Reading the future

The event had a display of robots. [Photo by Mei Jia/China Daily]

Over 210,000 readers have attended the festival since its 2008 launch, China Publishing Group president Tan Yue says.

Writer Zhang Yueran recommended The Great Gatsby and The Old Man and the Sea to young readers at this year's event. The author, who was born in the '80s, says a certain rebellious spirit is a hallmark of youth.

Hong Kong-based writer Ge Liang says: "The festival's value is connecting with readers. I engage their expectations and find new motivations."

Such celebrated writers as Feng Jicai and Yu Qiuyu released books at the festival. Yu's new work is a collection of essays on self-cultivation.

Children's literature occupied a prominent place at the expo.

The state administration partnered with hundreds of publishers to create two lists of recommended books and journals for kids.

Tomorrow Publishing House released a new novel by Qin Wenjun－Bao Ta－about a 13-year-old boy's adventures.

"It's a story about reality that has a great depth some stories for schoolchildren lack," says Chen Xiang with China Reading Weekly.

China South Publishing & Media Group President Gong Shuguang told a media conference at the expo that original picture books for children and Chinese novels are gaining traction overseas.

"Books with strong traditional Chinese features used to lead (our sales) abroad."