Reading carries forward the torch of culture, and books bear the light of civilization. On the morning of October 13, the opening ceremony of the 2023 Tianfu Book Fair (TFBF) took place in Chengdu. Huang Qiang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Governor of the People’s Government of Sichuan Province, attended the event and officially d the commencement of the book fair.

The TFBF was established in 2019 and this year marks the fifth edition. It has evolved into an annual cultural extravaganza with global reach, and become a shining emblem of Sichuan’s efforts to become a culturally leading province. Under the permanent theme of “Enjoy Reading, Enjoy Life,” this edition embraces the annual theme of “Mutual Learning among Cultures amid Fragrance of Books” and will be held in a way that features domestic and international synchronization, integration of online and offline platforms, combination of exhibition and sales, and promotion of reading through various activities. Nearly 40 publishing and media groups, over 600 reputable publishers, more than 100 library book suppliers, and multiple cultural-creative institutions will take part in the fair, where around 800,000 books will be showcased both online and offline at its main and branch venues, with a scale unseen in previous editions. Beijing-headquartered China Publishing Group will participate as a permanent guest of honor, and Phoenix Publishing & Media Group from Jiangsu Province will partake as the annual one.

Situated at the Chengdu Century City New International Convention and Exhibition Center, the main exhibition venue covers an area twice the size of last year’s venue, and features areas for themed publications, Sichuan publishing, a new International Pavilion, etc. In addition, branch venues are set up in physical bookstores under Xinhua Winshare in various cities (prefectures) across the province, the Xinhua Bookstores in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, and Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, as well as certain public libraries, higher education institutions, and Rural Libraries, with over 400 collaborative branch venues established in 30 other province-level administrative regions in partnership with bookstores under Wenxuan.com. Throughout the event, both at the offline venues and on the Cloud World online platform, more than 100 distinguished writers, cultural luminaries, and artists will show up, and over 700 reading-themed events will be held, including such prominent ones as the 2023 Celebration for Rural Reading in the New Era and the release ceremony of the 18th Laureate Children’s Books Top 100 List. Furthermore, across the province, there will be 16 events dedicated to the Three Su’s (three Chinese literary masters, Su Xun, and his two sons, Su Shi and Su Zhe) culture, 12 to the Sanxingdui culture, and five to the distinctive Ba-Shu culture, while a variety of public-interest cultural programs will be rolled out, including offering giveaways during book purchase, bringing access to books to rural areas, and mobile book sales.

During the ceremony, Liu Xiaokai, Director General of the Printing and Distribution Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Wu Shulin, President of the Publishers Association of China, and Liu Xiaoliu, utive Deputy Mayor of Chengdu Municipal People’s Government, delivered speeches. Liu Binjie, former head of the General Administration of Press and Publication (now the National Press and Publication Administration), Yan Xiaohong, President of the Copyright Society of China, and Wu Shangzhi, President of the China Periodicals Association, presented medals to the Reading Ambassadors for the 2023 TFBF. China Publishing Group and Guangdong Publishing Group signed strategic cooperation agreements with Sichuan Xinhua Publishing and Distribution Group, respectively. Gao Zhongwei, utive Deputy Director General of the Publicity Department of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, presided over the event.

At approximately 10:45 a.m., Huang Qiang officially announced, “The 2023 Tianfu Book Fair starts now!”

Prior to the event, Huang Qiang and other officials visited some exhibition areas and booths at the main venue.

Also in attendance were heads of relevant departments and bureaus of the central authorities including the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, relevant national industry associations and specialized agencies, publicity departments of the CPC committees of all province-level administrative regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, major publishing groups and publishers in the country, publicity and cultural departments directly under the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, as well as international friends and writer representatives, among others.