The 2025 China Online Literature Overseas Trend Report, released at the 4th Shanghai International Online Literature Week, reveals market developments and cultural impact. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
China's online literature has achieved unprecedented global reach as the international web literature market experiences rapid expansion, with Latin American markets emerging as new growth drivers and young creators reshaping the landscape, according to industry experts and web novel writers.
The transformation is evidenced by the latest industry report showing overseas revenue reaching 4.815 billion yuan ($683.8 million) in 2024, marking a 10.68 percent year-on-year growth. The sector's total revenue hit 49.55 billion yuan, according to the 2025 China Online Literature Overseas Trend Report released at the 4th Shanghai International Online Literature Week.
"Online literature has evolved beyond initial global co-creation," said Hou Xiaonan, CEO and president of Chinese online publishing company Yuewen Group.
"Three foundational pillars are established: a global user network, a worldwide creative ecosystem, and a cross-cultural interactive community. 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, who have produced over 820,000 original works. More than 538 titles have surpassed 10 million reads each.
Latin America emerged as a standout growth market in 2025, with nine of WebNovel's top 10 countries for monthly active user growth coming from the region.
Mexican author Daniel Dominguez, writing as Dagzo, noted the region's growing appetite for Asian content.
The event features the award ceremony for the WebNovel Spirity Awards 2025, honoring global online literature creators. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"Latin American audiences are increasingly embracing Chinese media, with a strong emphasis on quality," he said.
"While incorporating Chinese elements, I focused on making them accessible to Western readers through familiar storytelling conventions," he said.
"My aim is to create a bridge for readers new to Chinese fantasy, potentially leading them to explore more traditional works."
The platform's demographic analysis reveals 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. User engagement flourished with over 14 million annual comments and interactions, marking a 40 percent increase from the previous year.
AI-powered translation has also enhanced content accessibility, according to the report. WebNovel added over 10,000 AI-translated works in 2025, and now offers content in multiple languages, including recent additions in Thai, Korean, Filipino, and Turkish.
Yuewen's international portfolio has expanded to include over 1,300 published works, 2,100 comics, 80 animations, and more than 100 film and television productions. The industry has also ventured into tourism partnerships, with The Unruly Immortals becoming the first Chinese web literature property featured in Universal Studios Singapore.
The event also featured an award ceremony for the WebNovel Spirity Awards 2025, which attracted participation from over 100 countries and regions and a 58 percent increase in submissions.
This year saw the introduction of new honors, such as book of the year and comic adaptation award. Winning works will be tracked for diverse adaptations, including comics, audiobooks, and short dramas.
The event was organized by the Shanghai publishing association and Yuewen, with guidance from Shanghai municipal press and publication bureau and China audio-video and digital publishing association, and co-organized by Xuhui administration of culture and tourism.
