On September 29, 2023, the 2024 New Era Rural Reading Season and the 8th Tengzhou Book Fair kicked off in Tengzhou, Shandong Province. This year, the book fair has greatly enhanced its purchasing subsidies, offering discounts between 20% and 75% on all books. Additionally, attendees can benefit from 600,000 yuan (around $86,000 USD) in electronic reading vouchers and 400,000 yuan (about $57,000 USD) in paper vouchers, creating an exceptional opportunity for the public to access literature.
During the opening ceremony, Liu Wenqiang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Shandong Publishing Group, gave a compelling speech that celebrated Tengzhou’s rich historical and cultural heritage. He pointed out that the city is the birthplace of many esteemed figures, including the “Sage of Science,” Mozi, and the “Patron Saint of Craftsmen,” Lu Ban. Liu underscored Tengzhou’s deep-rooted tradition of valuing education and literature, a legacy that has left a lasting impact on generations of its residents. He also noted that Tengzhou has distinguished itself among county-level cities both in Shandong and across China by hosting this book fair for eight consecutive years.
Liu expressed his aspirations for Tengzhou to continue enhancing the cultural significance of the fair, innovating in its reading promotion efforts, and expanding channels for communication and outreach. He is eager to see an increase in participation, reputation, and influence of the Tengzhou Book Fair, which he believes will further strengthen its cultural brand and contribute to the literary development of Shandong.
The event featured remarks from several distinguished guests, including Cao Wenxuan, a member of the China Writers Association and a professor at Peking University’s Department of Chinese. He shared anecdotes that underscored the vital role of books and reading in society. Additionally, Du Zexun, a prominent professor and expert in ancient literature from Shandong University, recounted personal stories about his experiences with buying and reading books, encouraging the public to read widely and foster a positive reading culture together.
Wang Guangbu, a member of the Zaozhuang Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Tengzhou Municipal Committee, highlighted the city’s dedication to cultural enrichment, tourism development, and improving public services as essential for urban growth. He emphasized that the Tengzhou Book Fair, now in its eighth year, has become a cherished cultural event and urged the community to take full advantage of this opportunity to dive into literature, expand their knowledge, and contribute to the vision of a “Culturally Harmonious China and Modern Tengzhou.”
The opening ceremony, hosted by Zhou Gang, Deputy Secretary of Tengzhou’s Municipal Committee and Mayor, also included an awards presentation and the launch of two new publications: “The Song of Goodness in China” and the large art book “Chinese People.”
The 8th Tengzhou Book Fair will continue from September 29 to October 3, 2023, under the theme “Meet in the Culturally Harmonious City, Share the Prosperous Aroma of Books.” The city has also set up a virtual venue to connect readers nationwide, using online platforms to expand access to the event.
