The annual Shanghai Book Fair opened on Wednesday at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, and for the first time, the event will be held in other venues across the country.

On display are publications ranging from comics and biographies to fiction and fashion magazines. More than 500 publishing houses from around China are taking part in this edition of the book fair.

Over 160,000 books are on offer for visitors to read and purchase at the main hall of the Shanghai Exhibition Center. 

The week-long event will include activities such as a conference on innovations of traditional book stores, forums to discuss the changes in the publishing industry, and workshops where insiders can share with visitors their ideas on how to cultivate good reading habits. 

Well-known authors from all over the world have also been invited to share their writing inspirations at the fair. 

Apart from the main session in Shanghai, for the first time since its inception in 2004, the book fair will have more than 50 branch venues in cities in the Yangtze River Delta region and elsewhere in China.

(Cover image via VCG)