As summer approaches, it’s the perfect time to slow down, breathe deeply, and dive into compelling translations of Chinese literature. This edition is packed with reading to match every pace and preference—from new publications and free-to-read gems to critical reviews, insightful essays and poetry, as well as media that will enrich your understanding of contemporary and historical voices in Chinese writing.

We’re especially excited to recommend another brilliant newsletter: Cold Window, by translator Andrew Rule. His recent issue, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at Chinese Internet Literature," offers an introduction to the vast, dynamic world of serialized fiction online—a genre often overlooked in English-language spaces. If you’re curious about genres beyond conventional novels, this is a must read.

Thanks for reading, and for supporting the voices that keep Chinese literature alive in translation. We hope this issue brings some inspiration, discovery, and delight to your summer days.

Reviews and articles

New review of A Cha Chaan Teng that Does Not Exist, by Derek Chung, translated by May Huang in Canto Cutie, issue 8 (available for purchase). Here.

Review of Beijing Sprawl, by Xu Zechen, tr. Eric Abrahamsen, in Manbao (University of Manchester Student Art magazine, first issue).

Article entitled "Yan Geling: Crossing the Red Line", by Karen Ma, China Books Review.

Article entitled "Translated Chinese Literature: Short Fiction", by Jack Hargreaves, China Books Review.

Article by Todd Foley, "Answering New Questions: Translating Yu Hua’s City of Fiction", World Literature Today.

Article by Michael Berry (a must read). “AI Nightmares: Rise of the Dead Souls”, LA Review of Books.

Article by Aamer Hussein on Nicky Harman entitled “Nicky, Ling and the Chinese Connection”, Dawn (Pakistani Sunday).

Article by Cindy Carter entitled “Words of the Week: “Nepo Babies With Connections and Resources” (关系咖 guānxi kā, 资源咖 zīyuán kā)”, China Digital Times.

Prizes

PEN Presents: International Booker Prize shortlist. YZ Chin for a translation from the Chinese of Storied Ruins by Teng Kuan Kiat; Catherine Xinxin Yu for a translation from the Chinese of Little Brother by Chan Wai. Read more here.

The four winners of the Chinese Panda Book Awards have been announced!

Other news

The Program in Translation and Intercultural Communication (PTIC) has named Dong Li, Takami Nieda, Julia Sanches and Yasmine Seale as Princeton University’s Translators in Residence. Read more here.

Interviews

Interview with Nicky Harman in Manbao (University of Manchester Student Art magazine, first issue).

Interview with Chen Du, Notre Dame Review.

Interview with Xisheng Chen, Notre Dame Review.

Media

Podcast with translator Jeremy Tiang.

Helen Wing's Elixir podcast has an interview with Nicky Harman about Han Dong's poems. Han Dong reads the original and Nicky Harman reads the translations.

The translator Chen Du reads her translation of “Encounter With an Enigmatic Fish” by Yan An.

A conversation between writer Yang Hao, translators Nicky Harman and Michael Day, and designer Pu Yingwei on the novel Diablo’s Boys.

New publications

Yan An, “Encounter With an Enigmatic Fish” and “Legendary Red of the Qin Mountains”, trans. by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen, Notre Dame Review, issue 59 (in print).

Yu Xuanji, Hiding in Caverns Formed from Old Roots: The Collected Poems of Yu Xuanji, trans. by Lucas Klein.

Lu La La, Remnants of Life: The Tender Business of Handling all Things Death, trans. by Ana Padilla Fornieles.

Free-to-read short pieces

Hsin-Hui Lin’s “Hotel California” trans. by Ye Odelia Lu, Samovar.

Bella Han’s “To Helen”, trans. by Bella Han, Samovar.

Mu Cao’s, “Trance”, trans. by Hongwei Bao, Samovar.

Let’s revisit this piece by Xuanyuan Shike, trans. by Mark He, Beautiful Day Press, vol. 3, p. 98.

Liu Ligan, “The Black Anchors”, “To the South”, trans. by Dong Li, Bombay Literary Magazine.

Liu Ligan, “To the Old Town,” “In the Country Quarry,” “Maternal Grandmother’s House,” “Smoke”, trans. by Dong Li, Asymptote.

Ye Hui, “The Gaze”, trans. by Dong Li, Poetry Daily.

Nianxi Chen, “Eternal Grace is Never Clear”, trans by Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor & Kuo Zhang, Anmly.

Yau Ching, “That’s How We Met”, trans. by Chenxin Jiang, Plume.

Zhang Zao, “In the Forest”, trans. by Fiona Sze-Lorrain, A Public Space.

And that's a wrap! Wishing you all a wonderful summer!