China’s science fiction industry generated 126.1 billion yuan ($18.61 billion) in 2025, a 15.7% year-on-year increase, according to a 2026 industry report by the China Research Institute for Science Popularization. The sector has now surpassed 100 billion yuan for three consecutive years, driven by stronger IP development, digital technologies, and expanding applications across multiple industries.

In Shenzhen’s Guangming Science City, researchers, writers, and academics are collaborating to develop new sci-fi works alongside major scientific facilities. The area has become a hub for creativity, supporting literature, forums, and science-themed cultural events that connect scientific research with storytelling.

In the film industry, virtual production technologies in cities like Chengdu are transforming sci-fi filmmaking. Real-time CGI, AI tools, and immersive digital environments are reducing production costs and expanding creative possibilities for filmmakers.

Sci-fi is also merging with cultural tourism. In Beijing, immersive exhibition centers inspired by works such as The Wandering Earth allow visitors to experience interactive space-themed environments. These attractions combine entertainment, education, and science engagement, drawing thousands of visitors since opening.

Officials and industry experts say the rapid integration of science fiction with technology, education, and tourism is building a more dynamic ecosystem, turning imagination into both cultural value and economic growth.

Source: People’s Daily