It has contributed to promoting novel writing, recognizing contemporary literary classics and embodying the literary achievements of the times, according to Zhang Hongsen, Party secretary of the China Writers Association and head of the award jury.

This year's 238 candidate books were published on the Chinese mainland from 2019 to 2022.

Zhang says that jury members have carefully considered and studied the ideological and artistic trends of Chinese novels over the past four years, and in the selection process emphasized whether the entries have profoundly presented changes to the times, people's lives and minds.

According to the association, the award ceremony will be held in mid-November in Tongxiang, East China's Zhejiang province, the hometown of Mao Dun.

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