The 2024 Tianfu Book Fair, themed “Culture Enriches Tianfu, Reform Writes a New Chapter,” officially kicked off in Chengdu on October 11. This year’s event drew participation from over 30 publishing and media groups, alongside various cultural and creative institutions. The main exhibition showcased more than 60,000 titles, including innovative political theory works from the Party, outstanding national publications, local cultural gems, and new releases. Additionally, the online exhibition introduced themed collections featuring notable books from various regions, offering readers a wide array of high-quality selections.
The book fair aims to promote Bashu culture and features the release of several significant works, including “Shu Dao: The Historical Transportation Geography of the Sichuan Basin,” the first volume of “Ten Lectures on Shu Dao,” and the “Shu Dao Heritage Series (Volume 1).” Among the highlights of the event was the debut of the Chinese version of “Walking the Ancient Shu Road,” an English work by American author Jia He Pu, who has visited the ancient Shu road 24 times. “I am delighted that Chinese readers now have the opportunity to explore this beautiful ancient path on foot. I truly believe it’s one of the most stunning attractions you’ll find,” he expressed in a video statement during the release.
As digital technologies advance, reader preferences are becoming increasingly diverse. In response, publishing entities are actively expanding their digital publishing sectors to create new models that integrate culture and technology. The 2024 Tianfu Book Fair connects books with various cultural industries, including journals, creative products, animations, games, and online literature, enriching the exhibition’s offerings and leading trends in cultural crossovers. With over ten gaming and animation companies residing at the main venue, visitors can interact with acclaimed games like “Twenty-Four Solar Terms” and “Carbon Island.” The fair also features a Smart Reading Zone, showcasing various reading modes including print, digital, and smart reading, delivering an immersive interactive experience.
For the first time, the fair welcomed international bookstores, presenting over 1,400 foreign titles and nearly 4,000 copies of original works, including children’s science literature, classic foreign literature, and popular graphic novels. The event also invited over a hundred celebrated authors, cultural figures, and artists to take part in more than one thousand cultural activities, significantly surpassing previous years’ scale. In an effort to promote reading among the general public, the fair is distributing vouchers worth 5 million yuan and is conducting reading activities for middle and primary school students in rural areas of Sichuan.
The 2024 Tianfu Book Fair will take place until October 14. The event is guided by the Printing and Distribution Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC, the Publicity Department of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, and the Chengdu Municipal Government, while organized by the Sichuan Xinhua Publishing and Distribution Group and the Sichuan Provincial Publishing Industry Association, with support from Xinhua Wenyuan Publishing Media Co., Ltd. The China Publishing Group Co., Ltd. serves as a permanent main guest organization, while Guangdong Publishing Group Co., Ltd. is the main guest organization for this year.