ByteDance Closes Paid Novel App Hongzhu Stories
ByteDance's paid novel application, Hongzhu Stories, has officially ceased operations. The app was active for just over six months before its closure.
Chinese technology firm ByteDance has shut down its paid novel application, Hongzhu Stories. The service officially stopped operating on August 17, with users now unable to log in or access its features.
Hongzhu Stories differed from ByteDance's other offerings, such as "Fanqie Free Novels," by including both free and member-exclusive sections. Users were required to pay for a membership to access certain content, with some paid books available at an 80% discount.
The market for paid novel apps in China is highly competitive. Yue Wen Group reportedly leads the market with approximately a 35% share. Fanqie Novels and Qimao Novels are significant competitors, boasting tens of millions of monthly active users.
China's online literature market has seen substantial growth, valued at over 50 billion yuan in 2025. The adaptation of intellectual property from novels into other media, such as films and games, has also experienced explosive growth, indicating the sector's ongoing development and competition.