Across China, the scorching summer heat has done little to dampen people’s enthusiasm for cultural activities. From the northwestern city of Xi’an to the country’s southern province of Guangdong, book shows and museums are doing their part to draw in the crowds.

As host of the 29th Book Expo, the city of Xi’an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi, hopes to further encourage people's interest in reading, in its additional series of exhibitions, lectures and theater events. 

"The book expo has blazed a new trail in involving more young people. There are many universities in the city of Xi’an. Campus life is rich and vibrant here. I believe young people will invigorate and enrich the reading patterns of local communities. I’m especially impressed by their enthusiasm," said Wang Liqun, historian and cultural scholar.

In nearby Gansu Province, major museums in its provincial capital Lanzhou are coordinating their efforts in capturing the time and attention of summer visitors.

Jinchengguan Cultural Garden is home to several prominent museums such as the Qinqiang Opera Museum and the Ancient Bridge Museum.

Since late June, the Garden has received over 2,000 visitors a day, a five-fold increase over non-summer seasons.

"Schoolchildren make up the majority of visitors to our venue. Most of them are in primary school while there are also many middle schoolers. They’re very keen to learn. And we’ve adapted our commentaries and introductions to their ways of thinking. We try our best to make the information more accessible and digestible," said Shen Xiaorui, a museum guide.

In the southern province of Guangdong, the coastal boom town of Zhuhai is promising visitors both visual and musical delights.

The Dragon Show stage performance is a mesmerizing blend of not just acrobatics, but also storytelling.

Created over the past twelve months, the performance showcases over 300 top-notch circus performers and musicians from more than 20 countries.