The award ceremony of the People's Literature Prize 2018 is unveiled in Jianggan district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Dec 12. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The People's Literature Prize 2018, one of the top literary prizes in China's literature world, announced its final winners in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Dec 12.

As part of the activities of the second Qiantang River Cultural Festival, the ceremony gathered more than 60 established writers and overseas dignitaries.

Twenty writers from home and abroad claimed awards in ten categories including novellas, short stories, poems and essays.

Chinese novelist Mai Jia from Zhejiang province won the Overseas Influence Award.

Other prize winners included Chinese writers Wang Meng, Liu Xinwu, Jiang Zilong and Xu Huaizhong with special contribution awards for China's reform and opening up.

Initiated in 1986, the People's Literature Prize is run by People's Literature Publishing House and awarded to long or short pieces that have been published by the publishing house. It currently includes categories for novel, novella, short story, essay, non-fiction, poem, translation and a special prize.

Chinese writer Qiu Shanshan is awarded with short stories prize at the award ceremony of the People's Literature Prize 2018 in Jianggan district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Dec 12. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

A cultural performance is staged at the award ceremony of the People's Literature Prize 2018 in Jianggan district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Dec 12. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]