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Ancient cultural books are donated to the Zhongshu Bookstore in Meili Ancient Town at the opening ceremony of the 2023 World Book Day activities. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

The 2023 World Book Day activities kicked off in Meili Ancient Town, Wuxi, East China"s Jiangsu province, on April 21, marking the opening of the Zhongshu reading season.

The first documentary about book writing, printing, and collection as well as reading in Wuxi was unveiled, ancient cultural books were donated to the Zhongshu Bookstore in Meili Ancient Town, and the Zhongshu Nighttime Reading activity was launched at the opening ceremony.

The Zhongshu Nighttime Reading activity is launched at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

During the World Book Day event, Wuxi will organize more than 500 activities, including forums, exhibitions, speech competitions, and essay contests. In addition, the city will explore different ways of reading via music apps, WeChat, and multi-media to ignite reading enthusiasm among local residents.

The Zhongshu Bookstore in Meili Ancient Town. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

In 2022, Wuxi authorities organized more than 12,000 reading activities and offered over 100,000 books and reading facilities to stay-at-home children, poverty-stricken residents, and migrant workers. They also distributed book vouchers worth 1 million yuan ($145,000).

The activities in the Wuxi sub-venue of the 12th Jiangsu Book Fair attracted over 2.1 million participants last year.

Currently, Wuxi has constructed 50 Zhongshu Bookstore public reading spaces and by the end of this year, the number will reach 100.

The city will offer more support including financial subsidies to local brick-and-mortar bookstores for organizing activities and purchasing books.