Southern China Book Fair Photo: VCG

The Southern China Book Fair is currently underway in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, drawing book lovers and industry professionals from across China and beyond. This year's event has brought together more than 1,500 publishing organizations and nearly 500,000 types of books and cultural creative products.

For Jacky Chung Kit Ko, a resident of Hong Kong, attending the fair was an unmissable opportunity. "The fair's atmosphere is vibrant, with a strong Greater Bay Area flavor," Ko told the Global Times on Monday.

A highlight of this year's fair is the Hong Kong Pavilion, which has attracted significant crowds. Visitors are greeted by a creative wall displaying selected books and rare collectibles related to Hong Kong's film, music, comics, and visual arts. Movie posters, vinyl records, and cassette tapes are being showcased, offering a nostalgic glimpse into the city's pop culture.

Covering around 800 square meters, the Hong Kong Pavilion focuses on themes such as urban memory, pop culture, and traditional Lingnan culture. Many featured publications reflect local Hong Kong characteristics, including works like Hong Kong Tielu Tansuo (lit: Exploring Hong Kong Railways), which delves into the city's urban planning and development. 

For the first time, the pavilion also includes a section for illustrations featuring the works of Hong Kong picture book illustrators. "The Hong Kong Pavilion is bustling with visitors; many people stop to take photos," Ko said. "I hope the Hong Kong Book Fair can learn from the creativity and ideas seen at this year's Southern China Book Fair."

The Macao Pavilion, themed around the 20th anniversary of the Historic Centre of Macao's UNESCO World Heritage designation, showcases publications on Macao's culture, education, science and traditional Chinese medicine.

This year's fair not only highlights the best of Greater Bay Area publishing but also aims to expand its cultural perspective globally. Notably, a new overseas Chinese culture zone features over 200 publications on overseas Chinese studies and 49 wartime letters sent by overseas Chinese during Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), the China News Service reported. These documents offer a unique, grassroots perspective on Chinese society during wartime. Ko mentioned purchasing two books on the war to remember history and inspire self-strengthening.

Further reflecting its international outlook, the fair has also launched a "Read the World" section for the first time. This area includes pavilions for Vietnam (the guest of honor), other Southeast Asian countries, European countries, international brand publishers, and more, representing 23 countries and regions. Exhibitors have brought their latest publications, renowned authors, and a variety of multicultural activities to Guangzhou.

A notable highlight was the launch of the Arabic edition of From Sanxingdui to Jinsha. The event brought together Chinese and Egyptian scholars, with author Huang Jianhua expressing hope that the translation would serve as a new window for the world to appreciate ancient Chinese civilization and foster greater understanding through cross-cultural dialogue, according to materials sent to the Global Times from Zhonghua Book Company that joined the book fair.

Running from August 15 to 19 with over 2,000 cultural activities, this year's Southern China Book Fair features one main venue and 467 satellite venues.