The 33rd Hong Kong Book Fair, the first to be held in the city since its return to normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic, opened on Wednesday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, with over 600 cultural events, including talks, seminars, workshops, and performances, scheduled to take place.

The highly anticipated event has attracted a star-studded lineup featuring Hong Kong singers Elizabeth Wang Ming-chuen, and Alan Tam Wing-lun, and Chinese mainland writers, Yu Hua, Feng Tang, Xu Zhiyuan, and Ma Boyong, who will give speeches in various seminars.

The seven-day fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, runs through till Tuesday. Attendees can also explore two other exhibitions -- the Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and the World of Snacks event in the same venue at the same time. These three events collectively feature 780 exhibitors from 36 countries and regions.

The Book Fair has adopted the tagline "Reading the World: The Joy of Reading for Children & Youth", with a focus on children's and young adult literature, to inspire young people to cultivate a love of reading and encourage adults to rediscover the joy of reading.

The fair features nine children's and young adult literature writers. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore memorabilia provided by these authors, including out-of-print works, manuscripts, photos, sketches, and film excerpts. Some of the writers will host sharing sessions in a seminar, providing an opportunity for book lovers to interact with them.

In addition, this year's book fair has introduced a brand-new culture and art exhibition zone called the World of Art and Culture to facilitate cultural exchange and promote art appreciation around the world.

In keeping with the theme of this year's book fair, this zone features children's literature and cultural exhibits from over 25 countries and regions, including France, Hungary, Switzerland, and South Korea.

It will also organize art and language workshops for residents to experience art creation through interactive activities.

The fair features eight seminar series such as Theme of the Year – The Joy of Reading for Children and Youth, World of Knowledge, Hong Kong Cultural and Historical, English and International Reading, Lifestyle, and Renowned Writers. Representatives of various industries will speak at the seminars, providing attendees with a wealth of insights.

According to the organizers, this year's book fair is expected to see a higher attendance than last year's 800,000 visitors.