In the early morning outside the Shanghai Exhibition Center, Zhang Sijing, an avid reader and mother of two, believed she and her family were “already late” to experience the 2023 Shanghai Book Fair‘s (SBF) opening. They arrived merely thirty minutes after the gates had been opened to the public.
The 2023 SBF, spanning over six days, has established itself as Shanghai’s paramount literary event, featuring a staggering 850 reading-centric events. A meticulous layout segregates the main venue into eight distinct zones. Among the highlighted sections is the China Publishing Group Corporation, which stands as a significant participant. This leading exhibitor proudly showcases 23 of its subsidiaries, among which is the People’s Literature Publishing House, a respected national-level literary institution. Their exhibit alone boasts an array of more than 5,000 distinct book titles, totaling nearly 40,000 copies, crafted to satisfy diverse reader preferences.
The 2023 SBF is truly an epicenter for literary treasures from across the nation. Alongside local participants like the Shanghai Old Bookstore, over 20 eminent national publishers, including the Phoenix Publishing & Media Group from Jiangsu Province and the Sichuan Xinhua Publishing Group, have made their mark. Notably, under the banner of the Shanghai Century Publishing Group, the Shanghai Old Bookstore has presented an impressive collection of over 10,000 types of rare and limited-edition books.
A book enthusiast, identified as Cui, expressed her delight in securing around ten vintage books for approximately 1,000 yuan ($137). Some of her acquisitions, such as limited edition works on “Dream of the Red Chamber” and the history of Shanghai, are rarities in conventional markets.
Cultural expert Xu Shuming underscores the significance of the SBF as a collaborative platform. Through such events, unique regional cultures come forth, enhancing the fair’s rich tapestry. 2023’s SBF has extended its spotlight to the province of Sichuan as its honored guest. The province has contributed over 3,000 book titles, encapsulating the allure of the Shu culture, tracing back to locations like the Sanxingdui Ruins and figures like Su Shi from the Northern Song Dynasty.
This year’s SBF introduced “One district, one show,” a novel initiative designed to amplify the culture of reading. Events like the “International Literature Week” and the “Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award” are orchestrated across Shanghai’s 16 districts. The latter, after a hiatus of two years, returned with award-winning books and a blend of multimedia and AI-driven interactive experiences. Yang, a booth staffer, emphasized the unabated enthusiasm for reading evident among the visitors, particularly parents.
The onset of the digital era in the publishing realm is palpable at the SBF. In the fair’s exhibition area, attendees witness the transformation of the traditional book industry into the digital domain, as presented through several case studies. Fang Jiaxun, a veteran in the publishing sector, stressed the increasing necessity for this digital pivot.
While the allure of e-books continues to shape reader habits, many, like Cui, remain charmed by the tangible experience of perusing through physical books. Cui treasures the tangible joy of serendipitous discoveries and interactions at book fairs, cherishing their triumphant offline return post-pandemic, enriched with book-sharing, signings, and a harmonious blend of online-offline engagements.
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