AI Empowers Online Literature to Expand Globally, “Zhejiang Model” Creates New Engine for Cultural Export

On the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the establishment of the China Online Writers Village, the global dissemination of cultural “new trios” such as online literature and web series has become a focus of industry attention. The latest data shows that online literature produced in Zhejiang has attracted over 200 million overseas active users, covering more than a hundred countries worldwide, forming a complete industrial chain from original content to IP adaptation. With the deep application of AI technology, the overseas expansion of online literature is entering a new stage of enhanced efficiency and scale.

Overseas Readers “Urge Updates” of Chinese Stories, Contemporary Narratives Become a Highlight for Global Expansion
At the eighth villagers’ meeting of the China Online Writers Village, several authors shared new trends in the overseas dissemination of their works. The author “Insecticide Team Member” stated that his works have been widely disseminated abroad through spontaneous translations by readers, with many foreign fans leaving messages “pleading for more chapter updates.” He observed that overseas readers particularly favor “contemporary Chinese stories told by contemporary people,” providing important insights for creative direction.

An increasing number of writers are consciously targeting overseas markets in their creations. Shangyuan Huan, set against the backdrop of Lin’an in the Southern Song Dynasty, has not only been introduced by Singaporean publishers but its adapted micro-series has also been translated into more than 20 language versions. Wang Yurong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the China Online Writers Village, pointed out, “Overseas markets are closely following the development of domestic online literature IPs, forming a cross-cultural resonance of content.”

AI Technology Reshapes the Industrial Chain, Overseas Expansion Cycle for Short Series Shortened by 50%
AI technology is becoming a key catalyst for the overseas expansion of online literature. Hangzhou Judian Short Series Co., Ltd., through its self-developed AI translation platform, can simultaneously convert domestic short series into 19 language versions, including English, Korean, and Thai, breaking through traditional translation talent bottlenecks. Ye Manyan, head of AI comic series at the company, revealed, “Traditional short series production used to take over two months, but with AI technology, the entire process can be compressed to within a month.”

Enterprises are also building dissemination matrices through overseas apps and hundreds of social media accounts to achieve precise content reach. Public data shows that in the first half of 2025, domestic short series platforms accounted for over 50% of the overseas market share, with top platforms achieving revenues exceeding $100 million in six months, with Zhejiang enterprises performing particularly prominently.

Building a Full-Chain Overseas Expansion Network, Zhejiang Creates a New High Ground for the Cultural Industry
Xia Lie, Executive Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Online Writers Association, pointed out, “Hangzhou has become the largest base for the animation adaptation of Chinese online literature, with Zhejiang’s film, television, and animation companies leading the country in adaptation volume, quality rate, and hit rate.”

Experts suggest that Zhejiang should leverage its first-mover advantage in the field of artificial intelligence to accelerate the construction of a full-chain overseas expansion support system covering translation services, international exhibitions, and channel expansion, providing systematic support for the globalization of cultural “new trios.” With the continuous deepening of the “AI + content” model, Zhejiang is upgrading from a high ground for online literature creation to an important source of global digital cultural content supply.