The 2025 Children's Science Fiction Nebula Awards will take place in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province, along with the inaugural sci-fi book fair in May, according to details announced during a press event in Beijing on Jan. 10.

Leaders, organizers and guests pose for a group photo at a press event to brief details of the 2025 Children's Science Fiction Nebula Awards and a sci-fi book fair in Beijing, Jan. 10, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]

According to organizers, both the awards and the book fair will take place in Harbin from May 22 to May 26 this year. The program will feature a series of activities, including opening and closing ceremonies, forums, reading promotions, award ceremonies, a gala, and public welfare activities for Science Fiction Reading Month, along with large-scale collaborative events across hundreds of cities and thousands of bookstores nationwide.

Zhu Yanming, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Harbin Municipal Committee and director of the Harbin Municipal Bureau of Press and Publication, stated that these events will provide a platform for China's children's sci-fi publishing industry to highlight its appeal, exchange ideas, and seek cooperation opportunities.

Li Xiaodong, director of the Social Contact Department of the China Writers Association, described sci-fi literature as a transformative force that reveals the limitless possibilities of technology and human creativity. He noted that the Children Science Fiction Convention would integrate sci-fi with children's education and promote reading to inspire young minds. "This aims to nurture their curiosity and exploration spirit, potentially shaping them into future innovators like Liu Cixin or Elon Musk, thus opening up endless possibilities," he said.

Chinese popular science and sci-fi mogul Dong Renwei, founder of the Children's Science Fiction Nebula Awards and chairman of the International Children's Science Fiction Association, stated that the awards serve as a vital bridge for advancing children's science fiction exchange activities. "This event will provide a platform for young sci-fi creators and enthusiasts to showcase their talents and exchange ideas, comprehensively promoting the vigorous development of the sci-fi industry," he said. "It aims to ignite children's boundless passion for science fiction, continuously inject strong momentum into the widespread dissemination and sustained innovation of children's sci-fi culture, and help propel the children's sci-fi industry toward an even brighter future."

Ma Chuansi, a sci-fi writer and chairman of the organizing committee for the awards, emphasized that the event will celebrate the annual achievements of children's sci-fi literature while further integrating the sci-fi market with publishing and reading promotion. It will also enhance the children's sci-fi talent network and help build a more comprehensive cultural industry ecosystem.

Bai Yunpeng, chairman of Harbin Huiwen Academy Cultural Media Group and president of the Harbin Publication Distribution Industry Association, promised that the cloud exhibition would combine virtual displays with local in-person events during the Children Science Fiction Convention, featuring distinguished guests and key highlights to boost its influence. He advocated for increased reader engagement through in-person bookstore events such as meet-and-greets, book signings, lectures, and story-sharing sessions with writers and publishers — providing unique experiences not available online.

During the press event, renowned writers Wang Jinkang and Ye Mei, along with Chinese aerospace science popularization expert Zhou Wu, delivered speeches acknowledging the rapid progress of children's sci-fi in recent years. They expressed hope that this genre could inspire young people's imagination and innovation while bringing Chinese sci-fi to the global stage. At one point, Wang Jinkang launched his new children's sci-fi book, "Green Flying Monkey from the Beautiful Star." Later, two panels featuring sci-fi writers and experts explored themes such as the educational significance of sci-fi literature and the future possibilities of creating and promoting sci-fi literature.

Liu Weihong, president of Beijing Children's Publishing House, said he believed the awards and the exhibition represented a collective leap in discovering new quality productive forces.

"Writers can more directly understand readers' preferences and feedback, creating works that better meet their needs," he said. "Young readers also have the opportunity to establish closer connections with a large group of their favorite writers, enhancing their reading experience and love for science fiction literature. This book exhibition can lay a solid foundation for the future development of sci-fi publishing and is bound to promote the healthy operation of the entire sci-fi industry chain."