New global Chinese-language literary competition launched

Chinese-language fiction writers around the world now have a new platform to showcase their work, with the launch of the Global Chinese Literary Awards on June 30.

The competition will run annually over a three-year period, and aims to celebrate Chinese-language storytelling while fostering cross-cultural exchange, said SPH Media in a media release on June 30.

Open to both short and long novel entries, the competition also includes a Southeast Asia Novel Award to spotlight regional voices and perspectives.

Winners will receive cash prizes of up to 60,000 yuan (S$10,660).

The awards were launched following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between SPH Media’s Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao and Yuewen.

Yuewen is one of China’s biggest online literature companies. It owns brands such as Tencent Animation and Comics, gathering tens of millions of creators and works.

SPH Media said the competition also aims to connect communities through the art of fiction.

Ms Lee Huay Leng, editor-in-chief of SPH Media’s Chinese Media Group, said: “The number of people writing novels in Chinese in Singapore may not be large, but we must always think bigger and adopt an open mindset to connect our works – whether many or few – with Chinese fiction creators worldwide through the internet.”

Yuewen’s chief executive and president Hou Xiaonan noted that there are over 350 million overseas readers of online literature, across more than 200 countries and regions.

“With the Global Chinese Literary Awards as a new starting point, we hope to nurture more high-quality works that reflect the spirit of the times,” he said.

Submissions for the inaugural edition are open until Dec 15 and winners will be announced at City Reading@SG 2026, an annual literary festival in Singapore that celebrates reading and storytelling through talks, performances and community events.

The first prize for long novels is 60,000 yuan, while the short novel category offers a top prize of 50,000 yuan. The Southeast Asia Novel Award winner will also receive 60,000 yuan.

All three winners will be offered a Yuewen Branded Author Agreement and an exclusive interview with Lianhe Zaobao.

In the lead-up to the awards, Lianhe Zaobao and Yuewen will also co-host a series of literary talks across South-east Asia.

More information on the Global Chinese Literary Awards 2025 can be found at activity.write.qq.com/noah/205353145

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