Eight young officials gathered for a discussion, using books as a bridge to connect and share ideas. "The goal is not just to talk about Marxism, but to turn it into a tool for solving real-world problems," one participant noted. "Although our roles differ, the shared dedication to earnestness is a common thread," another added. "Many have heard of 'Iron Man' Wang Jinxi, but are you aware there is also a 'New Era Iron Man'?" On April 20, a reading salon themed "Revisiting the Campfire, Studying the Two Theories" was held for municipal agencies, focusing on the Daqing Spirit (Iron Man Spirit). The lively exchange of insights and conversations, blending youthful energy with a passion for striving, evoked the intense atmosphere of 1960, recreating the scene where Daqing's pioneers gathered around campfires, diligently studying theory and engaging in the oil campaign.
In April, the city of Daqing is filled with the fragrance of books. On average, one public reading event is held every day. This activity is not confined to April alone. This year marks the inaugural implementation of the "Regulations on Promoting National Reading" and the first observance of "National Reading Activity Week." Daqing is responding with a citywide, year-round feast of reading events, reflecting on its pioneering origins and gathering strength for development, ensuring that the 66-year legacy of reading grows even brighter in the new era.
Over more than sixty years of evolution and upgrading, Daqing's reading infrastructure has continuously expanded and improved. The service system, including the city library, community reading rooms, and rural book houses, makes the joy of reading easily accessible. The Daqing City Library, having relocated five times, has grown into the public library with the largest floor area in the province. It offers 69 specialized online databases covering multiple fields, while its 29 branch libraries have been transformed into "regional studies," and 17 mobile stations have been upgraded into "cultural posts." New urban cultural spaces integrating bookstores, leisure, and coffee, such as Baihu Cheng · Shuyi Hall, Daqing Book Garden, Cuiwei Academy, and Lande Lake Art Center, have emerged.
Reading activities permeate every corner of the city. The establishment of the Daqing Book Club, the formation of hundreds of specialized reading branches like "Flame Blue" and "Oil Extraction Girls," the setup of thousands of grassroots reading groups in enterprises, schools, rural areas, and communities, along with the organization of hundreds of lead instructors guiding public reading, thousands of volunteers sharing classic works, and tens of thousands of promoters rooted in communities to spread the culture of reading—all these efforts have led to over 3,500 activities, such as "There's a Book Named Daqing" and "Reading Salutes Saertu," benefiting more than a million readers.
Extensive reading has fueled a surge in local literary creation. Works like "A Historical Account of the Iron Man Over a Century" and "The Red Family Register of the Campaign" systematically present the Daqing Spirit (Iron Man Spirit). Sun Baofan, after more than sixty years of dedicated research, authored classics including "The Biography of the Iron Man." Notable local works continue to emerge, such as "Green Horse Lake" by nationally recognized writer Wang Hongda and "The Prairie Full of Flowers" by Liu Li, a member of the Chinese Writers Association, ensuring the city's spirit is passed down through generations via the written word.
The city's public reading initiatives have repeatedly received national and provincial accolades. Daqing was honored as a "National Advanced Unit in Public Reading," becoming the first demonstration city for public reading in Heilongjiang Province. The Daqing Daily's "Daqing Book Club · Reading Society" was selected as an outstanding national case in public reading, and the Baihu Cheng Shuyi Hall was recognized as one of the "Most Beautiful Bookstores in China."
Using books as a medium and reading to transmit its soul, Daqing has incorporated public reading into its key annual work plan for this year. It has issued the "2026 'Scholarly Daqing' Public Reading Activity Plan," aiming to create a new era practice for public reading in Daqing and deeply integrate public reading with spiritual inheritance. During the Activity Week, the opening of the Daqing Public Reading Activity Week, themed "Book Reflections on Hundred Lakes, Ink Fragrance in Ten Thousand Homes," along with the "Daqing in Literature" themed reading series, featured three themed sessions on "The Minister and the Nation," "The Prairie Full of Flowers," and "Green Horse Lake," guiding readers to a deeper understanding of the city's roots. The launch of the new book "Oral History of the Oil Campaign—Seeking the Power of the Spirit (Three Volumes)" allowed more people to experience the Daqing Spirit (Iron Man Spirit) through the firsthand accounts of participants.
Throughout the year, innovative local reading projects like the "Reading Leaders Plan" and the micro-documentary series "The Oil City in Pages" will be introduced. Activities such as "Reading Summer Camps" and "Red Reading Sessions" will continue. Over 70% of the more than ten annual reading events at Baihu Cheng · Shuyi Hall focus on the Daqing Spirit (Iron Man Spirit). Themed book exhibitions held in government agencies, enterprises, and communities almost invariably feature special sections for local publications. Present-day Daqing is committed to making the Daqing Spirit (Iron Man Spirit) increasingly vibrant through the sound of reading. A city rich in heritage, warmth, and vitality is steadily advancing, guided by the fragrance of books.
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