By Iris Yim and Brittany Chiu
For decades, China’s entertainment landscape was heavily influenced by foreign imports—Hollywood blockbusters, Japanese anime, and South Korea’s hallyu wave, including K-pop and K-dramas. However, this dynamic has undergone a radical transformation. Today, China is not only a consumer of global content but also a powerful producer, exporting its cultural narratives across the globe through gaming, animation, and literature. This shift reflects China’s strategic adaptation to the global stage, technological innovation, and its deep cultural heritage, positioning the country as a rising titan of soft power.
The Rise of Chinese Gaming
The gaming industry stands at the forefront of China’s entertainment revolution. Once known for its mobile free-to-play titles, Chinese studios have evolved into major players in the development of high-end, AAA games that rival the output of Western and Japanese giants. Black Myth: Wukong, released on August 19, 2024, exemplifies this leap. Within just three days of its release, the game sold 10 million copies, reaching 25 million units within months. Developed by Game Science and backed by Tencent, Black Myth: Wukong reimagines the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West, blending the rich lore of the myth with cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5 visuals and challenging Soulslike gameplay mechanics. Its tremendous success, including 2.4 million peak concurrent players on Steam—second only to PUBG—demonstrates China’s growing technical sophistication and cultural confidence.
Alongside it, Genshin Impact (2020) pioneered the global success of Chinese games, combining anime-inspired aesthetics with open-world gameplay that captivated audiences worldwide. These triumphs are significant not only because they showcase China’s ability to produce premium gaming experiences but also because they mark the end of China’s console ban era (2000-2014), demonstrating the nation’s emergence as a global competitor in gaming.
The Renaissance of Chinese Animation
Parallel to gaming, Chinese animation has experienced a renaissance. The 2024 sequel Ne Zha 2 grossed a staggering $2 billion globally, surpassing even Inside Out 2 as the highest-grossing animated film of the year. Produced by a massive team of 1,500 animators across 20 studios, Ne Zha 2 modernizes the Daoist-Buddhist deity Ne Zha into a symbol of rebellion against fate. The film blends elements of Tang Dynasty artistry with Hollywood-level CGI, challenging the dominance of iconic animation studios like Studio Ghibli and Disney. Its success is partly due to its universal themes of identity and self-discovery, resonating with diaspora audiences around the world.
This builds on the success of the 2019 original Ne Zha, which grossed $726 million and marked a pivotal moment in China’s animation industry. No longer merely producing state-sponsored educational content, China is now creating mythic, blockbuster animated films that rival global offerings.
The Global Influence of Chinese Literature
The quiet but powerful rise of Chinese literature, particularly web novels, has further solidified the country’s cultural influence. Platforms like Qidian and Jinjiang, which originated from late-1990s internet forums, have now evolved into a $5 billion industry. Serialized genres such as xianxia (immortal heroes) and wuxia (martial arts) blend traditional Chinese folklore with modern storytelling techniques, attracting a massive global readership. With over 200 million readers worldwide, these genres are not only redefining the global literary scene but also shaping the broader cultural dialogue.
The fan-driven adaptations of works like Mo Dao Zu Shi into the global hit The Untamed and Nirvana in Fire have introduced Chinese storytelling to global streaming platforms like Netflix. In turn, these adaptations have sparked international fan clubs and book discussions, propelling Chinese narratives into the cultural mainstream. Through these stories, elements of Confucian ethics and Daoist philosophy are reframed as universal narratives that speak to global audiences rather than being confined to niche folklore.
The Role of Cultural Authenticity
At the core of China’s entertainment revolution lies a dedication to cultural authenticity. Works like Black Myth: Wukong and Ne Zha 2 draw deeply from classic Chinese texts such as Journey to the West and Investiture of the Gods, seamlessly blending Taoist philosophy, Buddhist teachings, and Confucian values. Similarly, web novels like Joy of Life mix historical intrigue with supernatural battles, resonating with readers who seek alternatives to homogenized global storytelling. For the 50-million-strong Chinese diaspora, these stories provide a powerful connection to their heritage, as evidenced by sold-out screenings of Ne Zha 2 in San Francisco’s Chinatown and the vibrant online discussions around Wukong in places like Sydney. These works not only entertain but also serve as a cultural bridge, connecting the diaspora with their roots and providing a sense of pride and identity.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite this progress, challenges remain. Government censorship continues to play a significant role in shaping the content that reaches both domestic and international audiences. For example, streamers of Wukong have faced blacklists for touching on “sensitive topics,” while authors often self-censor to avoid government scrutiny. Gender representation has also sparked debate, particularly with the initial exclusion of female characters in early Wukong trailers, though this was later rectified by showing the Spider Sisters.
On the international stage, China must navigate the complexities of distinguishing itself from other foreign established entertainment networks, all while avoiding their approaches that may dilute the authenticity of Chiense cultural narratives.
The Future of China’s Entertainment Industry
Looking to the future, China’s entertainment strategy combines tradition with cutting-edge innovation. New gaming titles like Where Winds Meet (2024) and Lost Soul Aside (2025) aim to reshape the open-world and action RPG genres, with Where Winds Meet offering a wuxia experience that blends traditional martial arts storytelling with modern gameplay mechanics. In animation, studios are constructing expansive shared universes with Ne Zha like New Gods: Yang Jian, while AI-driven and high-end CGI tools are enhancing production efficiency.
Meanwhile, partnerships with major international players like Sony and Tencent help bring Chinese creativity to global audiences, ensuring the country’s entertainment offerings maintain their competitive edge.
This entertainment revolution is about more than just commercial success—it represents a fundamental shift in the global cultural landscape. By transforming ancient Chinese myths into AAA games, blockbuster films, and binge-worthy TV series, China is asserting that its cultural narratives are not only relevant but essential in today’s global conversation. For the Chinese diaspora, these works are a source of pride and identity, while for the broader international community, they offer an alternative to the often Western-centric narratives that dominate global entertainment.
As China’s entertainment industry continues to grow, it doesn’t seek to replace Hollywood or the global anime phenomenon. Instead, it aims to carve out its own space, demonstrating that tradition and modernity can coexist, offering a unique and compelling voice in the global zeitgeist.