The novel Gu Ma Zhuan by Quzhou writer Zhou Xinhua. [Photo/Quzhou Daily]

The full-length novel Gu Ma Zhuan by Zhou Xinhua, a native of Quzhou, Zhejiang province, has been translated into English and published overseas under the title The Legend of the Lone Walker, according to the Quzhou Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

The novel is part of a city-supported literary creation program. It was previously adapted into a micro-drama series of the same name, which was translated into 14 languages, including English, Japanese, and Korean, helping introduce Quzhou's Song Dynasty (960–1279) culture to international audiences.

In recent years, Quzhou has developed a range of works drawing on its rich culture and history, such as Song Dynasty cultural heritage, Southern Confucianism, and the story of the Doolittle Raid rescue.

The original musical Nan Kong, also called Southern Confucianism, has toured more than 160 times at home and abroad, while other works, including the stage play Searching for Doolittle, have gained strong attention online.

Looking ahead, Quzhou aims to develop its digital cultural industries, focusing on online literature, web dramas, and online games.

The city has built platforms including the Meigao Short Drama Super Factory, a filming base in Qujiang district, which has produced more than 900 short drama projects and generated revenue of over 850 million yuan ($125.36 million).

The city is also expanding cultural exchanges overseas, with documentaries and digital cultural products reaching international audiences.