"A nation that reads is invincible..."

This was the thought that stayed with me as I weaved through the stalls loaded with books at the Ditan Park Book Fair on a crowded Saturday, where the sheer number of people made it difficult at times to even reach said books. A sea of readers moved between shelves, leisurely picking through stacks of books and gingerly carrying their prized possessions through the crowds.

What particularly impressed me most was what happened after visitors found their treasure (books) of choice. Many simply sat down right outside the stalls to read, some settling on the pavements with their newly purchased books, others gathering on the grass with friends and family, eating, talking and reading together. Children and adults alike could be seen absorbed in their books amid the noise and bustle of the fair.

It was a strikingly contemporary scene, but the impulse behind it has much deeper roots. China's written tradition long predates Beijing itself, with the National Library of China's collections tracing back to inscriptions on oracle bones and tortoise shells more than 3,000 years ago. When Beijing emerged as a major capital – beginning with the Yuan Dynasty's (AD 1271–1368) Dadu in the 13th century and continuing through the Ming (AD 1368–1644) and Qing  (AD 1644–1912) dynasties – it became an important center of scholarship, literature, official records and book production.

That legacy can still be traced through places such as Liulichang, the historic book and antiques district where generations of readers and collectors sought woodblock editions, classics, calligraphy and inscriptions, as well as the National Library of China whose origins lie in the Jingshi Library established in the late Qing, and the numerous bookstores dotting the city.

"The Temple of Earth and Me – Read to Become a Better You"

From September 17 to 27, that long relationship with the written word is taking a contemporary form at yet another major book fair, where hundreds of thousands of titles are bringing readers, publishers and cultural enthusiasts together at the Temple of Earth or Ditan Park, a historic site built in 1530 as an altar for earth worship during the Ming Dynasty.

Now, nearly five centuries after the temple was built, Ditan has once again become a gathering place for readers.

This year's theme, "The Temple of Earth and Me – Read to Become a Better You," puts the act of reading itself at the center of the event. Rather than being simply a marketplace for books, the fair is a comprehensive event featuring exhibitions, talks, cultural activities and opportunities to discover works from China and around the world.

Covering more than 20,000 square meters, it sets new records in exhibition space and the number of stalls. Book booths account for more than 80 % of all booths, with more than 600,000 titles available across a wide range of genres.

Nine themed zones feature themed publications, selected titles from renowned publishing houses, old books, featured bookstores, original non-Chinese books, family reading, discounted books, reading and cultural activities, and creative products and lifestyle experiences.

Two dedicated activity zones host more than 150 cultural activities throughout the 11-day fair, expanding the experience beyond browsing and buying books. Book vouchers are also available in electronic and paper formats. Each registered mobile phone number can claim two 80-yuan coupon packs per day during the fair.

Reading beyond borders

The fair's literary landscape stretches across generations, genres and cultures.

Exhibitions feature works by writers including Fyodor Dostoevsky, Agatha Christie, Keigo Higashino, Eileen Chang, Sanmao and Virginia Woolf, bringing together literary voices from China and beyond.

The fair also opens a window onto international publishing. The expanded original non-Chinese book zone offers around 8,000 titles, including children's books, literary works, social science publications and art albums. A number of new releases also debut at the fair, with prominent international publishing houses Walker Books and Macmillan Publishers present. Books in languages other than English are also available.

Why reading still matters

In an age of instant information and increasingly capable artificial intelligence, the role of reading may be changing, but its value is hardly diminishing. If anything, the AI boom has highlighted the enduring worth of books: recent court filings and investigations have revealed efforts by AI companies to acquire and scan millions of books as training material, in some cases cutting apart the physical volumes after digitizing them.

Seeing so many people choose to spend part of their day sitting with a physical book offered a simple reminder of what reading can still provide.

A book asks readers to slow down, follow an idea across pages and engage with another person's words on their own terms. At a time when information can be generated, summarized and delivered in seconds, the experience of sitting quietly with and becoming absorbed by the written word turns into a different kind of encounter.

Editor's note: Zaruhi Poghosyan is a multimedia editor for CGTN Digital. This article is part of China, Soft Focus – a slow journalism series that offers human-centered glimpses into culture, history and everyday life across China through measured pace and intimate storytelling.