Overseas fans flock to Beijing as Chinese online cultural products draw new waves of global followers

Chinese video games, together with online literature and film, have become the three most popular Chinese online cultural products, generating new waves of followers worldwide thanks to the powerful support of digital and AI technologies.

This global appeal was on full display at the 2025 King Pro League (KPL) Grand Final event, China’s premier "Honor of Kings" tournament, which was held in Beijing on Nov 8 and attracted more than 60,000 spectators -- making it the most-watched esports event in history.

Many passionate fans from overseas traveled to Beijing specifically for the large-scale tournament.

"I came here by flight. Yesterday I've been here. Last year I saw in the screen, the live, the Grand Final. I [was] feeling so good. So this year I decided that I want to enjoy this moment. [It's] so crazy. I love it so much," said a spectator from Malaysia.

"It's my first time in Chengdu and first time in Beijing. And this is my very first time to see an esports tournament as big as this one -- filling up this stadium, and having the same level of audience just like sports. It's like an NBA and baseball put together," said a fan from the Philippines.

Industry insiders believe that Chinese online cultural products captivate global audiences because they were developed specifically for online audiences, are quality-driven, and are attuned to youth culture.

"Chinese online literature, film, and video games have become popular around the world first because they are highly connected to internet culture and its underlying DNA. Second, our cultural products are crafted with great precision. Third, we are able to engage with a global perspective, especially with the new and cutting-edge ideas and aesthetics of young people. Taken together, these three factors give us a broader global outlook and even access to a worldwide cultural market -- creating a certain pull and appeal," said Lyv Fan, associate researcher at Beijing University.

Overseas fans flock to Beijing as Chinese online cultural products draw new waves of global followers

Gas prices at pumps in the United States surged above four U.S. dollars a gallon for the first time since the summer of 2022, reaching a record high in nearly four years, data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) showed on Tuesday.

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States has risen by about one dollar since last month, reaching 4.018.

The price of diesel hit 5.454 U.S. dollars per gallon, up 45 percent in a month.

In California, the largest U.S. state economy, the average gas price stood at 5.887 U.S. dollars per gallon and the average cost of a gallon of diesel reached an all-time high of 7.455 U.S. dollars on Tuesday, as per AAA.

The growing gas price has become a challenge for local car owners in Los Angeles, California, as many of them saying they are cutting back on driving and changing daily habits.

"The only reason why I came here was convenience. I was completely out of gas, and on 'empty.' But this is crazy expensive. So, normally, I would never come to a gas station this expensive, and I'd look for cheaper gas," said Cindy Devereaux, a local resident.

"I commute a lot, so, I'm paying like 30 dollars more in the prices that I used to pay. So, it's really taking a toll on my wallet, and it's not a good look for the economy. I think this is just the beginning. I honestly think it's going to get worse, and we're just seeing the beginnings of this. And, yeah, I think we're heading into a crisis," another local resident Scarlett Zamora said.

Given the oil price hikes caused by the war in Iran, consumers' median 12-month inflation expectations in March surged, according to a Conference Board report on Tuesday.

The report showed that consumers' median 12-month inflation expectations in March stood at 5.2 percent, higher than the 4.5 percent reading in February.

Meanwhile, U.S. Consumer Confidence Index rose to 91.8 in March, up from 91.0 in February, the report said.

US gas prices reach record high in nearly 4 years