI expects this audience to grow rapidly in the next few years, with the potential user base in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas estimated at more than 500 million.
