Exhibition of multiple trending web novels in Shanghai on February 12, 2025 Photo: VCG

Charles-Emmanuel Dewees from France still vividly remembers the thrill he felt more than a decade ago when he unwittingly followed a young man with a mysterious ring into the world of the Chinese web novel Coiling Dragon. It was his first encounter with concepts like elixirs, magical artifacts, and the mastery of the Five Elements to achieve personal breakthroughs. For Dewees, it was like unearthing a hidden treasure - a brand-new world slowly unfolding before his eyes.

Before he could fully extricate himself from the realm of Coiling Dragon, he found himself swept into the plots of A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality and Battle Through the Heavens. Gradually, Dewees managed to learn Chinese to break free from translations and began reading the original Chinese texts. With every web novel he devoured, his grasp of the Chinese language and culture deepened.

Today, Chinese web novels boast an overseas fan base of about 200 million active readers, spanning more than 200 countries and regions. Many works have been translated into English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Thai, and a host of other languages, gaining widespread popularity. In Canada, young people read a few chapters of web novels after work, discussing their favorites online with fellow enthusiasts. In France, a young mother, inspired by the delicacies described in novels, recreates Chinese dishes for her children. These overseas readers hail from all walks of life, yet each finds their own joy in the universe of Chinese web literature.

Unlike most readers, Dewees took his passion one step further. He not only relished this new experience for himself but also set out to build a bridge, introducing Chinese web novels to the Francophone world through translation and recommendations. Together with friends, he founded an online reading community, rallying fans to help translate and upload more than 100 Chinese web novels into French, making them freely accessible to internet users worldwide.

From a normal reader to a volunteer "bridge builder," Dewees admitted that it was the charm of Chinese web novels that propelled him wholeheartedly into running this community. 

"Chinese online literature, with its riveting stories, fantastic imagination, and moving emotions, resonates with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. I hope to build a cultural bridge for readers interested in Chinese culture and web novels," Dewees told the Global Times.

Secrets to global popularity

"Brilliant!" "Legendary!" "Fascinating!" - these are common reader comments on chireads.com, the online community Dewees established. According to Dewees, the platform now attracts about 300,000 Francophone readers each month - not only from France but also from Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, the US, and even French-speaking regions of Africa such as Morocco. Most are young people born in the late 1990s and 2000s. 

"They read and discuss the series they are following, joke around, tease each other, and sometimes criticize the translations," Dewees explained.

Browsing reader comments on the site, it is easy to see that the unique features of Chinese web novels - cultivation, martial arts, and traditional Eastern elements - are all seen as major draws.

"Chinese web novels are completely different from other narrative styles around the world. They give readers a strong sense of novelty, opening a brand-new door. These stories spark the imagination and offer encouragement and strength amid the pressures of real life. For many, they are a refreshing breeze," Dewees remarked, when discussing the reasons behind the global fascination with Chinese web literature.

Earlier this year, while filming a documentary on web novels in China and engaging in face-to-face exchanges with several seasoned Chinese web authors, Dewees gained a more comprehensive understanding of why these stories captivate readers worldwide.

Chinese online literature writer "Shachongdui Duiyuan" (lit: Insecticide Squad Member) recalled his conversation with Dewees, telling the Global Times that their discussion delved into how historical and cultural elements, philosophical thought, gaming experiences, and personal life stories shape online literary creation - particularly his acclaimed novel Ten Day Ultimatum, which boasts over 5 million readers on digital platforms. They also explored what it is about these stories that strikes a chord with readers across the globe.

The author noted that it is the high-quality storytelling and the universality of human emotions in Chinese web novels that break through cultural barriers and attract vast numbers of international readers. "Overseas readers are equally moved by the joys, sorrows, struggles, and aspirations of ordinary Chinese people," he said.

Opening a window

In Dewees's view, Chinese web novels not only bring spiritual enjoyment to overseas readers, but also open a window for them to discover and understand China. Readers on the Chireads platform often look up references, watch videos, and search for cultural allusions mentioned in the stories, thus encountering a broader range of Chinese culture. Through the lens of the authors, they also gain insights into how contemporary Chinese youth think and feel.

Andeez Ziauddin, a student from Bangladesh now studying at Fudan University in Shanghai, told the Global Times that part of her motivation to study in Shanghai was inspired by the renowned local online writer "Haizibang." The Chinese web novels she grew up reading became her window to exploring Chinese culture.

When reading Chinese web novels, Ziauddin found herself especially drawn to themes steeped in traditional Chinese culture, such as the philosophies of "going with the flow" and "my destiny is mine to shape, not Heaven's," which deeply resonated with her. The traditional elements and historical backgrounds woven into the novels ignite her curiosity, prompting her to do further research.

Web literature has awakened a passion for traditional Chinese culture in the hearts of many young readers. These compelling stories are forging bridges between Eastern and Western cultures. 

"I look forward to and firmly believe that more outstanding works of Chinese online literature will reach the world stage," Dewees said.