36th Hong Kong Book Fair opens

HONG KONG -- The 36th Hong Kong Book Fair opened on Wednesday, kicking off a week-long extravaganza featuring lectures from renowned authors and cultural heritage showcases.

Hong Kong Book Fair, one of the most influential cultural events in Asia, brings together authors, academicians and professionals in culture-related businesses worldwide, said Frederick Ma, chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

It is a perfect example of Hong Kong's role as a global platform of cultural and arts exchanges, said Ma.

This year's event continues to dedicate a section to books from the Chinese mainland, where 55 publishers from the mainland showcase some 16,000 different titles at stands spanning 544 square meters.

Southwest China's Yunnan province will put on folk song and dancing performances alongside a video stream of local publications during the event. East China's Hangzhou city will display the traditional wood-joining technique called "mortise and tenon" joint, an intangible cultural heritage used in ancient Chinese buildings and furniture.

A staple of the book fair, seminars for bookworms will be hosted on the sidelines, where authors like Su Tong, known for his novel "Blush", will be speaking.