
A September afternoon in Tianjin Water Park, a 72-year-old recreational park project in the coastal northern Chinese city. Image – Getty iStockphoto: Wirestock
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Books for ‘Young People With Colorful Hair’
At times, we’ve observed along with our readers that China’s bestseller lists are among the slowest-changing in world markets. The month of September demonstrates the point that this isn’t just a matter of books staying on the lists for long periods but also of a remarkable churn, books returning repeatedly, for new rounds of attention.

Yu Hua’s ‘To Live’ in a 2021 edition
The September fiction list from our research associates at Beijing OpenBook includes 10 books among the Top 30 each of which has previously charted more than 20 times.
Particularly dominant in September, the broadly popular author Yu Hua–a Colleen Hoover of China’s bestseller lists—held six spots of 30 with:
- To Live (2021 edition)
- The Seventh Day
- Cries in the Drizzle
- Chronicle of a Blood Merchant (2017 edition)
- Wencheng
- Brothers (2022 edition)

Yu Hua
Three of those titles also point to how compelling many readers in China seem to find new editions of previously published works. The arrival of a new edition frequently can trigger new sales for a popular book.
Yu has built his popularity on two things, drawing what’s described as “many young people with colorful hair” to his signings to meet the celebrity author.
First, Yu has a career in place as a comedian, doing standup acts that tend to challenge the traditional idea of authors as aloof and mysterious figures fixated solely on serious issues. Second, his material resonates with young readers, some of whom call him “the scribble puppy” at book signings, one of his suggestions being that “the best offense is humor.”

Mo Yan
The Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Mo Yan is another stalwart of the lists, many readers of whom had wanted to see make appearances with his friend–the “scribble puppy” Yu Hua. In the second season of a popular “cultural reading variety show” called I Read on the Island, fans of both authors got their wish, with the permanent guest Yu welcoming his buddy Mo to entertain viewers with their banter and fondness for teasing each other.

Mo Yan’s ‘A Late Bloomer’
A lot of the support for these two writers, OpenBook’s team tells us, is found in short-video social media channels that are keeping the two friends in the public eye even when they’re not making appearances.
By contrast with fiction, the nonfiction list in September showed 15 of 30 titles being new to the rankings.
Walter Isaacson’s recently released Elon Musk entered the list at No. 3, with Me and the Temple of Earth on top and Be a Calm Mom in second place.
While the Musk book is at No. 3 on the overall nonfiction list, when it comes to foreign nonfiction, it’s on the top of that chart.
“On one hand,” an OpenBook associate tells us, the Musk book “capitalized on the popularity of the Tesla founder.”

Walter Isaacson’s ‘Elon Musk’
But just as important, apparently, to Chinese readers is Isaacson’s fame as a leading biographer. The book, having been published in September, almost immediately captured its leadership on the nonfiction lists.
Another newcomer to the list, Waiting for a Full Moon by Zhang Houchen, who is in his 30s and brings what fans say is a healing, inspirational tone to issues including love, family, and friendship.
In children’s books, we see another slow-moving chart, and this in September when Chinese students go back to school.
With primary and secondary schools reopening, sales picked up for all four volumes of the “Mi Xiaoquan School Experience” series, even as popular summer reads including Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-Teaser immediately lost altitude and failed to make it into the Top 30.

‘Winter of Three Hairs’
This indicates that sales performance varies among different sub-series within the “Mi Xiaoquan” collection according to students’ schooling schedules and holidays, highlighting a rather remarkable short line between the educational calendar and market performance.
Nevertheless, these sub-series can complement each other by catering to students’ reading needs at different times throughout the year.
A relatively impressive jump from No. 27 in August to No. 19 in September was performed by “Winter of Three Hairs” from Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House, a book by Zhang Leping.
Below, then, are OpenBook’s overall lists from September 2023 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, September 2023
August 2023 Ranking | September 2023 Ranking | ISBN | Release Date | Title (Translated) | Author | Chinese Publisher |
1 | 1 | 9787020139590 | 2019-06 | The Last Quarter of the Moon | Chi Zijian | People’s Literature Publishing House |
3 | 2 | 9787530221532 | 2021-10 | To Live (2021 Edition) | Yu hua | Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House |
20 | 3 | 9787513348744 | 2022-11 | The Seventh Day | Yu hua | New Star Press Co., Ltd. |
2 | 4 | 9787572608582 | 2022-10 | The Litchi Road | Ma Boyong | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
5 | 5 | 9787544291170 | 2017-08 | One Hundred Years of Solitude (50th Anniversary Edition) | Gabriel García Márquez | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
7 | 6 | 9787540487645 | 2018-06 | Moments We Shared | Zhang Jiajia | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
10 | 7 | 9787536692930 | 2008-01 | The Three-Body Problem | Liu Cixin | Chongqing Publishing House |
12 | 8 | 9787536693968 | 2008-05 | The Dark Forest | Liu Cixin | Chongqing Publishing House |
24 | 9 | 9787536097261 | 2022-07 | Someone to Talk To | Liu Zhenyun | Flower City Press |
13 | 10 | 9787229030933 | 2010-11 | Death’s End | Liu Cixin | Chongqing Publishing House |
4 | 11 | 9787020002207 | 1998-07 | Dream of the Red Chamber | Cao Xueqin | People’s Literature Publishing House |
11 | 12 | 9787020008735 | 1998-07 | Journey to the West | Wu Cheng’en | People’s Literature Publishing House |
21 | 13 | 9787201141527 | 2018-10 | Strait is the Gate | Andre Gide | Tianjin People’s Publishing House |
15 | 14 | 9787530221396 | 2021-06 | Ordinary Word (3 Volumes) (2021 Edition) | Lu Yao | Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House |
8 | 15 | 9787500601593 | 2005-08 | Red Crag | Luo Guangbin, Yang Yiyan | China Youth Press |
9 | 16 | 9787572610912 | 2023-05 | The Annoyance of the Gods | Ma Boyong | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
Not Ranked | 17 | 9787530222454 | 2023-06 | Cries in the drizzle | Yu hua | Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 18 | 9787530216033 | 2017-09 | Chronicle of a Blood Merchant (2017 Edition) | Yu hua | Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House |
16 | 19 | 9787506331746 | 2005-05 | Distant Savior | Dou Dou | The Writer’s Publishing House |
19 | 20 | 9787020127894 | 2017-07 | Fortress Besieged | Qian Zhongshu | People’s Literature Publishing House |
27 | 21 | 9787533966102 | 2021-12 | Life and Death are Wearing Me Out | Mo Yan | Zhejiang Literature & Art Press |
Not Ranked | 22 | 9787530221099 | 2021-02 | Wencheng | Yu hua | Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House |
22 | 23 | 9787208061644 | 2006-04 | The Kite Runner | Khaled Hosseini | Shanghai People’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 24 | 9787530222324 | 2021-11 | Brothers (2022 Edition) | Yu hua | Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House |
18 | 25 | 9787572602825 | 2021-08 | Always Have, Always Will | Zhang Jiajia | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
26 | 26 | 9787559478153 | 2023-07 | Voice of the dead | Qin Ming | Jiangsu Literature & Art Press |
Not Ranked | 27 | 9787544766500 | 2017-01 | To Kill a Mockingbird | Harper Lee | Yilin Press |
28 | 28 | 9787020008742 | 1998-07 | Water Margin | Shi Nai’an, Luo Guanzhong | People’s Literature Publishing House |
29 | 29 | 9787020164776 | 2020-07 | A Late Bloomer | Mo Yan | People’s Literature Publishing House |
17 | 30 | 9787544291163 | 2017-08 | Journey Under the Midnight Sun (2017 Edition) | Keigo Higashino | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
OpenBook’s Nonfiction Bestsellers, September 2023
August 2023 Ranking | September 2023 Ranking | ISBN | Release Date | Title (Translated) | Author | Chinese Publisher |
9 | 1 | 9787020084357 | 2011-04 | I and the Temple of Earth | Shi Tiesheng | People’s Literature Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 2 | 9787557669720 | 2019-11 | Be a Calm Mom | Zhou Yunwei | Tianjin Science & Technology Press |
Not Ranked | 3 | 9787521758399 | 2023-09 | Elon Musk | Walter Isaacson | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. |
10 | 4 | 9787559656995 | 2021-12 | Winning The Three-year High School Critical Period | Zhang Xuefeng | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. |
13 | 5 | 9787559669131 | 2023-07 | Cognitive Breakthrough | Zhang Qi | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. |
29 | 6 | 9787557019167 | 2019-10 | Classic Quotes From Zeng Shiqiang | Luo Fu Shan Guo Xue Yuan | Guangdong Tourism Publishing House |
16 | 7 | 9787505747098 | 2019-05 | A Sideline to Make Money | Angie | China Friendship Publishing Company |
8 | 8 | 9787521754803 | 2023-03 | Believe | Cai Lei | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. |
Not Ranked | 9 | 9787208171336 | 2021-08 | In the Affair: Chinese Government and Economic Development | Lan Xiaohuan | Shanghai People’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 10 | 9787557634261 | 2018-03 | Collection Of Old Folk Remedies | Li Chunshen | Tianjin Science & Technology Press |
6 | 11 | 9787511386335 | 2023-08 | Game Thinking | Dong Yun | China Overseas Chinese Press |
12 | 12 | 9787111495482 | 2015-04 | The Courage to Be Disliked | Ichiro Kishimi | China Machine Press |
Not Ranked | 13 | 9787559635525 | 2019-10 | The Order Boom: 40 Sales Tips To Get Customers To Volunteer To Pay | Zhou Shenghui | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. |
Not Ranked | 14 | 9787214114075 | 2014-04 | More Than Just Pleasantry: Reveal The Most Connotation Of China As A State Of Etiquette | Li Zonghou | Jiangsu People’s Publishing House |
15 | 15 | 9787557030162 | 2023-05 | If History were a Group of Cats: Late Yuan and Early Ming Dynasty | Fei Zhi | Guangdong Tourism Publishing House |
14 | 16 | 9787222204331 | 2021-11 | Details of Law | Luo Xiang | Yunnan People’s Publishing House |
11 | 17 | 9787201161693 | 2020-08 | Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure | Robert de Board | Tianjin People’s Publishing House |
22 | 18 | 9787571315252 | 2021-01 | Take Care of Children’s Spleen and Stomach | Li Aike | Jiangsu Science & Technology Press |
Not Ranked | 19 | 9787511065315 | 2023-09 | Parents’ Language Guide (2 volumes) | Shiguangxue Educational Research Center | Dolphin Press |
Not Ranked | 20 | 9787572613722 | 2023-09 | Waiting For A Full Moon | Zhang Haochen | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
Not Ranked | 21 | 9787020135639 | 2018-03 | I and the Temple of Earth | Shi Tiesheng | People’s Literature Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 22 | 9787513934053 | 2021-04 | Financial freedom | Grant Sabatier | Democracy and Construction Press |
Not Ranked | 23 | 9787540484880 | 2018-01 | The Gay Genius: The Life and Times of Su Tungpo | Lin Yutang | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
18 | 24 | 9787512622456 | 2013-12 | Nothing In Life Can Not Be Put Down – Hongyi Wisdom Of Life | Song Mo | Tuanjie Press |
Not Ranked | 25 | 9787572608377 | 2022-09 | It’s A Long Journey | Lu Sihao | Hunan Literature & Art Press |
7 | 26 | 9787554617922 | 2023-05 | Allow Everything To Happen: Live A Relaxed Life | Li Mengji | Guwuxuan Publishing House |
17 | 27 | 9787561346259 | 2009-05 | Yi Ching is Really to Understand | Zeng Shiqiang | Shaanxi Normal University Press |
Not Ranked | 28 | 9787101127867 | 2017-09 | Translation and Annotation of the Analects of Confucius | Yang Bojun | Zhonghua Book Company |
Not Ranked | 29 | 9787569922400 | 2018-06 | Management Is Top EQ: Art Of Good Cop And Bad Cop Management | Zhang Yan | Bejing Times Chinese Press |
Not Ranked | 30 | 9787557028657 | 2022-10 | If History were a Group of Cats: Southern Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasty | Fei Zhi | Guangdong Tourism Publishing House |
OpenBook’s Children’s Bestsellers, September 2023
August 2023 Ranking | September 2023 Ranking | ISBN | Release Date | Title (Translated) | Author | Chinese Publisher |
1 | 1 | 9787558336942 | 2023-05 | Knowledge Has A Picture: Manga Chinese and Foreign History | Chen Lei · Hun Zhi Team | Guangdong New Century Press |
12 | 2 | 9787533274269 | 2013-08 | Guess How Much I Love You | Sam McBratney, Anita Jeram | Tomorrow Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 3 | 9787218169095 | 2023-09 | Su Shu (2 volumes) | Han Tu | Guangdong People’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 4 | 9787549288861 | 2023-08 | Good Night Baby: Classic Early Childhood Reading (40 volumes) | Wen Zhi | Chang Jiang Press |
29 | 5 | 9787544288590 | 2018-06 | Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window (2018 Edition) | Tetsuko Kuroyanagi | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
4 | 6 | 9787110105764 | 2023-05 | Science Comics Loved by Pupils | Sunbook | Popular Science Press |
Not Ranked | 7 | 9787521758719 | 2023-09 | Donut Touch | Seb Davey, Alex Willmore | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. |
9 | 8 | 9787521739077 | 2022-07 | The Grolltroll (4 volumes) | Barbara van den Speulhof | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. |
Not Ranked | 9 | 9787532767373 | 2014-08 | Charlotte’s Web | Elwyn Brooks White | Shanghai Translation Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 10 | 9787115545824 | 2020-10 | Lamb Going Up the Mountain: Chinese Graded Reader (Lv.1)(10 volumes) | Sun Bei | Posts & Telecommunications Publishing House |
14 | 11 | 9787533299224 | 2018-10 | Fantastic Mr. Fox | Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake | Tomorrow Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 12 | 9787559015266 | 2017-06 | Friendship, to be Rented (with Chinese Pinyin) | Fang Suzhen, Hao Luowen | Xinjiang Children and Youth Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 13 | 9787516835708 | 2023-08 | This Is The Psychological Self-Help Book That Children Love | Li Shaocong | Taihai Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 14 | 9787533273460 | 2013-05 | Something from Nothing | Phoebe Gilman | Tomorrow Publishing House |
15 | 15 | 9787552707397 | 2023-06 | DU ZHE School Edition 10th Anniversary Essence Volume (4 volumes) | DUZHE | Duzhe Press Co., Ltd. |
10 | 16 | 9787570818648 | 2023-06 | The Diary of Smiling Cat: Smiling Cat in the Forbidden City | Yang Hongying | Tomorrow Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 17 | 9787533273477 | 2013-05 | Diary of a Worm | Doreen Cronin, Harry Bliss | Tomorrow Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 18 | 9787512677586 | 2020-04 | The Runaway Bunny | Margaret Wise Brown | Tuanjie Press |
27 | 19 | 9787558900648 | 2017-07 | Winter of Three Hairs (With Chinese Pinyin) | Zhang Leping | Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 20 | 9787536587694 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: I am a Pupil | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
11 | 21 | 9787550051942 | 2023-08 | Children’s Manga Psychology (4 volumes) | Shiguangxue Educational Research Center | Baihuazhou Literature & Art Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 22 | 9787559706522 | 2018-05 | The Foolish and the Unhappy (With Chinese Pinyin) | Ren Rongrong | Zhejiang Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 23 | 9787536587717 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: A Dog Called Rat | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 24 | 9787115545831 | 2020-10 | Lamb Going Up the Mountain: Chinese Graded Reader (Lv.2) (10 volumes) | Sun Bei | Posts & Telecommunications Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 25 | 9787536587724 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Look at This Family | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 26 | 9787536587700 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: My Good Friend Tie Tou | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 27 | 9787201077642 | 2013-01 | The Little Prince | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | Tianjin People’s Publishing House |
17 | 28 | 9787559621337 | 2019-04 | Butt Detective: Detective and the Fraud | Troll | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. |
Not Ranked | 29 | 9787558575280 | 2023-06 | Manga Child Psychology | Bookworm Culture, Liu He | The North China Women&Children’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 30 | 9787531332091 | 2008-05 | Xili Hulu The Little Pig (Zhuyin Version) (Vol.1) | Sun You Jun | Chunfeng Art & Literature Publishing House |
Foreign Author Fiction Bestsellers, September 2023
August 2023 Ranking | September 2023 Ranking | ISBN | Release Date | Title (Translated) | Author | Author nationality | Chinese Publisher |
1 | 1 | 9787558336942 | 2023-05 | Knowledge Has A Picture: Manga Chinese and Foreign History | Chen Lei, Hun Zhi Team | Guangdong New Century Press | |
12 | 2 | 9787533274269 | 2013-08 | Guess How Much I Love You | Sam McBratney, Anita Jeram | Tomorrow Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 3 | 9787218169095 | 2023-09 | Su Shu (2 volumes) | Han Tu | Guangdong People’s Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 4 | 9787549288861 | 2023-08 | Good Night Baby: Classic Early Childhood Reading (40 volumes) | Wen Zhi | Chang Jiang Press | |
29 | 5 | 9787544288590 | 2018-06 | Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window (2018 Edition) | Tetsuko Kuroyanagi | Nan Hai Publishing Co. | |
4 | 6 | 9787110105764 | 2023-05 | Science Comics Loved by Pupils | Sunbook | Popular Science Press | |
Not Ranked | 7 | 9787521758719 | 2023-09 | Donut Touch | Seb Davey, Alex Willmore | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. | |
9 | 8 | 9787521739077 | 2022-07 | The Grolltroll (4 volumes) | Barbara van den Speulhof | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. | |
Not Ranked | 9 | 9787532767373 | 2014-08 | Charlotte’s Web | Elwyn Brooks White | Shanghai Translation Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 10 | 9787115545824 | 2020-10 | Lamb Going Up the Mountain: Chinese Graded Reader (Lv.1)(10 volumes) | Sun Bei | Posts & Telecommunications Publishing House | |
14 | 11 | 9787533299224 | 2018-10 | Fantastic Mr. Fox | Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake | Tomorrow Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 12 | 9787559015266 | 2017-06 | Friendship, to be Rented (with Chinese Pinyin) | Fang Suzhen, Hao Luowen | Xinjiang Children and Youth Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 13 | 9787516835708 | 2023-08 | This Is The Psychological Self-Help Book That Children Love | Li Shaocong | Taihai Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 14 | 9787533273460 | 2013-05 | Something from Nothing | Phoebe Gilman | Tomorrow Publishing House | |
15 | 15 | 9787552707397 | 2023-06 | DU ZHE School Edition 10th Anniversary Essence Volume (4 volumes) | DUZHE | Duzhe Press Co., Ltd. | |
10 | 16 | 9787570818648 | 2023-06 | The Diary of Smiling Cat: Smiling Cat in the Forbidden City | Yang Hongying | Tomorrow Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 17 | 9787533273477 | 2013-05 | Diary of a Worm | Doreen Cronin, Harry Bliss | Tomorrow Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 18 | 9787512677586 | 2020-04 | The Runaway Bunny | Margaret Wise Brown | Tuanjie Press | |
27 | 19 | 9787558900648 | 2017-07 | Winter of Three Hairs (With Chinese Pinyin) | Zhang Leping | Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 20 | 9787536587694 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: I am a Pupil | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House | |
11 | 21 | 9787550051942 | 2023-08 | Children’s Manga Psychology (4 volumes) | Shiguangxue Educational Research Center | Baihuazhou Literature & Art Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 22 | 9787559706522 | 2018-05 | The Foolish and the Unhappy (With Chinese Pinyin) | Ren Rongrong | Zhejiang Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 23 | 9787536587717 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: A Dog Called Rat | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 24 | 9787115545831 | 2020-10 | Lamb Going Up the Mountain: Chinese Graded Reader (Lv.2)(10 volumes) | Sun Bei | Posts & Telecommunications Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 25 | 9787536587724 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Look at This Family | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 26 | 9787536587700 | 2018-04 | Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: My Good Friend Tie Tou | Bei Mao | Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 27 | 9787201077642 | 2013-01 | The Little Prince | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | Tianjin People’s Publishing House | |
17 | 28 | 9787559621337 | 2019-04 | Butt Detective: Detective and the Fraud | Troll | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. | |
Not Ranked | 29 | 9787558575280 | 2023-06 | Manga Child Psychology | Bookworm Culture,Liu He | The North China Women&Children’s Publishing House | |
Not Ranked | 30 | 9787531332091 | 2008-05 | Xili Hulu The Little Pig (Zhuyin Version) (Vol.1) | Sun You Jun | Chunfeng Art & Literature Publishing House |
Foreign Author Nonfiction Bestsellers, September 2023
August 2023 Ranking | September 2023 Ranking | ISBN | Release Date | Title (Translated) | Author | Author nationality | Chinese Publisher |
Not Ranked | 1 | 9787521758399 | 2023-09 | Elon Musk | Walter Isaacson | United States of America | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. |
2 | 2 | 9787111495482 | 2015-04 | The Courage to Be Disliked | Ichiro Kishimi | Japan | China Machine Press |
1 | 3 | 9787201161693 | 2020-08 | Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure | Robert de Board | Britain | Tianjin People’s Publishing House |
5 | 4 | 9787513934053 | 2021-04 | Financial freedom | Grant Sabatier | United States of America | Democracy and Construction Press |
4 | 5 | 9787544276986 | 2019-10 | Educated: A Memoir | Tara Westover | United States of America | Nan Hai Publishing Co. |
3 | 6 | 9787555262800 | 2017-12 | The Power of Insensitivity | Junichi Watanabe | Japan | Qingdao Publishing House |
6 | 7 | 9787020116133 | 2016-06 | Red Star Over China | Edgar Snow | United States of America | People’s Literature Publishing House |
12 | 8 | 9787801445445 | 2003-04 | You Can Heal Your Life | Louise L.Hay | United States of America | China Astronautic Publishing House |
8 | 9 | 9787550268517 | 2016-07 | Positive Discipline (Revised Edition) | Jane Nelsen | United States of America | Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd. |
11 | 10 | 9787508653389 | 2015-07 | The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War Ⅱ | Iris Chang | United States of America | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. |
Not Ranked | 11 | 9787111551287 | 2016-10 | Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise | Anders Ericsson, Robert Pool | United States of America | China Machine Press |
13 | 12 | 9787522200514 | 2021-05 | Nonviolent Communication | Marshall B. Rosenberg | United States of America | Huaxia Publishing House |
14 | 13 | 9787521741124 | 2022-04 | The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness | Eric Jorgenson | United States of America | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. |
15 | 14 | 9787521753059 | 2023-04 | The next days | Kevin Kelly | United States of America | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. |
Not Ranked | 15 | 9787521733679 | 2021-09 | The Most Tender Upbringing: Be a Gentle but Steadfast Parent | Oh Eun-young | Korea | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. |
19 | 16 | 9787520711531 | 2019-11 | A Compass to Fulfillment | Kazuo Inamori | Japan | Orient Press |
10 | 17 | 9787542669018 | 2020-06 | The Memoir of Literature (1989-1994) | Mu Xin, Chen Danqing | United States of America | Shanghai Joint Publishing Company |
17 | 18 | 9787521719253 | 2020-08 | The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) | Philippa Perry | Britain | CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd. |
Not Ranked | 19 | 9787210096528 | 2017-09 | Mindset: The New Psychology of Success | Carol S. Dweck | United States of America | Jiangxi People’s Publishing House |
Not Ranked | 20 | 9787111703631 | 2022-04 | The Effective Executive | Peter F. Drucker | United States of America | China Machine 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.
At last report, OpenBook monitored more than 18,000 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 more than 4,800 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 2022, OpenBook tracked around 76.21 billion RMB in sales (US$10.62 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 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 registered through government channels. The government approves each book published in China.
More China bestseller reports from Publishing Perspectives are here, more on international translation and publication rights is here, and more on the Chinese book publishing market is here.
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