Qianhai book-sharing event bridges cultures

Video and photos by Zhen Jianhong

On the afternoon of September 6, the 16th “HiQianhai” event was held at Yuishin Books in the Northern District of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub. 

More than 20 reading enthusiasts from over a dozen countries, including the U.K., the U.S., and Romania, gathered for a cross-cultural exchange of ideas and stories and to experience Qianhai’s distinctive international charm.

Partcipants pose for a group photo at Yuishin Books at the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub. 

At the start of the event, staff introduced attendees to Qianhai’s rich and diverse reading resources. Highlights included the well-stocked Shenzhen Library Qianhai Bay Branch, the Bao’an District Library, and the soon-to-open Shenzhen Book City Bay Area Store (dubbed the “Eye of the Bay Area”). Alongside specialty shops such as Zhongshuge and Yuishin Books, these venues form Qianhai’s international, multi-dimensional reading ecosystem.

Qianhai is leveraging these high-quality reading spaces to build an international cultural community — providing platforms for people from different cultural backgrounds to connect and integrate.

Andrew Gibbs shares "The Hound of the Baskervilles" from the Sherlock Holmes series. 

Andrew Gibbs from the U.K. said he frequently visits the Futian Library and didn’t expect Qianhai to have so many delightful reading spots, especially the upcoming Shenzhen Book City Bay Area Store. “I’ll definitely come to Qianhai more often to explore these libraries and enjoy a different reading experience,” he said.

During the sharing session, several Chinese and international guests presented the books they treasure most, explained why they recommend them, and described the insights and inspiration they drew from those works.

Marina Vilchinskaia shares her reflections on "A Woman Makes a Plan."

Marina Vilchinskaia from Russia brought "A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success" and said, “This book was like a key that opened a door to understanding social and cultural change. Through it, I felt deeply how women’s roles and ideas within the family have transformed over the past decades, and how factors like age, globalization and social mobility have had profound effects. It made me rethink my life in meaningful ways.”

Such cross-cultural reading exchanges let ideas from different countries collide and spark new insights, further enriching Qianhai’s international cultural profile.

Participants listen as fellow participants share about their recommended books. 

In the lucky-draw segment, winners received popular English titles, while the book-exchange felt like a lively literary marketplace — participants enthusiastically discussed the books they had brought and swapped long-coveted volumes.

Katie McGill from the U.S. was fortunate to win a brand-new book in the draw. She said happily, “Not only did I win a book I’d been wanting, but I also swapped for another title that interests me. Today I met many like-minded new friends and collected several books to add to my reading list. This event was wonderful!”

The event also launched an online community for the “Qianhai International Reading Club,” providing a platform where reading fans can share thoughts and recommendations anytime — keeping the joy of reading and the bonds of friendship alive through ongoing exchanges.

Sponsored by the Qianhai International Cooperation Center and organized by EyeShenzhen, the event aims to use reading as a bridge to promote cultural exchange and integration between China and other countries, enabling more people to experience the power and appeal of books.

As one of the core engines of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Qianhai is taking an open, inclusive approach to building international cross-cultural exchange platforms. This book-sharing event was not only a cultural feast but also a solid step forward on Qianhai’s path to internationalization, demonstrating how diverse cultures can coexist and blend here to write a vibrant new chapter in the area’s cultural story.