China's online literature surpasses 33 million works

Beijing (ANTARA) - China’s online literature industry continues to grow in both scale and global influence in 2025, with total online literary works surpassing 33 million and overseas readers reaching approximately 250 million, according to a report released on Thursday (30/7). The figures were announced at the 2026 China Online Literature Forum held in Hefei, Anhui Province, eastern China, by the Chinese Writers Association (CWA). By the end of 2025, the industry had attracted a total of more than half a billion readers and exported over 130,000 online literary works to overseas markets. Last year, the industry gained 40 million new registered users abroad, with active users spread across more than 200 countries and regions, the report stated. Data showed that overseas platforms for online literature and related micro-dramas had a combined daily active user count of 60 million, generating overseas revenue of more than 8 billion yuan (1 yuan = Rp2,672), or approximately 1.2 billion US dollars (1 US dollar = Rp18,087). In 2025, the industry continued to experience innovation and quality improvement, with genres such as realist fiction, science fiction, and fantasy producing more high-quality works, according to the report. “With captivating storylines, distinctive characters, and imaginative settings, Chinese online literature has been embraced across different cultures and gained popularity worldwide,” said He Hong, director of the CWA’s online literature centre.