Shanghai Book Fair unveils new initiatives ahead of official opening

Shanghai Book Fair announced a series of new initiatives on Wednesday, a week before its official opening on Aug 13.

This year, altogether 1,267 reading-themed activities, 23.8 percent more than last year, are scheduled to take place during the Shanghai Book Fair from Aug 13 to 19.

This year, the fair will introduce reading coupons for the first time. Every day during the 2025 Shanghai Book Fair, people can buy via online platforms Douyin and Meituan coupons for a discount of 20 yuan ($2.78) for every 50 yuan they spend buying books at the fair, and a discount of 5 yuan for every 15 yuan spent.

A branch venue will be set up for the first time in Wuzhen of Zhejiang province. By combining the cultural resources of Shanghai Book Fair with the tourism resources of Wuzhen, “we want to turn Shanghai Book Fair into a big cultural platform that serves the whole country,” said Zeng Yuan, director of the office for printing and distribution under the city's publicity department.

Hunan province will be the guest of honor at the 2025 Shanghai Book Fair. According to Zhou Yixiang, general manager of the Hunan Publishing Investment Holding Group Co Ltd, more than 4,000 titles from 12 publishing houses in Hunan will be showcased at the fair alongside 50 creative products with Hunan characteristics.

China Publishing Group Co Ltd will present 4,000 new titles at the fair and invite a series of scholars and writers, such as Li Jingze, Su Tong, Ge Jianxiong, and so on, to participate in reading activities.

The largest publishing company in the city, Shanghai Century Publishing (Group) Co Ltd, will showcase about 10,000 titles, including 2,000 new publications at the fair, and host about 300 reading events. A new section for 40,000 copies of used books will be featured at the fair.