Tencent’s China Reading takes first foray overseas with multi-language website
The e-book publisher believes novels written by Chinese online authors could become a global cultural phenomenon
The online literature arm of Tencent Holdings has launched a multi-language site aimed at making Chinese web novels a global cultural phenomenon the way Hollywood does with its films.
China Reading, a business similar to Amazon Kindle, on Monday officially launched the site, which is dedicated to translating some of the country’s most successful online novels for overseas readers as it looks beyond China to take its multibillion-yuan business to the next level.
It marks the e-book publisher’s first foray into overseas markets.
“Unlike Chinese traditional literature, novels written by China’s young generations online have more potential to connect with overseas readers because the modern Chinese writers are raised in a globalisation context filled with Hollywood films, Korean television drama and Japanese animations,” said Wu Wenhui, chief executive of the Shanghai-based company.
Unlike Chinese traditional literature, novels written by China’s young generations online have more potential to connect with overseas readers
The site, called Qidian International and accessed through webnovel.com, already has nearly 40 novels available in several languages including English, Thai, Korean and Japanese.