The publication of Gao Jianqun's Tongwan City in English marks another step forward in the country's efforts to promote its publications abroad.

The novel's translation gained 137,000 yuan ($22,400) in funding from the State General Administration of Press and Publication, Radio, Film and Television, according to Han Jihong, deputy editor-in-chief of Xi'an-based Taibai Literature & Art Publishing House, which published Tongwan City at the end of 2012.

Gao's novel is one of 165 projects enlisted in this year's China Classic International project, launched by the administration in 2009 to introduce Chinese books abroad. A total of 86 Chinese and overseas publishers will benefit from this project, whose total funding has more than doubled this year to 35 million yuan from 15 million yuan in previous years.