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Jimmy Chow

In a world where screens dominate attention spans, a novelist in Hong Kong is determined to make Chinese literature and history more engaging and accessible for younger generations by using digital platforms.
Chan Mei-to, 29, is the author of 11 novels, the first of which she published at the age of 19, and more than 400 short stories.
As a historian and cultural advocate, her love of the genre is evident not only in her work but also on her YouTube channel and other social media accounts, where she analyses epic wuxia novels, discussing their fight scenes, twists and turns, and historical contexts.
Her endeavour has seen her nominated as a finalist in the culture category of this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards.
The annual event, which is jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and property developer Sino Group, honours the achievements of remarkable individuals whose endeavours might otherwise go unnoticed.
Much of her inspiration comes from her childhood love of wuxia literature, a genre popularised by renowned authors such as Jin Yong and Gu Long.
She was even interviewed as a representative of a new generation of wuxia literature critics when the Jin Yong Museum opened in 2017.
“My goal is to make Chinese culture digestible and exciting for younger audiences,” she told the Post.
“Some people might think smartphones have killed reading, but I believe that the screen can be just another medium to enjoy a good read.”
After receiving her PhD in Chinese history from the University of Hong Kong last year, she published a Chinese time travel series, including the Song Dynasty Travel Guide, which presents history from the perspective of a time traveller.
She said she hoped to attract readers by presenting history in a unique and engaging way to people who might otherwise find the subject dry.
Chan is also committed to inspiring the next generation of writers. She regularly lectures at schools and has served as a judge for various writing competitions over the past few years.
“To encourage pupils to read and write for pleasure, you have to make it interesting and give them opportunities to publish their work,” she said.

Chan said she believed creativity could be used “to help those in need”, even collaborating with friends on a photo project featuring 10 women who have overcome adversity.
“We volunteered to publish a charity photo album called Blooming for them,” Chan said, adding that she was responsible for writing the stories in the collection.
The project aims to inspire others by showing that no matter what hardships they have faced, they can use their talents to make a difference.
Chan advised aspiring writers to be passionate and persistent.
“Focus on creating work that excites you. Writing is an ongoing process, so think about sustainability and communicating with your readers,” she said.
“To qualify as an author by profession nowadays, it’s not just about writing a good book; it’s also about connecting with your readers in a meaningful way.”


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Society

Chan Mei-to has written 11 novels, more than 400 short stories and is encouraging young people to write and engage with Chinese culture


Chan Mei-to has written 11 novels, more than 400 short stories and is encouraging young people to write and engage with Chinese culture.


Spirit of Hong Kong

Chinese history