Campaign encourages reading in bookstores

The fourth Hello Bookstore campaign kicked off at the Lihe Bookstore in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China’s Liaoning province, on Oct 20, according to local officials.

A large number of academics, experts, readers and people engaged in the book industry participated in the activity -- to discuss topics such as how to maintain the traditional bookselling business and the future development of bookstores.

The Hello Bookstore campaign, launched by the Guangxi Normal University Press Group in 2016, has since been held annually at over 350 bookstores in more than 100 cities throughout the country. It aims to lure readers back to bookstores, according to the organizers.

This year, it is themed on what bookstores will be like in the future. More than 260 bookstores and over 20 publishing organizations in around 100 cities in the country will take part, organizing cultural salons, handmade activities, poetry readings and other activities.

Running to the end of November, the activities will be held in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and other cities, the organizers added.

The fourth Hello Bookstore campaign opens at the Lihe Bookstore in Shenyang in Liaoning province, on Oct 20. [Photo by Liu Shu/Xinhua]

Readers chill out at the Lihe Bookstore in Shenyang, in Liaoning province, on Oct 20. [Photo by Liu Shu/Xinhua]

A cultural salon takes place at the Lihe Bookstore in Shenyang, on Oct 20. [Photo by Liu Shu/Xinhua]