Many famous writers, editors and publishers gathered at a coffee shop in Shanghai to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day with their peers and like-minded book enthusiasts. As a highlight of the "Coffee Together" carnival that was jointly organized by the Shanghai headquarters of China Media Group (CMG), China Global Television Network and CMG Mobile, this themed activity offered people the chance to share their love of reading and coffee and take part in cultural exchanges.

Peng Lun, a publisher who has been working in the industry for over 20 years, shared the story of his career path. He said that it is not easy to publish books by Chinese writers internationally due to the difficulty of translation and other limitations. As a publisher, Peng said he is always working with talented Chinese writers to find the best way to introduce their works to a bigger global audience. He also enjoys getting his work done in coffee shops, which have served as his de facto office for the past two years.

Chinese writer Yu Shi said that coffee shops are a great place to meet old friends and build new friendships. Yu shared her stories about personal growth with visitors at the event.

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic nowadays and it can even serve as inspiration for literary works. Xiao Bai, winner of China's prestigious Lu Xun Literature Prize, and editor Song Ling discussed ways of using AI to create works of literature. Xiao Bai shared some case studies of using ChatGPT for this purpose. He said AI can serve as a "second mind" for writers and help them to generate new ideas.

The event gave Shanghai residents a novel way to enjoy their weekend while also promoting the diversity and inclusive culture of this glamourous Chinese metropolis. Everyone who showed up also got a limited-edition souvenir badge.

Guests also painted patterns on coffee cups to create souvenirs to mark the event, which runs until the end of May.