China's online literature grows in scale, expands global reach

中国网络文学产业规模持续扩大，全球影响力稳步提升

This photo taken on Nov. 21, 2024 shows some hard copies of online Chinese novels during their inclusion event at the British Library in London, Britain.

2024 年11月21日，英国伦敦大英图书馆举办中国网络小说入藏仪式，图为入藏的部分实体书籍。

China's online literature industry continued to grow in both scale and global influence in 2025, with the total number of online literary works exceeding 33 million and the overseas readership reaching about 250 million, according to a report released on Thursday.

周四发布的一份报告显示，2025年中国网络文学产业规模与全球影响力同步提升，作品总量突破3300万部，海外读者规模约达2.5亿人。

The figures were announced during the 2026 China Online Literature Forum hosted by the Chinese Writers Association (CWA) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province.

上述数据在安徽省合肥市举办的2026年中国网络文学论坛上公布，本次论坛由中国作家协会主办。

By the end of 2025, the industry had attracted over half a billion readers in total and exported more than 130,000 online literary works to overseas markets. Last year, it gained 40 million new overseas registered users, with active users spanning more than 200 countries and regions, said the report.

报告显示，截至2025年底，中国网络文学国内读者总规模超5亿人，累计向海外输出作品超 13 万部。去年全年新增海外注册用户4000万，活跃用户覆盖全球200多个国家和地区。

Data showed that overseas platforms for online literature and related micro dramas had a combined daily active user base of 60 million, generating more than 8 billion yuan (about 1.2 billion U.S. dollars) in overseas revenue.

数据显示，海外网文平台及相关微短剧的合计日活跃用户达6000万，全年海外营收超80亿元人民币（约合12亿美元）。

In 2025, the industry saw continued innovation and improved quality, with genres such as realistic fiction, science fiction and fantasy delivering more high-quality works, the report noted.

报告指出，2025年网络文学行业持续创新、内容质量稳步提升，现实题材、科幻、玄幻等品类涌现出更多优质作品。

"With compelling storylines, distinctive characters and imaginative settings, Chinese online literature has resonated across different cultures and gained popularity worldwide," said He Hong, director of the CWA's online literature center.

中国作协网络文学中心主任何弘表示：“中国网络文学凭借扣人心弦的剧情、鲜活立体的人物和充满想象力的世界观，跨越了文化壁垒，在全球范围内收获了大量读者的喜爱。”

Chinese online literature has not only attracted a growing global readership, but also inspired creators around the world.

中国网络文学不仅吸引了越来越多的全球读者，也为世界各地的创作者带来了启发。

Yuewen Group, a Chinese enterprise with online literature as its core business, has attracted more than 530,000 authors from countries including the United States, Brazil and Indonesia on its overseas platform.

以网络文学为核心业务的中国企业阅文集团，其海外平台已吸引了来自美国、巴西、印度尼西亚等国的超53万名创作者入驻。

"These writers are drawing on the storytelling approaches of Chinese online literature to tell their own stories," said Wang Zhongjie, general manager of the company's overseas business.

阅文集团海外业务总经理王忠杰表示：“这些创作者正在借鉴中国网络文学的叙事手法，书写属于他们自己的本土故事。”

The influence of Chinese online literature is also extending beyond the written word, as more literary works are adapted into diverse forms of cultural products. The cross-media integration has given rise to a new cultural ecosystem involving the "new trio" of web literature, online dramas, and video games.

中国网络文学的影响力早已不止于文字本身，越来越多的网文IP被改编为多元文化产品。跨媒介融合催生出网文、网剧、游戏，新三驾马车协同发展的全新文化生态。

"Joy of Life," a popular Chinese time-travel web novel, is one example of how online literature expands into different areas. The novel has inspired audiobooks, animations, television productions, and video games. In 2024, the second season of its series adaptation was translated into 14 languages and streamed on multiple overseas platforms, including Disney+.

爆款穿越网文《庆余年》就是网文IP多业态开发的典型案例。这部作品已衍生出有声书、动画、影视剧、游戏等多种形态。2024年，改编剧《庆余年第二季》被译制成14种语言，登陆迪士尼 + 等多个海外流媒体平台。

"In the past, web literature, online dramas and video games developed along separate paths. Now the three sectors are forging a powerful synergy," said Zeng Fanwen, executive director of the research institute of cultural industries at Renmin University of China.

中国人民大学文化产业研究院执行院长曾繁文表示：“过去网文、网剧、游戏各自发展，如今三者正在形成强大的协同效应。”

"While web novels serve as the content source, micro dramas rapidly boost popularity, and video games create deep, long-term value," Zeng added.

他补充道：“网络小说是内容源头，微短剧能快速引爆热度，游戏则可以沉淀长期深度价值，三者形成了完整的产业闭环。”

"Chinese stories are worth telling," said Charles-Emmanuel Dewees, co-founder of the French webnovel platform Chinareads. He believed that with the help of AI, more global readers will feel the charm of Chinese online literature in different languages.

法国网文平台Chinareads联合创始人夏尔 - 埃马纽埃尔・德韦斯表示：“中国故事值得被世界听见。” 他认为，借助人工智能技术，更多全球读者将能通过不同语言感受中国网络文学的魅力。

"Chinese online literature not only offers a source of enjoyment, but also opens a window for international readers to understand China better," he said. "I would encourage them to visit China when they have the opportunity and experience the profound heritage of Chinese culture firsthand."

他说：“中国网络文学不只是一种娱乐内容，更为海外读者打开了一扇了解中国的窗口。我也鼓励大家有机会亲自到中国走一走，亲身感受中华文化的深厚底蕴。”

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【今日词汇】

online literature 网络文学

cultural industry 文化产业

cultural ecosystem 文化生态

overseas readership 海外读者规模

registered users 注册用户

active users 活跃用户

daily active user base 日活跃用户体量

overseas revenue 海外营收

total number of works 作品总量

overseas export 海外输出

realistic fiction 现实题材小说

science fiction 科幻题材

fantasy 奇幻 / 玄幻题材

time-travel web novel 穿越类网络小说

storyline 故事情节

character 人物角色

setting 世界观设定

micro drama 微短剧

audiobook 有声书

animation 动画

series adaptation 剧集改编

video game 电子游戏

global influence 全球影响力

gain popularity worldwide 在全球走红