Core Insights - Beijing City Library celebrates its second anniversary, having welcomed over 2.81 million visitors and hosted more than 4,000 diverse "Reading + X" activities, benefiting nearly 39.92 million readers by 2025 [2][4] Group 1: Achievements and Recognition - The library has received multiple awards, including the Honorary Design Award and Sustainable Design Award from the American Institute of Architects Hong Kong Chapter for its outstanding design and sustainable practices [4] - It was listed in TIME magazine's 2025 World's 100 Greatest Places, highlighting its significance as a cultural landmark [8] Group 2: Cultural and Educational Initiatives - The library organized various cultural exchange events, such as the "Sustainable Libraries" international academic conference and the East Asia Ancient Texts Digital Humanities Forum, contributing to the development of the industry [8] - The library's four themed pavilions continue to innovate, featuring VR technology in the Children's Pavilion and exhibitions focused on traditional festivals and heritage [9] Group 3: Community Engagement and Activities - The library promotes a philosophy of "national reading," offering diverse and immersive reading activities for all ages, including lectures by renowned experts and hands-on experiences with intangible cultural heritage [11] - The "Mobile Reading Pavilion" extends library services to parks, shopping areas, schools, and communities, enhancing accessibility to literature [13] Group 4: Technological Advancements - The library is expanding its smart service capabilities, utilizing AI technology for efficient book selection and cataloging, and introducing a self-service system for quick book retrieval [15] - The Metaverse Experience Pavilion features immersive exhibitions and interactive digital resources, enhancing the reader's experience with 3D presentations and AR navigation [17][19]

Core Insights - The year 2025 has been marked by vibrant developments in the reading landscape, characterized by warmth, challenges, and hope [1] Group 1: Events - The Ditan Book Fair attracted 550,000 visitors over 11 days, achieving sales exceeding 100 million yuan, showcasing the public's enthusiasm for reading [3] - The "Chen Xia Study" opened on December 22, featuring 13,000 donated books, symbolizing a cultural contribution from scholars Chen Pingyuan and Xia Xiaohong [4] - In 2025, nearly 100 new physical bookstores opened in Beijing, with a 27% increase in support for 437 bookstores compared to the previous year [4] Group 2: Market Trends - The publishing industry saw a surge in phenomenon-level bestsellers driven by social trends and new works from renowned authors, although the number of such bestsellers remained limited [6] - Notable new releases from famous authors included works by Su Tong, Jia Pingwa, and Yu Hua, with varying market responses, highlighting the competitive nature of literary success [7] - The rise of non-fiction books related to AI and technology has been significant, with a notable increase in publications responding to current technological advancements [7] Group 3: Cultural Phenomena - The emergence of "New Popular Literature" has been recognized as a significant cultural trend, with amateur writers gaining prominence through various platforms [10] - The success of works like "Mud Pit" by Liu Chuxin, which sold 800,000 copies, illustrates the potential of new voices in the literary market [10] - The "New Popular Literature" initiative aims to bridge the gap between mainstream and elite literature, fostering a deeper understanding of literary traditions [11]

Core Viewpoint - The introduction of the "National Reading Promotion Regulations" in December 2025 marks a significant shift from policy guidance to legal protection for national reading initiatives, aiming to foster a culture of reading in China [1][2]. Group 1: Legislative Framework - The regulations will establish a legal framework for promoting reading, ensuring that reading rights are protected and the reading environment is optimized [2][6]. - The government plans to designate the fourth week of April each year as National Reading Activity Week starting in 2026, enhancing the visibility and impact of reading initiatives [4][5]. Group 2: Cultural and Social Impact - Reading is viewed as a vital cultural practice that has contributed to the continuity of Chinese civilization for over 5,000 years, emphasizing the importance of reading in cultural transmission and national spirit [1][2]. - Various reading promotion activities are being organized across the country, such as the "Book Fragrance Yangtze" reading week and the Shenzhen Reading Month, which aim to create immersive reading experiences [3][4]. Group 3: Accessibility and Inclusivity - The regulations will enhance services in libraries and bookstores, ensuring that the reading needs of underrepresented groups, including minors, the elderly, and people with disabilities, are met [2][6]. - The integration of digital reading technologies is encouraged, promoting a combination of traditional and digital reading to improve accessibility and user satisfaction [6][7]. Group 4: Community Engagement - Community-based reading initiatives, such as transforming rural libraries and integrating reading spaces into everyday environments like metro stations, are being developed to make reading more accessible [5][6]. - The concept of "reading as a lifestyle" is being promoted, with various innovative projects that blend reading with tourism and daily commuting experiences [5][6].

Group 1 - The core activity organized by Yifeng Community focuses on integrating national defense education with reading, attracting nearly thirty women participants [1] - Selected readings related to national defense were used to facilitate group discussions and sharing among participants, enhancing their understanding of the topic [1] - The event included a scenario simulation segment where participants presented micro-lectures on national defense education, fostering engagement and awareness [1] Group 2 - The community plans to continue developing a mechanism that integrates "reading" and "national defense education," with regular themed reading activities to promote awareness within families and daily life [2] - The initiative aims to inject more "wisdom" and "strength" from women into the construction of a harmonious and safe community [2]

Core Viewpoint - The 15th "Book Fragrance China · Beijing Reading Season" celebration highlights the innovative practices and achievements in promoting reading across Beijing, showcasing a commitment to enhancing the reading culture in the city [1]. Group 1: Event Highlights - The event was organized by the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, themed "Reading Opens New Knowledge, Literature Enriches Beijing" [1]. - A list of exemplary models for the "Book Fragrance Beijing" initiative was released, featuring 60 typical cases across 7 categories, including 8 individuals and 52 groups [1]. - The typical cases span various districts and include scholars promoting classic literature, internet influencers encouraging reading through new media, and community figures fostering inclusive reading practices [1]. Group 2: Achievements in Reading Promotion - Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the "Book Fragrance Beijing" initiative has shown significant results, with the Beijing Reading Season and other brand activities gaining substantial influence [2]. - Beijing ranks among the top in the nation for per capita reading volume and the number of physical bookstores [2]. - Over 30,000 reading activities and more than 6,600 reading facilities have been established, alongside 600 exemplary models contributing to the reading culture in the capital [2].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of promoting new technologies and platforms for reading in the digital age, as highlighted by the recently released "National Reading Promotion Regulations" [1] Group 1: Digital Reading Trends - The comprehensive reading rate in China has increased from 76.3% in 2012 to 82.1% in 2024, driven by new technologies [1] - New reading formats, such as e-books and audiobooks, are making reading more accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience [1] Group 2: Targeted Development of New Platforms - Reading platforms should develop new carriers tailored to different reader demographics, such as interactive visual and audio content for youth [2] - For elderly readers, reading devices need to incorporate features like enlarged text and voice control to bridge the digital divide [2] Group 3: Service Optimization and Accessibility - There is a need for a human-centered reading service system that coordinates hardware and software improvements, enhancing the usability of reading facilities [3] - Localized reading facilities, such as mobile libraries, should be developed to reflect regional cultural characteristics and promote cultural exchange [3]

Core Insights - The 15th "Book Fragrance China · Beijing Reading Season" celebration was held at the Capital Library, showcasing innovative practices and achievements in promoting reading across Beijing [1] - The event highlighted the diversity and inclusiveness of Beijing's reading initiatives, featuring 60 exemplary cases across seven categories, including individuals and collectives [1] Group 1 - The event was organized by the Municipal Publicity Department and presented the list of outstanding examples for the "Book Fragrance Beijing" initiative for 2025, including 8 individuals and 52 collectives [1] - The celebration included various performances such as recitations and speeches, emphasizing the cultural significance and contemporary value of reading [1] - Notable participants included a law scholar from Peking University and representatives from different communities, illustrating the role of reading in personal and societal development [1] Group 2 - A series of activities were launched citywide to create a rich reading atmosphere, including themed reading events and multimedia programs to interpret the "National Reading Promotion Regulations" [2] - Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, the "Book Fragrance Beijing" initiative has shown significant results, with the city ranking high in per capita reading volume and the number of physical bookstores [2] - Over 30,000 reading events and more than 6,600 reading facilities have contributed to promoting a reading culture in the capital, with the influence of major events like Beijing Reading Season continuing to grow [2]

Group 1 - The 15th "Book Fragrance China - Beijing Reading Season" reading ceremony was held in Beijing, showcasing innovative practices and achievements in national reading initiatives [1][2] - The event announced the list of exemplary models for the "Book Fragrance Capital" national reading initiative for 2025, featuring 60 typical examples across seven categories, including 8 individuals and 52 groups [1] - The ceremony included three main sections: "Heroic Spirit Shapes the Soul of Books," "Beijing's Colorful Literary Chapters," and "Leading the New Wave of Reading," highlighting various cultural and educational discussions [2][3] Group 2 - A series of activities were organized citywide to create a rich reading atmosphere, including themed reading events such as red reading, classic reading, and parent-child reading [5] - The "Book Fragrance Corridor" at the Capital Library showcased annual reading achievements, while media programs interpreting the "National Reading Promotion Regulations" were launched across new media platforms [5]

Group 1 - The newly published "National Reading Promotion Regulations" aims to institutionalize existing practices and experiences in promoting national reading, providing a solid legal guarantee for building a reading society [1] - Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party, the national comprehensive reading rate has increased from 76.3% in 2012 to 82.1% in 2024, marking a significant step from policy advocacy to institutional support [1] - The regulations are expected to accelerate the establishment of a nationwide reading promotion service system, optimize content supply, infrastructure, and service quality for national reading [1] Group 2 - Digital reading is becoming a trend, broadening knowledge access, but it also poses challenges such as fragmented information consumption and superficial reading habits [2] - The impact of digital media on youth is profound, as their cognitive development is at a critical stage, making them more susceptible to fragmented information [2] - The development of artificial intelligence is reshaping information production and dissemination, necessitating the reading of high-quality texts to build knowledge and improve critical thinking skills [2][3] Group 3 - Promoting national reading in the digital age requires addressing issues like uneven distribution of reading resources and the sustainability of reading activities [3] - There is a need to uphold the value of traditional reading and counteract the distractions of fragmented reading to maintain clarity and wisdom in the information flood [3]

Core Insights - Public libraries are evolving into multifunctional cultural spaces, leading to increased foot traffic during summer vacations due to factors such as family visits, cultural activities, and study needs [1] Group 1: Increased Foot Traffic - The rise in visitor numbers during summer is attributed to three main factors: the vacation of middle and primary school students, the appeal of cultural activities, and the need for study spaces among students and professionals [1] - Cultural activities in July and August are more than double those in other months, attracting diverse reader groups [1] Group 2: Space Expansion and Optimization - To address the seating shortage, libraries are restructuring existing spaces to create open reading areas, adding 108 new seats [2] - New functional areas such as children's picture book sections and digital experience zones are being established to cater to different reading needs and disperse crowds [2] - Community book-sharing systems are being implemented in various locations to extend library services beyond traditional settings [2] Group 3: Time Management and Service Innovation - Libraries are optimizing study room hours from 9 AM to 9 PM to accommodate peak study times, effectively reducing pressure on traditional reading areas [3] - Strict regulations against seat reservation abuse are being enforced to ensure fair access for all readers [3] - Digital transformation is being leveraged to reduce reliance on physical seating, with upgrades to digital resource libraries and inter-library cooperation agreements to enhance resource sharing [3]