Who says the art of reading is lost? For World Book Day, hotels are joining in the celebrations and embracing the literary traditions. Ma Xue reports from Beijing.

Designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a celebration of books and reading, World Book Day has gradually gained international recognition in the last two decades.

This fun festival is traditionally celebrated on April 23 worldwide, except for readers in England and Ireland, who prefer to distinguish it on the first Thursday in March to avoid clashes with the Easter holidays.

In hotels, reading materials are considered necessary amenities. They often have a creative selection of newspapers and magazines in the foyer, and also in every guest room.

According to a 2012 USA Today survey, 50 percent of frequent business travelers and 45 percent of leisure travelers report reading more print newspapers and magazines while traveling than at home.

At the Ritz-Carlton Beijing Financial Street, in addition to in-room magazines, the hotel provides guests with glimpses into China's rich literary traditions by offering collections of bilingual Chinese-English Tang poem and Song prose in the lobby. Other genres of classical Chinese literature are also available in its executive lounge.