Global impact of Chinese web novels reaches new heights

"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.