Chinese online literature writer "Shachongdui Duiyuan" (lit: insecticide squad member), together with other representatives of the online literature community, visited Huaqiao University in Quanzhou, East China’s Fujian Province, on Tuesday. There, they engaged in lively discussions with domestic and international students about the creation and global reach of Chinese online literature. After being surrounded by enthusiastic students for half an hour, the author gained a more tangible sense of the growing influence of online literature. As he found at the opening of the 2025 China Online Literature Forum on Monday, online literature is developing rapidly, enriching the forms of Chinese literary expression, expanding its horizons, and ushering in a new era of public writing.
One of the forum’s central themes was the global expansion of Chinese online literature. According to the China Writers Association’s online literature center, there are currently about 200 million active overseas readers of Chinese web literature, covering more than 200 countries and regions. This achievement demonstrates that online literature has become a prominent calling card for the international dissemination of Chinese culture and literary innovation. Among these users, Generation Z readers constitute the core audience for Chinese web novels abroad. At the forum’s opening ceremony, the center unveiled the results of the third phase of the international communication project for Generation Z readers, highlighting the strategic focus on this demographic.
A notable announcement at the forum was the release of a six-episode bilingual documentary, Chinese Internet Literature, with each episode running 16 minutes. The documentary features in-depth interviews with Charles-Emmanuel Dewees, editor-in-chief of reading platform Chireads in France, overseas readers, and six prominent Chinese online writers, including Wo Chi Xihongshi, Jiang Shengnan, and Shachongdui Duiyuan himself.
In footage filmed in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong Province, Dewees and Shachongdui Duiyuan explored the author’s acclaimed work Ten Day Ultimatum - a novel followed by over 5 million readers on digital platforms. Their discussion delved into how historical and cultural elements, philosophical thought, gaming experiences, and personal life stories shape online literary creation, while also examining the elements that spark resonance among readers worldwide.
During these exchanges, Shachongdui Duiyuan observed that the popularity of many Chinese online novels overseas is often driven by readers themselves, who voluntarily translate and promote the works. He told the Global Times on Tuesday, "If the content is compelling, there will naturally be readers and fans eager to introduce it to a wider audience." He said it is the high-quality storytelling and universal human emotions in Chinese online literature that break down cultural barriers and attract a vast number of international readers. "Overseas readers are equally moved by the joys, sorrows, struggles, and aspirations of ordinary people," he said.
Innovative narrative techniques also play a key role in capturing readers’ attention. For example, in his work, Shachongdui Duiyuan draws extensively on the multi-perspective, multi-threaded storytelling methods found in video games. By allowing supporting characters to narrate in the first person, he requires readers to piece together the main storyline themselves, thus enhancing immersion and a sense of freshness in the reading experience.
Behind the booming creative scene of online literature, there are also challenges from emerging technologies such as AI. At the forum’s opening, Zhang Hongsen, head of the China Writers Association, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to advance both the canonization and innovative development of online literature, ensuring its continued vitality and relevance in an evolving cultural landscape.
To address these challenges and further promote the global reach of Chinese online literature, industry institutions have developed more comprehensive strategies. These include strengthening translation support systems, building dedicated online literature terminology databases, and encouraging the parallel use of AI and human translation. In addition, expanding international exchanges through events such as overseas fan meets and reader conventions has become a key part of these efforts, fostering stronger connections between writers and global audiences.
As Chinese online literature continues to grow in popularity worldwide, its creators and industry leaders are keenly aware of the importance of both narrative innovation and cultural resonance. With hundreds of millions of readers at home and abroad, Chinese online literature is not only redefining the boundaries of literary creation but also forging new and dynamic channels for cultural exchange on a global scale.
原文地址：http://en.people.cn/n3/2025/1112/c90000-20389384.html