One of Asia's biggest cultural events turns its 36th page in Hong Kong

HONG KONG — The 36th Hong Kong Book Fair opened on July 15, kicking off a week-long extravaganza featuring lectures from renowned authors and showcasing cultural heritage.

The Hong Kong Book Fair, one of the most influential cultural events in Asia, brings together authors, academicians and professionals from culture-related businesses worldwide, says 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 art exchanges, says Ma.

This year's event continued to dedicate a section to books from the Chinese mainland, where 55 publishers from the mainland showcased some 16,000 titles in an area spanning 544 square meters.

Southwest China's Yunnan province put on folk song and dance performances alongside a video stream of local publications during the event. Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, displayed the traditional "mortise and tenon" wooden joint technique, an intangible cultural heritage used in ancient Chinese architecture and furniture.

Seminars for bookworms were also hosted on the sidelines, where authors such as Su Tong, known for his novel Blush, engaged in dialogue with readers.

XINHUA