Chinese genre fiction gains ground around the world

As overseas readers look beyond traditional images of China and seek stories that reflect its contemporary culture, history and imagination, Chinese genre fiction is finding growing opportunities on the international stage.

That trend was in focus at a literary promotion event held on May 28 at Beijing International Bookstore, where writers, publishers, translators, scholars and industry professionals from more than 20 countries and regions gathered in person or online to discuss the global prospects of Chinese historical fantasy, online literature, mystery and suspense fiction.

Coorganized by the China Writers Association and the China International Book Trading Corporation, the event featured themed discussions on "Historical Imagination and Eastern Fantasy" and "Mystery Narratives and the Enigma of Human Nature", highlighting the expanding international reach of Chinese genre literature.

In the historical fantasy and online literature session, writers including Ma Boyong, Tang Jia San Shao, I Eat Tomatoes, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving and Talking Elbow joined discussions on the growing influence of Chinese web novels abroad.

Chinese online literary works such as Lord of the Mysteries and Joy of Life have attracted significant international attention in recent years, demonstrating the appeal of Chinese storytelling and the cultural richness of genres that blend history, fantasy, and adventure.

Wang Zhixiang, deputy director of the China Writers Association's Online Literature Center, said traditional cultural resources are being revitalized through contemporary narratives, helping overseas readers gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

Online literature has become not only a major literary form in the internet era but also an important vehicle for Chinese culture to cross borders, said Tao Yunfei, head of publishing operations at Yuewen Group.

He said the overseas dissemination of Chinese online literature has evolved into a complete ecosystem spanning literature, film, animation, games and multilingual publishing. Looking ahead, he said the industry hopes to further promote an international communication model based on "Chinese storytelling, global cocreation".

Charles-Emmanuel Dewees, cofounder of the French online literature platform Chireads, said in a video message that what most captivates international readers is the authenticity of the characters and the creativity of the authors.

"Online literature has become a universal language connecting readers from different countries and cultures," he said.

In a video address, US screenwriter, author and playwright Richard Krevolin said Chinese online literature's rich historical imagination and adventurous spirit provide abundant material for global publishing and screen adaptations.

"Literary works serve as an important bridge for cultural exchange between Eastern and Western civilizations," he said.

Mystery and suspense writers featured in the event included Lyu Zheng, Huyan Yun, Zhao Jingyi, A Yi, Cai Jun, Zijin Chen, Shi Chen and Guo Peiwen.

Xie Gang, founder of Midnight Library, China's first mystery-fiction imprint, traced the genre's evolution over the past two decades from a niche market to a mature literary category.

Scholar Zhang Yifei of Beijing Normal University said contemporary Chinese mystery fiction draws on both traditional gong'an, or legal case narratives, and modern international detective fiction. Through this blend, he said, the genre has developed a distinctive style that combines Chinese cultural characteristics with universal appeal.

International publishing professionals expressed optimism about the genre's overseas prospects.

In a video message, US best-selling author Douglas Preston said Chinese crime and suspense novels are attracting growing attention in Europe and North America by combining unique cultural elements with compelling storytelling. He believes the English-language market is eager to welcome more Chinese mystery writers.

Tom Chalmers, managing director of the British publishing group Legend Times, highlighted the strong global demand for thriller, mystery and suspense fiction. He said Chinese works are increasingly attracting the attention of international publishers and said stronger publishing partnerships could help bring more titles to readers worldwide.

The growing interest is also reflected in broader efforts to promote Chinese literature internationally. Zheng Lei, deputy director of the International Department of the China Writers Association, said genre fiction has become one of the brightest areas in the overseas promotion of contemporary Chinese literature.

Xinhua contributed to this story.