Editing Youxibao.com (section)

= Youxibao.com =

Youxibao (游戏报) was one of China's first modern tabloid newspapers, launched in Shanghai on June 24, 1897. Here are the key points about Youxibao:

== Origins and Founding ==

- Founded by Li Boyuan (李伯元), also known as Li Baojia (李寶嘉), a prominent writer and journalist1<ref name="ref3">3</ref>[9].
- The name "Youxibao" means "Fun Newspaper" in English[1].
- It was China's first modern tabloid newspaper, marking a new genre in Chinese journalism[4].

== Content and Style ==

- Focused almost entirely on pleasure and amusement, containing little serious news[4].
- Each issue followed a fixed formula set by Li Boyuan, emphasizing entertainment over information[4].
- Featured content like anecdotes, jokes, gossip, and light fiction[4].
- Did not make heavy use of illustrations or pictures, unlike some Western tabloids of the time[4].

== Impact and Influence ==

- Was an instant success, with circulation in its first three months rivaling major Shanghai papers[4].
- Opened the floodgates for other tabloids - four more appeared within six months of Youxibao's launch[4].
- Along with Caifengbao (Anecdotes), attracted the most readers among early Chinese tabloids[4].
- Helped establish a new literary genre of serialized fiction in newspapers[12].

== Historical Context ==

- Emerged during a period of rapid modernization and Western influence in late Qing China[15].
- Part of a broader trend of new print media and journalism developing in China at the time[4].
- Represented a shift away from traditional, elite-focused publishing towards popular entertainment[4].

== Legacy ==

- Ran from 1897 to 1906, ending with Li Boyuan's death1<ref name="ref3">3</ref>[9].
- Considered an important publication in the development of modern Chinese literature and journalism4<ref name="ref12">12</ref>.
- Archives of Youxibao issues are now digitized and available online for historical research1<ref name="ref3">3</ref>9<ref name="ref14">14</ref>[16].

Youxibao played a significant role in popularizing a new style of accessible, entertainment-focused journalism in China at the turn of the 20th century. Its success paved the way for the growth of popular print media and helped shape modern Chinese literary culture.

== References ==
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