Chinese stories spread as AI accelerates translations into more languages
Shanghai International Online Literature Week opens on Monday.
Shanghai International Online Literature Week opened on Monday, bringing together online authors from 16 countries. The event highlighted the role of new technologies in increasing the global reach of Chinese online literature.
The development of artificial intelligence has powered translation to boost Chinese works into multiple languages. At the same time more online dramas and films based on Chinese online works are hitting overseas streaming platforms.
The three-day event is being held for the third time and is organized by industry regulators and Shanghai-based Yuewen, the country's biggest online literature site backed by Tencent.
Huang Binbing, vice director of the Shanghai Publicity Department, said the Chinese online literature industry is entering the digital era.
AI plays vital role
Huang Binbing, vice director of the Shanghai Publicity Department, noted that Chinese online literature has undergone significant growth over the past 20 years, now developing a robust ecosystem in the digital era.
AI has played a pivotal role in accelerating the translation and dissemination of Chinese works. WebNovel, an overseas platform of China Literature, had published 6,000 translated Chinese works by November, of which 2,000 were completed by AI.
According to an industry report released at the event, China's online literature industry generated 4.35 billion yuan (US$60.4 million) in revenue in 2023. The industry produced 695,800 online works, attracting a combined 300 million visits.
AI has enabled the publication of works in multiple language works, including a significant surge in French, German, Spanish, and Japanese content on WebNovel in 2024. This growth has been fueled by a 5.3 to 30-fold increase in year-on-year volume.
Popular titles on Yuewen are spreading in various formats including novels, animation and mini-dramas.
Global impact
Shanghai's online literature is gaining global recognition with works being adapted into various formats, including animation, TV series, and films. For instance, the latest episode of "Joy of Life" is available on Disney+.
Ten popular Chinese web novels originally published on Yuewen have been added to the British Library's collection, showcasing the impact of Chinese culture and intellectual property. These novels span genres such as history, modern life, science fiction, and fantasy. They include titles like "Soul Land," "Once Upon in Nanjing," "Joy of Life," and "Lord of Mysteries."
The event will feature several panels and award ceremonies, including the WebNovel Spirity Awards, which will honor international authors on Tuesday.
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