China saw $143.4 billion in total import and export of cultural products in 2025, with the number of entities going global continuing to grow and international influence steadily rising, Sun Yeli, Minister of Culture and Tourism, said in a report delivered at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, on Tuesday.
Sun said traditional cultural elements such as martial arts, folk music and traditional Chinese medicine have gained widespread popularity, while online literature, games, dramas and trendy toys have accelerated their global expansion.
Chinese online literature has now been exported to more than 200 countries and regions, while gaming products rich in Chinese cultural elements, including Black Myth: Wukong, have been well received by overseas users, he added. Pop Mart's cultural and creative products are also enjoyed by consumers worldwide, Sun noted.
The minister stated that inbound tourism recorded 154 million visits in 2025, generating $131.135 billion in spending, up 17.1 percent and 39.2 percent year-on-year, respectively. "China Travel" and "China Shopping" are emerging as new trends among overseas tourists, he said.
Sun said the cultural industry has continued to expand, effectively boosting domestic demand, promoting employment and bolstering confidence. In 2025, the cultural and related industries achieved operating revenue of 20.83 trillion yuan ($3.09 trillion), up 8.8 percent year-on-year, with total profits reaching 1.90 trillion yuan, he noted.
Domestic tourist trips reached 6.522 billion last year, with total tourism spending of 6.30 trillion yuan, up 16.2 percent and 9.5 percent year-on-year, respectively, he said.
The country's total box office revenue reached 51.832 billion yuan in 2025, with the entire film industry chain generating 817.259 billion yuan in output value, he said. Specialized cultural industries and rural tourism have driven large numbers of farmers to start businesses and find employment, increasing their incomes, Sun added.
