A celebration of literary excellence

The pursuit of truth, the search for love, a longing for goodness, and a dedication to beauty — these are the common themes shared by the 35 winners of one of China's most prestigious literary awards.

The 2026 Lu Xun Literature Night — also known as the Lu Xun Literature Prize award ceremony — took place in Shanghai last Friday.

The prize is named after the renowned modern Chinese writer and is a prestigious national literary award recognizing outstanding works in seven categories: novellas, short stories, reportage, poetry, essays, literary theory and criticism, and literary translation. Since its inception in 1996, it has been one of China's most influential literary honors.

Over the years, the award-winning works have highlighted the achievements of contemporary Chinese literature, reflecting the close ties between literature, society and the people.

This year's winning works, despite their varied genres, share the same themes, including a search for truth.

One of the five winning titles of the Best Novella Award, Quan Yongxian's Secrets tells the story of the capture and sacrifice of Zhao Yiman, a national hero of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), which changed the destinies of all the book's characters.

"This novella is not just about Zhao but also captures the story of an entire generation of Chinese people. Zhao's identity is just one of the many secrets in the story. The book reveals several hidden truths about the era, individuals and history. Literature provides a chance for these unspeakable secrets and silent stories to be heard," Quan says.

Ban Yu won an award for his short story, Manchang De Jijie (The Long Season). The plot follows a young woman grappling with the balance between family obligations and personal identity, highlighting the unseen struggles and resilience of everyday life.