Crossing the 20-Trillion Threshold
China's cultural and related industries generated 20.83 trillion yuan in total business revenue in 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics revealed on June 29 — the first time the sector has cleared the 20-trillion-yuan mark and a 8.8% increase from 2024. The milestone cements culture as one of China's fastest-growing service sub-sectors and a pillar of domestic consumption strategy.
Structure of the Sector
| Category | 2025 Revenue | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Total cultural industry | 20.83 trillion yuan | +8.8% |
| Cultural services | 12.31 trillion yuan | +12.8% |
| Share of services in total | 59.1% | +2.1pp |
| Contribution of services to sector growth | 82.7% | — |
Cultural services — encompassing film, streaming, gaming, digital content, arts performance and cultural tourism — drove nearly 83% of the sector's total growth, reflecting the sweeping digitisation of Chinese cultural consumption.
Digital-Led Growth
- Streaming & short video: Platforms such as Douyin, Bilibili and iQiyi expanded付费 (paying subscriber) bases, with short-drama and micro-film formats seeing explosive growth
- Gaming: China's gaming market rebounded with new titles, with overseas revenue growing even faster than domestic
- Cultural tourism: Heritage tourism, museum visits and 'China chic' retail drove physical cultural consumption
- AI-generated content: Generative AI tools have begun reshaping creative production across film, advertising and design
Policy Backing
Beijing has made cultural prosperity a stated policy priority, with support through the 15th Five-Year Plan emphasising 'cultural confidence' and global Chinese cultural influence. Tax incentives for cultural enterprises and expanded IP protection are expected to sustain double-digit growth through 2030.
Investment Angle
Listed Chinese cultural companies — in entertainment, education, tourism and digital media — have seen re-rated valuations as revenue growth outpaces the broader consumer sector. The sector is increasingly attractive for investors seeking exposure to domestic consumption and soft-power themes.