
On Hainan Island’s city of Sanya, January 23. Image – Getty iStockphoto: Vera Tikhonova
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Thriller Enters China’s Fiction Chart at No. 10
TikTok, known in China to some as Douyin, had a role in a new hit onto China’s fiction bestseller list for May, which brings up the interesting on-again off-again outlook for some of the market’s communications apps outside the country.
‘The Silent Patient’
On June 9, the United States president, Joe Biden, revoked one of Donald Trump’s orders, which had looked to ban TikTok and WeChat in response to concerns about Americans’ data security.
Katie Rogers and Cecilia Kang at The New York Times wrote, “The Trump order had not been carried out ‘in the soundest fashion,’ Biden administration officials said in a call with reporters, adding that the new directive would establish ‘clear intelligible criteria’ to evaluate national security risks posed by software applications connected to foreign governments, particularly China.”
The Associated Press’ Matt O’Brien, Eric Tucker, and Tali Arbel have confirmed that the Biden White House is talking about a “tailored, tough approach” to security and privacy evaluations of each app, out of “ongoing concern that Americans’ personal data could be exposed by popular apps tied to China.”
But beyond those geopolitical considerations, TikTok in China, according to the team at the data research group Beijing OpenBook, was a key vehicle of the recommendations that helped power Alex Michaelides’ The Silent Patient (Celadon Books, 2019) into an entry at No. 10 on May otherwise sluggish fiction bestseller list.
At NPD Books, Kristen McLean recently has pointed to a similar phenomenon in the United States, with two backlisted titles—They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera and We Were Liars by E. Lockhart—being placed into leading slots on the YA lists earlier this year, in part through the energy of the BookTok section of TikTok.
“This is the first time we’ve seen an organic, social-media phenomenon push backlist books spontaneously back onto the bestseller lists without any kind of marketing or sales push from publishers,” McLean said last month.

‘When Rumor Becomes Truth’
The British-Cypriot Michaelides’ debut now doing well in China is hardly a stranger to success, of course. Its Stateside publisher, Celadon, reports translation rights sales into 49 languages and territories, and it was on The New York Times‘ lists for more than a year. Brad Pitt and Megan Ellison reportedly have interests in the book’s option for film through Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures, and Michaelides was the writer on the 2013 film from James Oakley, The Devil You Know.
The Chinese edition was published in December by Henan Literature & Art Press. And while the English-language markets in which the book found its first popularity know it as an intense psychological thriller with a heavy twist at the end, the Chinese readership, according to our associates at OpenBook, are also drawn to its treatment of family, marriage, and intimate relationships.
Thrillers and suspense aren’t mainline genres in the Chinese market, while considerations of family and personal values and observations on life hold more sway.

‘Love Favors’
In addition, the fiction list saw newcomers When Rumor Becomes Truth by Man Man He Qi Duo (Jiangsu Literature & Art Press) and Love Favors by Teng Luo Wei Zhi (Qingdao Publishing House) enter at No. 22 and 30, respectively, both originating as “online literature,” the Asian engine of Internet serial fiction that spawns many contemporary hits for their avid followers.
TikTok enters the picture again in relation to Love Favors. The season has seen an uptick in romance sales among young women, and the app has helped to propel this one forward along with First Frost; Hidden Love; and You Are My Desire—with campus love stories reportedly working overtime in the chatter online, accompanied by short videos on many platforms.

‘Master of Learning’
In nonfiction, the traditional fondness in the Chinese readership for self-improvement held steady in May, seeing Li Zheyuan’s Master of Learning (Beijing Union Publishing Company) enter the list at No. 10.
Gaining popularity in his appearances on Fan Deng’s live broadcasts and streams, Zheyuan offers in his book various learning tools, having started with strong pre-sales last August.
Below, then, are OpenBook’s overall lists from May of bestsellers in fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, followed by its lists of bestselling fiction and nonfiction in China by authors from outside the country.
At the end of our article, as always, you’ll find notes on how the lists are constructed.
OpenBook’s Fiction Bestsellers, May 2021
April 2021 Ranking | May 2021 Ranking | ISBN | Release Date | Title (Translated) | Author | Chinese Publisher |
1 | 1 | 9787536692930 | 2008-01 | The Three-Body Problem | Liu Cixin | Chongqing Publishing House |
6 | 2 | 9787530221099 | 2021-02 | Wencheng | Yu hua | Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House |
3 | 3 | 9787536693968 | 2008-05 | The Dark Forest | Liu Cixin | Chongqing Publishing House |
4 | 4 | 9787500601593 | 2005-08 | Red Crag | Luo Guangbin,Yang Yiyan | China Youth Press |
5 | 5 | 9787540487645 | 2018-06 | Moments We Shared | Zhang Jiajia | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
2 | 6 | 9787229030933 | 2010-11 | Death’s End | Liu Cixin | Chongqing Publishing House |
10 | 7 | 9787530215593 | 2017-06 | To Live | Yu hua | Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House |
19 | 8 | 9787550032071 | 2019-02 | White Olive Tree | Jiu Yuexi | Baihuazhou Literature & Art Publishing House |
11 | 9 | 9787506344791 | 2008-12 | Street Wizards | Feng Jicai | The Writer’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 10 | 9787555910749 | 2020-12 | The Silent Patient | Alex Michaelides | Henan Literature & Art Press |
8 | 11 | 9787544291170 | 2017-08 | One Hundred Years of Solitude (50th Anniversary Edition) | Gabriel García Márquez | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
7 | 12 | 9787559452788 | 2020-12 | First Frost | Zhu Yi | Jiangsu Literature & Art Press |
18 | 13 | 9787521208740 | 2020-01 | Street Wizards (3) | Feng Jicai | The Writer’s Publishing House |
17 | 14 | 9787555285298 | 2020-03 | Hidden Love | Zhu Yi | Qingdao Publishing House |
9 | 15 | 9787506331746 | 2005-05 | Distant Savior | Dou Dou | The Writer’s Publishing House |
22 | 16 | 9787550032859 | 2019-07 | You are My Desire | Qi Jian | Baihuazhou Literature & Art Publishing House |
16 | 17 | 9787544291163 | 2017-08 | Journey Under the Midnight Sun (2017 Edition) | Higashino Keigo | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
13 | 18 | 9787020002207 | 1998-07 | Dream of the Red Chamber | Cao Xueqin | People’s Literature Publishing House |
12 | 19 | 9787530216781 | 2017-06 | Ordinary Word (3 Volumns) | Lu Yao | Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 20 | 9787506384209 | 2015-11 | Street Wizards (2) | Feng Jicai | The Writer’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 21 | 9787020160457 | 2020-01 | Street Wizards (Full Version) | Feng Jicai | People’s Literature Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 22 | 9787559453723 | 2021-04 | When Rumor Becomes Truth (The End) | Man Man He Qi Duo | Jiangsu Literature & Art Press |
20 | 23 | 9787521210033 | 2020-09 | Sit for a While Tea House | Jia Pingwa | The Writer’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 24 | 9787544298995 | 2020-09 | Miracles of the Namiya General Store (2020 Edition) | Higashino Keigo | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
21 | 25 | 9787544766500 | 2017-01 | To Kill a Mockingbird | Harper Lee | Yilin Press |
26 | 26 | 9787544285148 | 2016-10 | Malice | Higashino Keigo | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
Not Ranked | 27 | 9787020164776 | 2020-07 | A Late Bloomer | Mo Yan | People’s Literature Publishing House |
15 | 28 | 9787506365437 | 2010-06 | To Live | Yu hua | The Writer’s Publishing House |
23 | 29 | 9787020090006 | 2012-07 | Fortress Besieged | Qian Zhongshu | People’s Literature Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 30 | 9787555283652 | 2020-03 | Love Favors | Teng Luo Wei Zhi | Qingdao Publishing House |
OpenBook’s Nonfiction Bestsellers, May 2021
April 2021 Ranking | May 2021 Ranking | ISBN | Release Date | Title (Translated) | Author | Chinese Publisher |
3 | 1 | 9787544276986 | 2019-10 | Educated: A Memoir | Tara Westover | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
1 | 2 | 9787201161693 | 2020-08 | Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure | Robert de Board | Tianjin People’s Publishing House |
2 | 3 | 9787572201882 | 2020-08 | The Value | Zhang Lei | Zhejiang Education Press Co.,Ltd |
4 | 4 | 9787549632725 | 2020-09 | 30 Minutes of Chinese History in Cartoon (5) | Chen Lei | Wenhui Publishing House |
6 | 5 | 9787539999883 | 2017-03 | 30 Minutes of Chinese History in Cartoon | Chen Lei | Jiangsu Literature & Art Press |
10 | 6 | 9787544387866 | 2019-09 | 30 Minutes of Chinese History in Cartoon (4) | Chen Lei | Hainan Publishing House |
9 | 7 | 9787544382045 | 2018-05 | 30 Minutes of Chinese History in Cartoon (2) | Chen Lei | Hainan Publishing House |
8 | 8 | 9787544382052 | 2018-05 | 30 Minutes of Chinese History in Cartoon (3) | Chen Lei | Hainan Publishing House |
7 | 9 | 9787559640246 | 2020-04 | Gag Reel (Signature Edition) | Li Dan | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. |
Not Ranked | 10 | 9787559643926 | 2020-08 | Master of Learning | Li Zheyuan | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. |
11 | 11 | 9787508095226 | 2018-09 | Nonviolent Communication | Marshall B. Rosenberg | Huaxia Publishing House |
12 | 12 | 9787559418111 | 2018-04 | 30 Minutes of World History in Cartoon | Chen Lei | Jiangsu Literature & Art Press |
17 | 13 | 9787540489304 | 2019-01 | Danshari | Yamashita Eiko | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
5 | 14 | 9787550268517 | 2016-07 | Positive Discipline | Jane Nelsen | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. |
15 | 15 | 9787557023041 | 2020-10 | If History were a Group of Cats: Sui and Tang Dynasty | Fei Zhi | Guangdong Tourism Publishing House |
13 | 16 | 9787559639134 | 2020-06 | The Rise of China | Jin Yinan | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. |
16 | 17 | 9787559313652 | 2017-09 | If History were a Group of Cats: Xia, Shang and Western Zhou Dynasty | Fei Zhi | Heilongjiang Fine Arts Press |
18 | 18 | 9787559330260 | 2018-06 | If History were a Group of Cats: The Spring-autumn and Warring State Period | Fei Zhi | Heilongjiang Fine Arts Press |
20 | 19 | 9787557017477 | 2019-02 | If History were a Group of Cats: Qin, Chu, Western Han and Eastern Han Dynasty | Fei Zhi | Guangdong Tourism Publishing House |
21 | 20 | 9787557021856 | 2020-05 | If History were a Group of Cats: Wei, Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties | Fei Zhi | Guangdong Tourism Publishing House |
22 | 21 | 9787557020149 | 2019-09 | If History were a Group of Cats: Three Kingdoms | Fei Zhi | Guangdong Tourism Publishing House |
23 | 22 | 9787557020132 | 2019-09 | If History were a Group of Cats: The End of Eastern Han Dynasty | Fei Zhi | Guangdong Tourism Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 23 | 9787521210255 | 2020-08 | The Tough Brilliance | Jin Yinan | The Writer’s Publishing House |
19 | 24 | 9787508660752 | 2017-02 | Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind | Yuval Noah Harari | CITIC Publishing House Co.,Ltd |
14 | 25 | 9787108063106 | 2018-06 | We Three (Third Edition) | Yang Jiang | SDX Joint Publishing Company |
25 | 26 | 9787540487850 | 2018-08 | Guo Degang on Chinese Cultural History | Guo Degang | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
26 | 27 | 9787508689586 | 2018-07 | Economics Lecture Notes | Xue Zhaofeng | CITIC Publishing House Co.,Ltd |
Not Ranked | 28 | 9787559449863 | 2020-08 | 30 Minutes of History of Chinese Philosophy in Cartoon | Chen Lei | Jiangsu Literature & Art Press |
Not Ranked | 29 | 9787020116133 | 2016-06 | Red Star Over China | Edgar Snow | People’s Literature Publishing House |
24 | 30 | 9787201088945 | 2014-12 | No More Than Skins | Cai Chongda | Tianjin People’s Publishing House |
OpenBook’s Children’s Bestsellers, May 2021
April 2021 Ranking | May 2021 Ranking | ISBN | Release Date | Title (Translated) | Author | Chinese Publisher |
7 | 1 | 9787534633362 | 2005-05 | Bronze and Sunflower | Cao Wenxuan | Jiangsu Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
3 | 2 | 9787536574397 | 2016-01 | Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: Clever Little Prodigy | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
4 | 3 | 9787536574366 | 2016-01 | Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: Stratego | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
2 | 4 | 9787536593749 | 2020-05 | Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: Game of the Wise | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
8 | 5 | 9787536574380 | 2016-01 | Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: Who’s the Smart Guy? | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
10 | 6 | 9787536574373 | 2016-01 | Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: The Great Adventure of the Castle | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
5 | 7 | 9787536593756 | 2020-05 | Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: Password Discovery | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
9 | 8 | 9787536593442 | 2020-05 | Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: The Magic Lamp | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
6 | 9 | 9787536593459 | 2020-05 | Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: ‘Have a Meal’ Restaurant | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 10 | 9787534618727 | 1998-07 | The Straw Hut | Cao Wenxuan | Jiangsu Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
11 | 11 | 9787536587694 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: I am a Pupil | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
1 | 12 | 9787521726473 | 2020-12 | A Dog Named Money | Bodo Schafer | CITIC Publishing House Co.,Ltd |
12 | 13 | 9787536587724 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Look at This Family | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
13 | 14 | 9787536587717 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: A Dog Called Rat | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
14 | 15 | 9787536587700 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: My Good Friend Tie Tou | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
15 | 16 | 9787536587762 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: If I Have a Time Machine | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
17 | 17 | 9787536587731 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Trouble of the New Deskmate | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
16 | 18 | 9787536587755 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Secrets of Nature | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
18 | 19 | 9787536587748 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: A Lot of Fun | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
21 | 20 | 9787536587793 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Comedy King Comes | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
27 | 21 | 9787536588110 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Undercover Deskmate | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
24 | 22 | 9787536587786 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Naughty Boy and Grandpa | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
26 | 23 | 9787536588103 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: The Future Me | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
22 | 24 | 9787536587809 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Cheers, Soccer Boy | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
28 | 25 | 9787536588202 | 2017-11 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Meet Mr. Cat | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 26 | 9787536588196 | 2017-11 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: There’s a Little Prodigy in Class | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
23 | 27 | 9787536596313 | 2019-12 | Mi Xiaoquan’s Idioms Comic Games | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
25 | 28 | 9787536587779 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: I Have a Super Follow | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 29 | 9787501605071 | 2011-10 | Bronze and Sunflower | Cao Wenxuan | Foreign Literature Press |
30 | 30 | 9787558900648 | 2017-07 | Winter of Three Hairs (With Chinese Pinyin) | Zhang Leping | Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House |

In Shanghai, February 2020. Image – Getty iStockphoto: Robert Way
Foreign Author Fiction Bestsellers, May 2021
April 2021 Ranking | May 2021 Ranking | ISBN | Release Date | Title (Translated) | Author | Author nationality | Chinese Publisher |
19 | 1 | 9787555910749 | 2020-12 | The Silent Patient | Alex Michaelides | Britain | Henan Literature & Art Press |
1 | 2 | 9787544291170 | 2017-08 | One Hundred Years of Solitude (50th Anniversary Edition) | Gabriel García Márquez | Colombia | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
2 | 3 | 9787544291163 | 2017-08 | Journey Under the Midnight Sun (2017 Edition) | Higashino Keigo | Japan | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
8 | 4 | 9787544298995 | 2020-09 | Miracles of the Namiya General Store (2020 Edition) | Higashino Keigo | Japan | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
3 | 5 | 9787544766500 | 2017-01 | To Kill a Mockingbird | Harper Lee | United States of America | Yilin Press |
4 | 6 | 9787544285148 | 2016-10 | Malice | Higashino Keigo | Japan | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
Not Ranked | 7 | 9787544262705 | 2021-03 | The Line of Hope | Higashino Keigo | Japan | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
6 | 8 | 9787532175512 | 2020-05 | 13 Steps | Kazuaki Takano | Japan | Shanghai Literature & Art Press |
5 | 9 | 9787532776771 | 2018-03 | Norwegian Wood (30th Anniversary Edition) | Haruki Murakami | Japan | Shanghai Translation Publishing House |
7 | 10 | 9787544267618 | 2014-06 | The Devotion of Suspect X | Higashino Keigo | Japan | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
10 | 11 | 9787544297059 | 2020-03 | Love in the Time of Cholera (3 million units, anniversary edition) | Gabriel García Márquez | Colombia | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
15 | 12 | 9787539983295 | 2015-10 | Foundation | Isaac Asimov | United States of America | Jiangsu Literature & Art Press |
12 | 13 | 9787544291224 | 2017-08 | After School (2017 Edition) | Higashino Keigo | Japan | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
Not Ranked | 14 | 9787559456021 | 2021-03 | Smoke and Mirrors | Neil Gaiman | Britain | Jiangsu Literature & Art Press |
11 | 15 | 9787506394864 | 2017-09 | Sophie’s World (New Edition) | Jostein Gaarder | Norway | The Writer’s Publishing House |
9 | 16 | 9787208061644 | 2018-02 | The Kite Runner (2018 Edition) | Khaled Hosseini | United States of America | Shanghai People’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 17 | 9787544292870 | 2018-06 | Love Letter | Shunji Iwai | Japan | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
16 | 18 | 9787544281102 | 2016-01 | Newcomer | Higashino Keigo | Japan | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
Not Ranked | 19 | 9787550033566 | 2019-09 | Weathering with You | Shinkai Makoto | Japan | Baihuazhou Literature & Art Publishing House |
14 | 20 | 9787201116693 | 2017-05 | My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry | Fredrik Backman | Sweden | Tianjin People’s Publishing House |
Foreign Author Nonfiction Bestsellers, May 2021
April 2021 Ranking | May 2021 Ranking | ISBN | Release Date | Title (Translated) | Author | Author nationality | Chinese Publisher |
2 | 1 | 9787544276986 | 2019-10 | Educated: A Memoir | Tara Westover | United States of America | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
1 | 2 | 9787201161693 | 2020-08 | Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure | Robert de Board | Britain | Tianjin People’s Publishing House |
5 | 3 | 9787508095226 | 2018-09 | Nonviolent Communication | Marshall B.Rosenberg | United States of America | Huaxia Publishing House |
9 | 4 | 9787540489304 | 2019-01 | Danshari | Yamashita Eiko | Japan | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
4 | 5 | 9787550268517 | 2016-07 | Positive Discipline | Jane Nelsen | United States of America | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. |
3 | 6 | 9787111495482 | 2020-03 | The Courage to Be Disliked | Kishimi Ichiro | Japan | China Machine Press |
Not Ranked | 7 | 9787521728330 | 2021-03 | How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need | Bill Gates | United States of America | CITIC Publishing House Co.,Ltd |
6 | 8 | 9787540471194 | 2019-02 | Relationship: Bridge to the Soul | Christoper Moon | Canada | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
8 | 9 | 9787520711531 | 2019-11 | A Compass to Fulfillment | Kazuo Inamori | Japan | Orient Press |
7 | 10 | 9787111635574 | 2019-10 | The Working Methods of Kazuo Inamori | Kazuo Inamori | Japan | China Machine Press |
12 | 11 | 9787220114045 | 2019-07 | Rich Dad Poor Dad | Robert T. Kiyosaki | United States of America | Sichuan People’s Publishing House |
13 | 12 | 9787115536198 | 2020-05 | Heart: Kazuo Inamori’s Philosophy of Life | Kazuo Inamori | Japan | Posts & Telecommunications Publishing House |
10 | 13 | 9787508660752 | 2017-02 | Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind | Yuval Noah Harari | Israel | CITIC Publishing House Co.,Ltd |
11 | 14 | 9787508687216 | 2018-08 | Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty | Abhijit V.Banerjee, Esther Duflo | United States of America | CITIC Publishing House Co.,Ltd |
Not Ranked | 15 | 9787210096528 | 2017-09 | Mindset: The New Psychology of Success | Carol S. Dweck | United States of America | Jiangxi People’s Publishing House |
14 | 16 | 9787547734315 | 2019-09 | Life is Worth Living | Nakamura Tsuneko | Japan | Beijing daily publishing house |
20 | 17 | 9787020116133 | 2017-06 | Red Star Over China | Edgar Snow | United States of America | People’s Literature Publishing House |
15 | 18 | 9787508684031 | 2017-12 | Principles | Ray Dalio | United States of America | CITIC Publishing House Co.,Ltd |
Not Ranked | 19 | 9787508633558 | 2012-07 | Thinking, Fast and Slow | Daniel Kanneman | United States of America | CITIC Publishing House Co.,Ltd |
18 | 20 | 9787535732309 | 2001-11 | A Brief History of Time | Stephen W.Hawking | Britain | Hunan Science & Technology Press |
Notes on the Charts
OpenBook is a privately owned industry-data research firm based in Beijing. It functions somewhat as Nielsen and NDP do from the West, and Nielsen Book Research International has worked with OpenBook in Asian operations. With authoritative data and information resources, OpenBook is able to deliver consulting service to partners who would like to explore the Chinese book market and identify suitable partners.

OpenBook monitors more than 10,000 online and offline bookstores.
The online channel includes digital retailers such as large self-operated online stores, platform stores, and small- and medium-sized stores. The offline channels include 4,495 bookstores. Coverage includes most of the state-owned and influential privately owned bookstores in 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Tibet are not included in OpenBook’s system.
In 2019, OpenBook tracked around 71.72 billion RMB in sales (US$10.1 billion).
Retail outlets include:
- Traditional bookstores
- Supermarkets
- Campus bookstores
- “Professional” stores, said to be small stores with a specific industrial or trade focus
- Airport stores
In addition, OpenBook is drawing data from online bookstores of three main types:
- The “Tmall” stores of Alibaba (Tmall is described as a marketplace of companies that create storefronts online to sell products including books)
- The “JingDong” Stores of JD.com (similar to Tmall as a marketplace of both individual companies and bookstores operated by JD.com)
- Ten independent online bookselling retailers
China has 500 or more publishers in operation today. Most of them, Jiang Boyan CEO James Bryant clarifies, are government-owned. Private publishers are required to generate ISBNs for their titles from a publishing company that is government-owned—which, in other words, creates a system in which all ISBNs are in one way or another registered through government channels. The government approves each book published in China.

In Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. Image – Getty iStockphoto: Chutharat Kamkhuntee
More China bestseller reports from Publishing Perspectives are here. More from us on the Chinese market is here.
More from us on the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on international book publishing is here.