Chinese web literature grows overseas

China's online literature has achieved unprecedented global reach, with Latin American markets emerging as key growth drivers and young creators reshaping the landscape, according to international writers and industry experts.

The transformation is evidenced by the sector's overseas revenue reaching 4.815 billion yuan ($683.8 million) in 2024, marking a 10.68 percent year-on-year increase. The industry's total revenue hit 49.55 billion yuan, continuing its third consecutive year of accelerated growth, according to the 2025 China Online Literature Overseas Trend Report, which was released on Thursday during the 4th Shanghai International Online Literature Week.

"Web novels have evolved from a niche interest to a mainstream phenomenon in Western pop culture," said Barisbi Alborov, a Russian writer known professionally as Guiltythree.

Hou Xiaonan, CEO and president of Chinese online publishing company Yuewen Group, noted that online literature has evolved beyond initial global co-creation.

"Three foundational pillars are established: a global user network, a worldwide creative ecosystem and a cross-cultural interactive community," he said. "These elements are transforming online literature from a China-based IP source into a next-generation global IP powerhouse."

The company's international platform, WebNovel, now connects nearly 400 million readers with 530,000 writers worldwide, yielding over 820,000 original works. More than 538 titles have surpassed 10 million reads each.

Latin America has emerged as a robust growth market, with nine of WebNovel's top 10 countries for monthly active user growth coming from the region.

"Latin American audiences are increasingly embracing Chinese media, with a strong emphasis on quality," said Mexican author Daniel Dominguez, known by the pen name Dagzo, who highlighted the region's growing appetite for Asian content.

"While incorporating Chinese elements, I focused on making them accessible to Western readers through familiar storytelling conventions," he added. "My aim is to create a bridge for readers new to Chinese fantasy, potentially leading them to explore more common and traditional works."

The platform's demographic data shows that half of WebNovel's contracted authors were born after 2000, with authors born after 2005 showing a 55.9 percent year-on-year increase.

Artificial intelligence-powered translation has enhanced content accessibility, according to the report. WebNovel added more than 10,000 AI-translated works in 2025, and it now offers content in multiple languages, including recent additions in Thai, Korean, Filipino and Turkish.

The industry has also ventured into tourism partnerships, with The Unruly Immortals becoming the first Chinese web literature property featured at Universal Studios Singapore. A collaboration between The King's Avatar and Switzerland Tourism attracted over 10,000 visitors to the European destination through themed promotions.

The 4th Shanghai International Online Literature Week also featured an award ceremony for the WebNovel Spirity Awards 2025, which saw participation from over 100 countries and regions and recorded a 58 percent increase in submissions.

New award categories included book of the year and comic adaptation, with winning works being considered for diverse adaptations including comics, audiobooks and short dramas.

Over half of the award winners were born after 1995, representing diverse nationalities. Nigerian author Esther Akande, who uses the pen name Lilac Everglade, was born in 2003 and is winner of the WebNovel Spirity highly praised reader favorite award for Hades' Cursed Luna, emphasized the importance of connecting with young readers.

"People of my age demand constant excitement. Every single chapter must resonate with Gen Z readers through compelling narratives and emotional authenticity," she said.

zhengzheng@chinadaily.com.cn