Encyclopedia of China enters AI era
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THE inaugural China Encyclopedia Conference, hosted by the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, took place in Beijing from April 23 to 24, as part of the activities for the country’s first National Reading Week after the State Council regulation to promote reading among the public took effect on Feb 1.
The Encyclopedia of China is the country’s first and most authoritative comprehensive modern encyclopedia. Launched in 1978 and published by the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House under the China Publishing Group, it stands as a landmark national cultural project.
The latest edition, the third one, pioneered a new approach by prioritising the online version while creating a concise print edition, establishing a knowledge system with professional, thematic, and general sections. By the end of 2025, the online version had 519,000 entries, and the print version was published in 43 volumes, marking significant progress, according to Yang Muzhi, chief editor of the Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition).
“Thanks to the efforts of more than 60,000 experts and scholars, the print and online versions of the Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) have become significant platforms for showcasing Chinese culture and confidence,” said Mao Yuansheng, general manager and deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the China Publishing Group, in his speech at the main forum of the conference on April 23.
The China Encyclopedia Conference, themed “Empowering Thousands of Industries, Reaching Thousands of Households”, attracted over 600 guests from various sectors. It offered a rich array of activities, including a main conference, forums, a science popularization exhibition, and a music-sharing session, creating a grand celebration of knowledge for the public.
The theme of the conference reflects the trend of digital integration, making authoritative knowledge more accessible, said Mao.
The rapid development of technologies such as AI and big data is profoundly changing the paradigm of knowledge production and dissemination.
Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2026
