City launches World Book Day celebration

Shenzhen launched the 30th World Book Day and the 10th Minors’ Book Reading Day with a vibrant kickoff at the Shenzhen Library North Division in Longhua District yesterday. Under the theme “Savor Books, Enjoy Reading,” the city introduced a new initiative — “Screen-off for One Hour” — joined by Yao Ming, former NBA star and founder of the Yao Foundation.

This year’s celebration spans 1,771 events and highlights themes like youth development, classic literature, and cultural heritage. Signature programs include the “SZ Twin Cities” dialogue with Suzhou, the “Shenzhen-Hong Kong Read Together” lecture, and the release of five major reading reports.

A joint half-hour reading event with Hong Kong, Macao, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Hainan emphasized regional unity and a shared reading culture across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

A host announces the joint half-hour reading event with Hong Kong, Macao, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Hainan during Shenzhen's celebration of World Book Day at the Shenzhen Library North Division yesterday. Photos by Liu Xudong

Yao Ming, former NBA star and founder of the Yao Foundation, shares his thoughts on reading during the launch of the “One Hour Off-Screen, Read and Love Nature” initiative in Shenzhen yesterday.

Guests pose for a group photo during a book-donation event yesterday.

Scenes from the World Book Day celebration at the Shenzhen Library North Division yesterday.