The "Public Reading Week" and the 19th Taihu Reading Month commenced on April 18 in Nanquan Old Street, Binhu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province. The cultural open week for the "Kaihua Book Lane" in Nanquan Old Street was launched simultaneously. Centered on the theme "Inheriting Culture Through Books, Embarking on a New Journey with Shared Reading," the event implements the "Public Reading Promotion Regulations" and explores innovative "AI + Reading" models to integrate public reading into the urban fabric and daily life.
Historically known as "Kaihua," Nanquan developed as a market during the Song and Ming dynasties and flourished as a street in the Ming and Qing periods. Today, the "Kaihua Book Lane" connects 22 sites and 18 cultural landmarks, transforming the old street into a multi-dimensional bookscape where visitors can listen, write, observe, read, and explore, immersing themselves in a literary atmosphere while strolling. From the enduring legacy of the Donglin Academy's "sounds of wind, rain, and reading" to the scholarly elegance of Qian Zhongshu's devotion to literature, a deep respect for culture and education has long been ingrained in Wuxi's identity.
Wuxi has now established a "15-minute reading circle," with "Zhongshu Reading Spaces" scattered across the city, over 800 rural reading rooms enhancing village life, and a growing number of distinctive independent bookstores. An immersive audiobook experience along the canal has made reading more accessible, turning the entire city into a "grand study."
The opening ceremony began with a poetic and visual performance titled "Wuxi in Poetry," featuring the release of specialized reading brands, premium bookstores, nonprofit reading organizations, and annual book recommendations. These efforts strengthen the foundation of public reading by providing spaces, activities, and quality books for residents.
Concurrently, a charity book donation ceremony under Wuxi's "Public Reading Spring Breeze Initiative" was held. Launched before the Spring Festival, the donation drive received enthusiastic support from all sectors, collecting nearly 5,000闲置 books to be donated to collaborative regions in western China, such as Yan'an and Haidong, as well as local special-needs groups, spreading urban warmth through literature.
A highlight was the launch of the "Zhongshu·Erquan Moon" public literary creation platform, which enables online submissions, work displays, and offline check-ins, encouraging ordinary people to document hometown memories and life reflections. At the event, a descendant of the Zhu Yin Pavilion in Nanquan Old Street submitted the platform's first contribution, focusing on family traditions.
Additionally, a children's situational drama titled "Reading—A Dialogue with Civilization" was performed, using the Doushan archaeological site and its artifacts as clues to guide children in exploring local history and nurturing patriotic sentiments. The "AI + Reading" promotion plan and the "Zhongshu·Scan to Read" digital reading resource platform were also introduced, offering services like book recommendations and venue navigation to inject new vitality into the city's literary culture.
In Wuxi's Huishan Economic Development Zone, a main public reading season event was held as scheduled. Wuxi has hosted the Taihu Reading Month for many years, building the "Zhongshu Reading" brand with nearly 1,500 reading activities organized annually across the city. Initiatives such as the "Public Reading Spring Breeze Action" and "Colorful Future·Read Together for an Hour" have turned reading from an individual habit into a citywide carnival.
Data show that Wuxi's resident comprehensive reading rate has remained above 90% for years, consistently ranking among the top in Jiangsu. A representative from the Wuxi Municipal Committee Propaganda Department stated that these series of events demonstrate Wuxi's commitment to advancing public reading and innovatively implementing the "Public Reading Promotion Regulations." Moving forward, Wuxi will continue to enrich reading scenarios, broaden participation, and foster vibrant expression to nurture urban culture, enhance civic refinement, and let the fragrance of books enrich every household, driving high-quality urban development through spiritual strength.
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