Bold leap toward the future

China’s sci-fi parks are helping to shape an inclusive, diverse and sustainable ecosystem for the development of cultural industries

In the context of increasingly deep integration between culture and technology in the new era, China’s sci-fi industrial parks are emerging as key hubs driving innovation and regional upgrading, ushering in unprecedented opportunities.

A package of policies for promoting high-quality develop-ment of culture, issued by the State Council, China’s cabinet, in January, stipulates the need to support the growth of culture-technology integration enterprises and parks, and accelerate the deployment of cultural sci-tech innovation platforms. This policy institutionalizes the synergy between cultural and technological sectors. As a frontier of their convergence, the science fiction industry not only demonstrates robust creativity and growth potential but also serves as a critical engine for cultivating new productive forces and enhancing the nation’s cultural edge.

While there is no globally standardized definition of a sci-fi industrial park, real-world developments often emerge from technology-driven clusters fueled by creative imagination. The United States, leveraging its market-oriented ecosystem and mature film industry, has established a comprehensive industry chain spanning publishing, film, gaming and derivative products — epitomized by hubs such as Hollywood and Silicon Valley. France, on the other hand, has pursued the artistic revitalization of industrial heritage, exemplified by the transformation of a former shipyard into the Machines of the Isle of Nantes, achieving both cultural regeneration and economic value enhancement.

Other examples include Vancouver’s “Hollywood North” and the United Kingdom’s Pinewood Studios. These clusters, distinct in character, share a common trajectory toward full industry chain integration, deep technological collaboration, and global resource sharing. Therefore, a sci-fi industrial park can be defined as a spatially concentrated entity, managed under a unified organization, that specializes in the sci-fi industry, aggregates related enterprises and supporting resources, provides dedicated infrastructure and public services and fosters regional development.

Sci-fi parks in China, though still in their infancy, are evolving into hubs that integrate creation, incubation, R&D and application scenarios through national planning, local coordination and capital collaboration. Currently, Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai demonstrate distinct development pathways.

The redevelopment of Beijing’s Shougang Park parallels the French model for the regeneration of industrial heritage, serving as a catalyst for the development of the city’s western part. As of the end of 2024, the park had assembled a cluster of 780 sci-fi-related enterprises, alongside leading institutions such as the China Science Fiction Research Center and the Beijing Yuanyu Science Fiction and Future Technology Research Institute. Complementary facilities, including an extended-reality-themed park, have been added, and recurring events such as the China Science Fiction Convention are staged there. Nevertheless, despite achieving a spatial concentration of sci-fi companies, synergistic interactions between them remain underdeveloped, and the sector’s precise contribution to the local economy is not yet clearly defined.

Chengdu aims to establish itself as the “sci-fi capital of China”, following a development path that resonates with Japan’s IP cultivation model. By leveraging influential platforms such as the magazine Science Fiction World and the Galaxy Science Fiction Convention, the city has actively stimulated the brand value of sci-fi intellectual property. In 2023, Chengdu’s sci-fi industry generated an output value of 23.52 billion yuan ($3.32 billion), representing 21 percent of the national total. Nonetheless, a gap persists between these ambitious goals and the actual progress. While major IPs such as The Three-Body Problem and The Wandering Earth, have seen significant success, other original works have seen only modest commercial returns.

In contrast, Shanghai has adopted a more market-driven approach, emphasizing cross-sector integration. The city is planning and developing a national sci-fi industrial park designed to span the entire industry chain. The long-term impact of the park, still under construction, remains to be evaluated.

In recent years, China has advanced the development of its sci-fi industrial parks through three key levers: policy guidance, brand empowerment and funding support.

First, strengthen policy guidance. The State Council’s National Action Plan for Scientific Literacy (2021-35) introduced a sci-fi industry development support plan. This has been reinforced by municipal governments, such as Beijing, Chengdu and Shenzhen, which have introduced supportive policies and funding mechanisms.

Second, enhance brand empowerment. Beijing has established national sci-fi exchange and think-tank platforms through the China Science Fiction Convention and the authoritative China Science Fiction Industry Report. Chengdu has built an integrated brand matrix connecting content creation, publishing and gaming by leveraging assets including the magazine Science Fiction World, the World Science Fiction Convention and hit IPs such as The Three-Body Problem and Honor of Kings, while Shanghai is expanding cultural display spaces through venues such as the Above Water Sci-Fi Pavilion in Fengxian district.

Third, offer funding support. Beijing launched a dedicated sci-fi equity investment fund and introduced regional subsidies to lower operational costs. Chengdu offers targeted financial assistance through platforms such as Wenchuangtong and Rongyixiang. Shanghai is also channeling capital into the sector via its future industry and digital technology funds.

Vladimir Norov, chairman of the Central Asian Association of Artificial Intelligence and former secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, highlighted the potential for Central Asia’s unique heritage — including its diverse cultures and nomadic wisdom — to inspire a new wave of science fiction, which he termed “Steppe Sci-Fi”, during his address at this year’s China Science Fiction Convention in Beijing.

By leveraging policy support and resource integration to foster global collaboration, China is actively cultivating an open and internationalized sci-fi ecosystem. For instance, the SoReal Sci-Fi Paradise at Shougang Park has hosted over 15,000 visitors from the US, the UK, Japan and other countries. The China Science Fiction Convention has drawn hundreds of international experts and scholars, facilitating substantive Sino-foreign sci-fi dialogues. Additionally, Beijing is moving forward with the future digital space innovation pilot zone at Shougang Park, with the goal of establishing an international hub for sci-fi culture and technological collaboration.

The zone will establish dedicated overseas service sections to enhance the global reach and compatibility of Chinese sci-fi products, while introducing internationally acclaimed sci-fi works and creative teams spanning fields such as virtual reality films and award-winning literature. Pilot policies will also support talent recruitment for the gaming and e-sports sectors, offering streamlined qualification recognition and residency arrangements for highly skilled and urgently needed foreign professionals. These measures provide critical pathways for global creators and enterprises worldwide to deeply engage with China’s expanding sci-fi industry.

Looking ahead, China’s sci-fi industrial parks will emphasize openness, cooperation and resource sharing, integrating domestic markets with global systems. Pilot programs will be prioritized in cities with strong international foundations and resource aggregation capabilities. Initiatives will include Sino-foreign joint incubation projects, shared laboratories, co-developed IPs and cross-border innovation cooperation powered by international talent exchange. By actively integrating into the global innovation network, China aims to collaborate with other nations in shaping an inclusive, diverse and sustainable cultural ecosystem, injecting new momentum into the sector’s global development.

Lin Xueqi is an assistant research fellow at the China Research Institute for Science Popularization. Yao Lifen is an associate research fellow at the China Research Institute for Science Popularization.

The authors contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.