Zhejiang Book Fair opens in Ningbo

The eighth Zhejiang Book Fair opens in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Nov 3. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The eighth Zhejiang Book Fair, which opened in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Nov 3, is a haven for reading enthusiasts.

The main exhibition of the fair, with an area of 18,000 square meters, is being held at the Ningbo International Conference and Exhibition Center and features three exhibition areas and 14 themed halls, including a digital reading hall, a children's book hall and a bookstore hall. More than 30,000 publications from over 360 publishers are available.

To promote reading among residents, a list of recommended books was released at the opening ceremony. The list is based on on experts' recommendations and the bestsellers of more than 6,000 online and physical bookstores such as Xinhua Bookstore and e-commerce giant JD and includes 50 publications in six categories, including economics, politics, literature, history, science, and children's books.

During the fair, digital shopping coupons worth 4 million yuan ($546,878) are being issued by local authorities to boost book sales. All books at the fair are being sold at a 55 to 75 percent discount.

From Nov 3 to 5, more than 600 reading activities, such as book launches, lectures, and forums, will be held.