On September 19, the 20th Baihua Literature Award ceremony was held in Tianjin. It awarded 39 works in seven categories: short story, novella, novel, prose, sci-fi literature, TV drama adaptation, and online literature.

The first category included works such as A Hippo Massage Therapist by Qiu Huadong, Mr. Ono by Jin Renshun, and Lotus Ginger by Pan Xiangli; the second Endless Love by Zhang Wei, Our Natasha by Jiang Yun, and Tile Cat by Ge Liang; the third Stay with Me, Please by Xu Chunqiao and Our Himalayas by Shi Zhongshan; the fourth Shizi Street and Grandma Ding by Wang Xiaoli and My Hometown by Xin Qian; the fifth A Bullet from the Near Future by Ren Qing and Hua Bi by Wang Nuonuo and Yu Nanyin; the sixth Running to You for All My Life by Luo Ping; the seventh Beidou by Feijia and Chang Le Li: The Great Era Is As I Wish It to Be by Xiao Qixiao.  

Predecessor being the ''Baihua Award'' of Monthly Novels, a brand journal of the Baihua Literature and Art Publishing House, the Baihua Literature Award has taken the mission of selecting the best contemporary literary works since its inception. Following the development of contemporary Chinese literature for 40 years, the Award has been branching out into other fields, such as prose, TV drama adaptation, and sci-fi literature, upgrading to the ''Baihua Literature Award''. This year, it takes online literature into consideration to reflect the trend and features of literary creation of the new era.

Liu Daxian, a representative of the judges, said: ''Baihua Literature Award has refined itself as a well-known brand of contemporary Chinese literature through continuous practice. It gives us a chance to see the contemporary development, realistic achievements, and dynamic evolution of Chinese literature.''

Shi Zhongshan, whose novel has won the prize, said: ''This is the purest literary award, deeply trusted and recognized by readers and writers. It mirrors the vision of the planners at the Baihua Literature and Art Publishing House, that is, putting literature and readers first and making the former take root in the latter.'' 

Feng Jicai, a representative of writers, said the Baihua Literature Award associated literary works with the public to tell writers to ''respect and see the readers, and listen to their voices.''

It’s said that the 20th Baihua Literature Award is an important component of the third ''Baihua Literature and Art Week'', both of which kicked off on the same day. The organizers have invited numerous distinguished art and literature masters to attend the event and held many activities, such as the TV drama literature forum, online literature forum, and lightening the Tianjin Radio and Television Tower by winners of the Baihua Literature Award.

Translator: LI Xiaochun

Reviewer: WANG Luchun