Chinese version of Harry Potter hits bookstores
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-10-17 08:51

Chinese fans of Harry Potter finally got a chance to catch up with the latest adventures of the boy wizard as the Chinese version of "Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince" went on sale across China at the weekend.

A Chinese girl checks out official Harry Potter memorabilia on sale in Beijing, August 2005. Chinese fans of Harry Potter finally got a chance to catch up with the latest adventures of the boy wizard as the Chinese version of 'Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince' went on sale across China at the weekend. [AFP]

Chinese publisher Renmin Wenxue Chubanshe (People's Literature Publishing House) had rushed to translate the book, first published in English in July, to beat the pirate editions, Xinhua news agency said.

"We have to prepare to quickly issue the Chinese edition to thwart the pirates," series editor Wang Ruiqin was quoted as saying.

China has vowed to crackdown on piracy in the book market.

The whole of the first print run of 800,000 copies had been distributed nationwide to branches of the Xinhua Bookstore chain.

In Beijing, fans of the boy wizard reportedly started queuing from Friday night, although the book did not go on sale until Saturday.

One bookshop in the capital sold 8,000 copies on Saturday alone.

J.K. Rowling's series of books about a boy wizard at a boarding school have been an international hit with children and adults alike.

Rowling's books have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide in over 60 languages and the first three Potter books have already been made into blockbuster movies.

The five previous Harry Potter adventures have so far sold more than 7.14 million copies in China since 2000, Xinhua said.