Life of Guangzhou - 300 Events to be Held in SZ Reading Month

Shenzhen' s annual Reading Month kicked off yesterday at the new landmark building Shenzhen Book City in Futian District.

Li Hongzhong, Party chief of Shenzhen, announced the start of the Seventh Reading Month at a ceremony which also signaled the opening of the Shenzhen Book City, said to be the biggest bookstore in the world.

Nearly 300 activities — including reading forums, parties, contests, lectures, book donations, exhibitions and book promotions — will be held through Dec. 8, organizers say.

Wu Shulin, vice head of the General Administration of Press and Publication, said at the opening ceremony that the event demonstrated Shenzheners' culture and the city government' s vision.

"Shenzhen is not only an economically prosperous city, but also a city of fine culture," Wu said. The ceremony was attended by government officials as well as presidents from 110 publishing houses in the country.

The Reading Month was first held in 2000, with about 1.7 million participants. The number taking part rose to 6 million last year.

The new Shenzhen Book City houses a bookstore for children, one each for design, imported books, technology, leisure and management, as well as a 24-hour bookshop.