Chinese science fiction has evolved from a politically suspect niche to one of China’s most successful cultural exports in 40 years. The genre faced a significant moment in October 2023 when Chengdu, China, became the capital of the science fiction world for a few days. Worldcon, the biggest annual event in sci-fi, was held in the country for the first time, allowing Chinese and international fans to celebrate the arts together. However, the event was marred by allegations that organizers of the Hugo Awards disqualified candidates to appease Chinese censors. Despite the controversy, Chinese sci-fi continues to gain international recognition, with author Liu Cixin’s “The Three-Body Problem” set for a Netflix adaptation in March. The genre’s journey abroad started with another convention in Chengdu three decades ago, but politics nearly derailed that one before it could get off the ground.
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