Ma Ainong (second left), one of the translators of the Harry Potter series, and other attendees at an event marking the 25th anniversary of the novels’ introduction to China, held in Beijing on December 14, 2025 (COURTESY PHOTO)
More than a decade ago, when Wang Mian, a lecturer at Tsinghua University in Beijing, went to the United States as a visiting scholar, she took her daughter with her. The young girl was then just beginning to learn Chinese characters and, wanting to keep her entertained during the trip, Wang took along the Chinese translation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (the first novel in author J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, published in the U.S. as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone). The decision marked the beginning of their journey into the wizarding world.
"While we were in the U.S., it was Saint Patrick's Day and we went to watch the parade. The street was bustling with noise and excitement, but my daughter was so engaged with the novel that she finished reading it before the event wrapped up," she recalled.
Wang shared the story at an event marking the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the Harry Potter series to China, held on December 14, 2025, by the People's Literature Publishing House (PLPH), China's first and largest publishing institution specializing in literature. Now she teaches at the Teaching Center for Writing and Communication at Tsinghua and incorporates the Harry Potter wizarding world into her curriculum. At the university, fans of the novels also hold activities imitating Quidditch, a sport played by wizards on broomsticks in the books.
The introduction of the Harry Potter series to China is largely credited to the PLPH. In 1999, editors at the publishing house began noticing the bestsellers, following the publication of the first books in Europe and the United States. Determined to secure the rights to the series, they made persistent efforts to reach Rowling—a challenging endeavor at a time when the Internet was just beginning to gain traction in China.
The Chinese translations of the first three Harry Potter novels were released in 2000, captivating readers across China with their richly imagined world and compelling storytelling. According to Zhai Can, head of the Harry Potter workshop at the PLPH, total sales of the series in China have exceeded 50 million copies over the past 25 years.
The magical journey
Before working on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Ma Ainong, one of the series' chief translators, had translated Anne of Green Gables, The Little Prince and other novels into Chinese. However, the tales of the boy wizard were entirely different from the other works she had read or translated at that time. "My first impression of the series was that it depicts a vividly imagined, richly layered magical world. The writing is lively and accessible," Ma told Beijing Review at the event.
"Rowling not only excels at portraying characters, scenes and plotlines but also incorporates a distinctly British sense of humor," she said.
Ma was soon captivated by the novel, by magical scenes like owls delivering letters, the protagonists' campus life and their friendship. "I was drawn to Rowling's skill in creating atmosphere, which makes readers feel like they are right there. The ambiance of Hogwarts, the magical college in the novel, evokes a sense of mystery," she said.
Ma said the translator who had worked on the series before she did largely inspired her work. Cao Suling, a Chinese translator now in her 90s, worked on the first eight chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. "That laid a solid foundation for the translation styles of the entire series. My sister Ma Aixin and I later continued translating the series," she said.
When they translated the first three novels, there were only a few references to draw on, and there weren't yet film adaptations to provide visual inspiration. "Rowling's expressive language allows us to imagine the scenes, character traits and dialogues," Ma said.
According to her, the series' many spells and terms about magic were created by the author or derived from the magical world in the context of English. "The greatest challenge in translating them was making them feel natural and authentic to Chinese readers," she said.
In order to convey them vividly in words, the Ma sisters often exchanged ideas, imagining who was casting the spell, how it looked and what effect it had. To align with the reading habits of Chinese readers, they translated many terms into four-character Chinese idioms which are catchy and easier to remember.
Through their translation, spells like "Apparition," allowing users to travel instantly from one location to another, or "Obliviate," used for erasing memories, have become very memorable for Chinese readers.
A Harry Potter-themed Starbucks store in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, on December 9, 2025 (COURTESY PHOTO)
New lives
China's embrace of Harry Potter and his magical world is continuing to grow, with increasing demand for related intellectual properties (IPs). The film adaptations have turned the novels into a greater cultural phenomenon, and the IP has established itself as a staple of youth culture.
The enduring appeal of the Harry Potter IP is evident at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction within Universal Beijing Resort, which opened to the public in 2021. There, countless fans—dressed in robes and wielding magic wands—immerse themselves in the enchanting atmosphere, eagerly capturing photos to relive the magic of the series.
A Harry Potter studio tour will also open in Shanghai in 2027. Named Warner Bros Studio Tour Shanghai—The Making of Harry Potter, the tour will be the third of its kind around the world and the first in China.
Cobranding and pop-up activities of the IP have been popular. Last December, Starbucks launched a nationwide Harry Potter-themed campaign, with nearly 40 stores across China decorated with a Hogwarts theme, immersing customers in the world of wizardry, with installations inspired by elements in the novels, like the famous Platform 9¾, where the protagonists entered the magical world.
On Bilibili, a popular video-sharing platform in China, adaptations of the series are also becoming hits. Performers have merged Harry Potter's adventures into lyrics of traditional Peking Opera performances, attracting many young viewers.
Shining forever
While the series has come to an end, its readership has continued to grow. Zhai told Beijing Review the PLPH has introduced over 130 versions of the novel, including picture books, a Chinese-English bilingual series, tie-in books and pocket books targeting readers of different ages.
For Zhai, the charm of the Harry Potter series lies in how it resonates emotionally with readers, making many want to read it over and over again during different phases of life.
"While the magical world is beyond reach, every character feels so real. We find our own life experiences in the series, and also capture shared values, such as the pursuit of justice," she said.
Ma said the novels portray ordinary characters common in daily life, with almost every one having a well-rounded personality and not simply labeled as good or bad. She said she particularly likes Ron Weasley, one of the protagonists, because of his simple, kind-hearted nature. He sometimes seems like a sidekick, but, as Ma observed, he shows great courage when it truly matters.
"It is closely connected to the real world. We see the pains we experienced during our teenage years, as well as friendship, love, bravery and care for one another," Ma said.
Ma said she continued discovering new elements that felt unfamiliar during her revision of the translations. "Each rereading allows us to uncover deeper connotations of the novels. I believe it is a work that will never become out of date," she said. BR
