The 5th Overseas Chinese Zhongshan Literature Award (formerly the "Zhongshan Cup" Overseas Chinese Literature Award) was launched on November 19 to solicit outstanding works from Chinese writers from all over the world and domestic publishing organizations. [Photo by Xia Shengquan]

According to the organizing committee, the works of overseas Chinese writers (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots and returned overseas Chinese), which were officially published in China after 2016, can apply for selection. Qualifying works include full-length novels (or anthologies of medium-length novels and short stories), documentary literature, movie and television plays, essay and poem collections.

Relevant works will be collected until May 31, 2020, and they will then be reviewed by famous domestic writers, poets, experts and scholars. The award-winning works will be publicized through relevant media and websites. The official award ceremony will be held in Zhongshan City in July, 2020.

This year's Literature Award will offer a grand prize reward of 200,000 yuan (after tax). Addition after tax prizes include 3 for outstanding work, each of which may receive a bonus of 100,000 yuan; 5 for shortlisted work, each of which may receive a bonus of 30,000 yuan.

Zhongshan is the hometown of Sun Yat-sen, and it's also known as the famous hometown of overseas Chinese. In 2009, the Overseas Chinese Literature Award was established in Zhongshan, which made it the first ever literature prize for overseas Chinese writers.

The previous four sessions were held in 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2016, Zhang Ling, Yan Geling, Chen He, Hong Ying, Luo Fu and a number of other outstanding Chinese writers won prizes for their work, which have generated widespread acclaim and interest in literary circles at home and abroad.