Each spring, the London Book Fair turns Olympia in west London into a marketplace of ideas where publishers buy translation rights, scout new authors and search for the next global bestseller.

This year's event has brought together more than 30,000 publishing professionals from over 90 countries and regions. Among them are Chinese writers and publishers presenting more than 4,000 book titles covering politics, history, fiction and culture, hoping their stories can reach readers beyond China's borders.

China is considered the world's second-largest publishing market and produces more than half a million new book titles every year. Yet despite that scale, relatively few Chinese books have found lasting success in international markets.

For publishers and writers gathered at the fair, the question is not only how to export Chinese books but how to build genuine global interest in Chinese storytelling.

The genre breakthrough

In recent years, one area where Chinese literature has already made a breakthrough is science fiction.

British publisher Head of Zeus helped introduce Chinese sci-fi to global readers when it published the English edition of The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. The novel went on to become an international sensation - later adapted into a Netflix series - demonstrating that stories rooted in Chinese culture can resonate with readers worldwide.

The publisher has since expanded its partnerships with Chinese authors, including the acclaimed writer Mai Jia.

When asked how the company selects Chinese books to introduce to the British market, the managing director of Head of Zeus, Nicolas Cheetham, told CGTN that "it is the gut feeling sometimes."

"There's a lot of Chinese history and color in the text," Cheetham said. "But ultimately their appeal is because they ring true to people all around the world. There is something about humanity as a whole that these authors reveal in their writing."

Success in translated fiction, he adds, is often unpredictable.

"Every publisher feels that everything they acquire is the one that could just make it," Cheetham said. "but ultimately their appeal is because they ring true to people all around the world. There is something about humanity as a whole, some secret that these authors manage to reveal to you in their writing, and that I think makes them universal."

Cheetham also noted that science fiction readers tend to be more open to different perspectives.

"One of the easiest ways of getting a different perspective is by diving into other cultures…look at the world and not see it all just through a western lens."

Xu Zhiyuan: Chinese literature still sits on the margins of the global literary landscape

Among the Chinese participants at this year's London Book Fair is renowned writer Xu Zhiyuan, known in China as a writer, host and intellectual, and the founder of the One-Way Space Bookstore.

Responding to why some Chinese science fiction writers have managed to break into English-speaking markets, Xu suggests that science fiction and other "edgier" genres give writers greater freedom to express ideas and imagination, which can resonate more easily with international readers.

However, Xu believes Chinese literature still sits somewhat on the margins of global literary conversations.

"You can see we have a kind of inner crisis in our society - the inner crisis about how to speak out our dilemma, how to stick out our difficult part of life," Xu told CGTN. "For writers, it's always a kind of challenge.

He added: "Sometimes you have to be much more rebellious actually. I guess good writing needs kind of the truly rebellious spirit."

Xu argues that although China has many writers, truly high-quality literature with global impact remains limited, with many internationally recognized authors having emerged decades ago rather than from a new generation.

For Chinese writing to gain wider international recognition, Xu says authors need to develop new voices and engage more deeply with universal themes while still drawing from China's own experiences.

"We should show our weakness … maybe the dark side. When you are more honest, the outside world will respect you more," emphasized Xu.

A long journey for Chinese literature

Chinese literature has reached international readers in waves over the past century, from classical works translated by early sinologists to modern successes in science fiction and online fiction.

Some authors have already found global audiences. But for many publishers at the London Book Fair, the bigger question remains how to build sustained international interest in Chinese storytelling.

Exporting books abroad is only part of the challenge. As the global publishing industry continues to evolve, the search for Chinese stories that resonate with readers around the world remains very much a work in progress.