Reading month got underway on April 1 in Guangzhou, set to coincide with World Reading Day to fall later in the month.

On April 23 every year, World Reading Day encourages people of all ages to put down their mobile phones, turn off the TVs, log off the internet and to enjoy the simple pleasure of reading.

Blind children read books with their hands at the opening ceremony of Guangzhou's Reading month, launched in the city on April 1. [Photo/oeeee.com]

To draw people's attention to this, the city's landmark building, Canton Tower, broadcast a promotional advertisement on the evening of the first day of the 30-day campaign.

Themed as "Reading makes Guangzhou better", the activity includes thousands of activities and reading performances.

There are also eight special buses loaded with books that will travel around the city's seven districts giving people better access to reading materials.

Canton Tower lights up on April 1 to celebrate reading month and encourage more people to fall in love with books. [Photo/ycwb.com]

Residents can take part in cultural galas being held in many libraries and bookstores, such as Guangzhou Library, Guangzhou Children's Library, and Xinhua Bookstore on Beijing Road. Experts and book-loving Guangzhou residents nominate their own reading lists for people deciding on what books to read.

An original hand-painted Guangzhou library map is also being offered for free to both Guangzhou residents and visitors, on which more than 150 libraries and book stores are mapped in an innovative fashion.

Free books are offered on buses for passengers to enjoy on the go. [Photo/ycwb.com]