Hugo Award winner fuels sci-fi enthusiasm in his hometown

A literary museum dedicated to Liu Cixin, a celebrated science fiction writer and Hugo Award-winning novelist, was inaugurated recently in Yangquan, a city in North China’s Shanxi Province.

Liu, the author of the acclaimed sci-fi novel trilogy “The Three-Body Problem” and a native of Yangquan, expressed his hope that the museum will provide visitors with a deeper understanding of sci-fi works and ignite their interest.

Liu Cixin

The museum, situated at a cultural park, provides a comprehensive display of Liu’s growth, creation journey and literary achievements, as well as adaptations of many of his works into films, TV series and animated content.

It also features an array of captivating and immersive elements, including sci-fi cultural creations, and interactive VR and AR experience spaces.

“I hope the museum will bring more joy and inspiration to young people, encouraging them to explore the cosmos through their imagination and embrace the future,” said Liu.

A series of activities was also held in the cultural park, including discussions among sci-fi and popular science writers, and a sci-fi fine arts exhibition.

Since 1999, when Liu embarked on his writing journey, he has released seven novels and approximately 40 short stories, with his works translated into a variety of languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese and Korean.

According to the 2024 China Science Fiction Industry Report, the total revenue of China’s sci-fi industry exceeded 100 billion yuan (US$14 billion) for the first time in 2023, recording year-on-year growth of 29% and reaching over 10 times the figure of 2016.

Once an obscure industrial city, Yangquan captured global attention when local author Liu won the Hugo Award for his trilogy “The Three-Body Problem.”

Liu once worked as an engineer at the local Niangziguan Power Plant. To facilitate industrial transformation and upgrading, the plant, which had been operating for nearly 40 years, was shut down in 2009.

A sci-fi-themed mural is painted on the 1,000-meter-long outer wall of the plant, showcasing breathtaking scenes in chronological order from the works of “The Three-Body Problem” and “The Wandering Earth.” The mural has attracted numerous sci-fi enthusiasts to the “resort” to snap photos. (Xinhua)