24th Shenzhen Reading Month opens

The 24th Shenzhen Reading Month was unveiled at a ceremony at the Shenzhen Book City CBD Store in Futian District this morning. 

Themed “linking history with modernity,” this year’s Shenzhen Reading Month will feature over 2,000 activities, including the Fifth Shenzhen Book Fair. Subvenues will be set up across the city.

A poster for the 24th Shenzhen Reading Month.

One of the highlights of this year’s Reading Month is deepening inter-city cultural exchanges. The ceremony this morning saw the release of a consensus between Shenzhen and Hong Kong for more cooperation in promoting reading. 

According to the consensus, the two cities, connected by mountains and waters and with shared cultural roots, have natural advantages in enhancing exchanges on reading. Through a series of reading-themed activities, Shenzhen and Hong Kong aim to enhance exchanges on the two cities’ history and culture, further promote reading as a habit, and jointly contribute to a more culturally prosperous Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.  

A scene at an ceremony marking the opening of the 24th Shenzhen Reading Month at the Shenzhen Book City CBD Store in Futian District this morning. Photo from official WeChat account "深圳发布"

An array of activities echoing this initiative, including a poster exhibition, a book market featuring publications by Hong Kong publishing houses, forums, and writer and designer sharing sessions, will be held during the monthlong event.

In addition, there will be four talks between cultural figures in Shenzhen and Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province on the two cities' city spirits and cultural memories. 

International cultural exchange is another highlight of this year’s Reading Month. A special event titled “Poetic Adventures and Soul Resonance — Dialogue between Chinese and French Literature Experts” will take place Nov. 20 at the Shenzhen Book City CBD Store, inviting French linguistic experts and cultural celebrities to engage in dialogue on various topics, while the Shenzhen Publishing House French Book Exhibition will be held during the Shenzhen Book Fair, showcasing over 100 excellent French books introduced and published by Shenzhen Publishing House over the past 20 years.

Coinciding with this year’s Shenzhen Bougainvillea Show, the Fifth Shenzhen Book Fair will be held from Nov. 10 to 19. With one main venue and seven subvenues, this feast of books will invite over 600 publishers from across China to present their publications. The fair will also include more than 200 reading-themed activities.