Eight distinctive Zhuhai bookstores, 123 enterprises, and more than 10 domestic reputed writers will meet the public at the upcoming 2022 South China Book Festival, which will take place at the Zhuhai International Convention & Exhibition Center from Aug 19 to 23.

It will mark the first time that the event is held at the Shizimen venue, with its 4,500-sqm (48,438-sq-ft) exhibition area being larger than previous editions.

Nine distinctive theme areas will be set up, including ones celebrating the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Zhuhai's cultural tourism, parent-child picture books, as well as the art and cultural creative industry. 

Among the writers invited to share insights with readers are Jiang Zhuoshu, Chen Jiming, Zeng Pingbiao, Pang Bei, and Yu Yujun.

Children enjoy a reading sharing event during a previous edition of the South China Book Festival [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

Cultural creative products with Zhuhai elements, as well as peripheral products of domestic animation and games will be available. In addition, Zhuhai intangible cultural heritage items, such as Xianshui (Saltwater) Song, will be showcased, along with other performances spanning hanfu and cosplay shows.

Sub-venues of the festival will be set up in bookstores, libraries, and rural studies in Zhuhai to create a strong reading atmosphere citywide. 

The event is expected to establish an excellent exhibition and trade platform for local bookstores and enterprises, as well as showcase the city's achievements in building a "literary city," injecting cultural vitality for supporting Zhuhai to become a modernized and internationalized special economic zone.

A 20-percent discount will be available for people who buy books during the event, while 50,000 yuan ($7,411) in coupons will be issued on the Guanhai app. Online discount bookstores will also be open all day round for people to select books.