Why do we still need books? Insights from renowned Chinese writers

In a world overwhelmed by uncertainty, where artificial intelligence produces content at the click of a button and internet fiction competes for every spare moment, the appeal of the printed page feels more significant than ever. What is it that serious literature provides that no algorithm can replicate?

At this year's World Book and Copyright Day, CGTN spoke with three of China's most renowned writers – Mai Jia, Zhao Lihong and Zijin Chen – to explore literature's lasting power. Their answers converge on something profoundly human: the humility to confront our limitations, the soul behind every genuine voice and the stories that stay with us long after the last page.

Great literature discovers our humanity amid conflict

"I believe literature is a heart that beats eternally for humanity," said novelist Mai Jia, widely regarded as the pioneer of Chinese espionage fiction, who gained international fame with bestsellers including Decoded and The Message. In a world full of conflicts and misunderstandings, Mai believes that communication through literature is essential, as it can reach the "most sensitive and tender of human hearts," making people aware of their limitations and helping them live with humility. 

"With that humility and sincerity, the world should not be as full of conflict, misunderstanding, and even war as it is now," he added.

Real literature has a soul

"My laughter, every sound I make, even my tears are unique to me, which cannot be replicated by AI," said Chinese writer and poet Zhao Lihong.

To this recipient of the 2025 Premio Montale Fuori di Casa (International Section), a prestigious Italian literary award, literature is not limited to bytes and digits but comes from humanity and the soul.

While recognizing that the rise of AI helps eliminate incompetent cookie-cutter creators, Zhao emphasizes that the lasting power of literature lies in its emotion, perception, and imagination.

Good fiction doesn't end when you close the book

"If a story can't leave people with any reflection, I won't write it as a novel, no matter how good the plot is," says web novelist Zijin Chen (real name Chen Xu).

Known for his crime fiction works, including The Bad Kids and Burning Ice, both of which were adapted into television series that once went viral, Chen grounds his fiction on close observation of society and a deep sense of empathy for human nature.

In his novels, every character is placed in a realistic situation, and he constantly asks himself: "What would I do or say if I were in their shoes?" For Chen, the key to a novel is making sure the story's logic holds while evoking thought, allowing his works to resonate long after the final page.

About PAGE X

PAGE X invites guests from diverse fields to share a single selection from one of their favorite books. Through our speakers' interpretations, this program offers the public online access to the world's greatest intellectual works, helping them rediscover the enduring charm of reading.