China’s internet landscape is booming, with over 1.12 billion users online as of June 2025, according to a recent report from the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC). This marks a significant milestone, with internet penetration reaching 79.7%, up 1.1 percentage points since December 2024.
The growth isn’t just in numbers—it’s also in who is getting connected. Efforts to make the internet more inclusive have paid off, especially among the elderly and rural residents. The report highlights that 161 million users are aged 60 and above, and 322 million reside in rural areas, with internet penetration among these groups hitting 52% and 69.2%, respectively.
This digital expansion is fueling a surge in Chinese cultural exports. Chinese online literature and games are reaching audiences like never before, both at home and abroad. In 2024, the overseas market for Chinese online literature exceeded 5 billion yuan (approximately $700 million), reaching more than 200 countries and regions and attracting over 350 million overseas readers.
Japan stands out as the fastest-growing market, with the number of readers of Chinese online literature skyrocketing by 180%. Zhang Yijun, first vice chairman of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, noted that Chinese online literature has become a new form of mass cultural art. Its integration with micro-short dramas has opened fresh avenues for the industry’s transformation, especially in 2024.
Apart from cultural content, China is making remarkable strides in generative artificial intelligence (AI). In the first half of 2025, AI products saw comprehensive development from technology to application. As of March 2025, the Cyberspace Administration of China had registered 346 generative AI services.
Domestic AI products have achieved significant breakthroughs, reaching parameter scales in the hundreds of billions and obtaining multi-modal capabilities. These technologies are deeply integrated into various scenarios like office collaboration, education, industrial design, and content creation. The result is an intelligent application ecosystem that spans multiple fields.
China’s digital journey during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) showcases a commitment to technological advancement and cultural sharing. With the internet becoming more accessible, especially to key groups like the elderly and rural residents, the country is not only enhancing its internal connectivity but also strengthening its global cultural presence.
