The 2023 Beijing Reading Annual Festival, an integral part of China’s national reading campaign, recently commenced at the Capital Library of China. This event is more than just a celebration of books; it’s a significant endeavor to foster a deeper appreciation of China’s rich history, culture, and development among its citizens. The festival is not only a showcase of Beijing’s reading initiatives but also a platform to emphasize the importance of reading in preserving Chinese civilization.
The festival, through its comprehensive program, offers insights into Beijing’s concerted efforts to promote reading across the city. Remarkably, Beijing has hosted over 30,000 reading-related events in 2023, impacting more than 20 million people. This initiative has led to a notable increase in the city’s overall reading proficiency, with the youth showing particularly high engagement rates. These efforts contribute significantly to the creation of a literary Beijing, a city where literature and culture are deeply ingrained in the social fabric.
Cultural experts attending the festival emphasized the crucial role of classic literature in inheriting and preserving cultural heritage. Shan Jixiang, head of the China Cultural Relics Academy, spoke about the profound significance of cultural classics as carriers of tradition. He asserted that classic books are the essence of China’s outstanding traditional culture and urged the public to engage deeply with these works to better understand and appreciate cultural values.
Lü Zhou, director of the National Heritage Center at Tsinghua University, presented a nuanced perspective on how reading aids in the appreciation of fine Chinese traditional culture. He outlined five key aspects: continuity, innovation, inclusiveness, unity, and peace. Lü, who is also spearheading the nomination of Beijing’s Central Axis for UNESCO World Heritage Site status, plans to utilize various book-related mediums to educate and inform the public about this significant cultural project.
The event also celebrated the achievements of 70 representatives, including book industry enterprises and literary communities, for their role in promoting the national reading campaign in Beijing. Many awardees have integrated technology into their strategies, enhancing reading experiences and making literature more accessible to a broader audience.
A highlight of the festival was the inclusion of the rural literature work “Baoshui” on the recommended reading list. This book, a winner of the prestigious Mao Dun Literature Prize, depicts the transformation of a traditional village into a cultural and tourism-oriented community, mirroring China’s national development policies.
The festival additionally featured a donation ceremony of excellent ancient texts, spanning literature and traditional Chinese medicine. These texts are viewed as the “roots and soul” of Chinese culture, and their donation underscores China’s dedication to preserving and promoting its ancient heritage.
In summary, the 2023 Beijing Reading Annual Festival stands as a testament to the enduring significance of literature and culture in Chinese society. By promoting the reading of classics and highlighting the importance of cultural preservation, the festival plays a vital role in ensuring the legacy of Chinese civilization continues to thrive and inspire future generations.
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