What does a work of literature sound like when being read by the writer who created it? An event featuring nine famous writers took place at the JIC bookstore in Beijing on Wednesday evening. It's part of the Beijing International Book Fair literary salons. Ding Siyue checks it out.

Reciting is another form of literary expression.

Accompanied by traditional Chinese music, writers read pieces of their own works to audience members.

The event brought together nine famous writers from China and abroad, including Liu Zhen Yun, A Lai, and Anatoly Kurchatkin.

A LAI WRITER "I really enjoy this kind of event. In the past, we always had forums and analyzed the books. But I think by just reading them, we can have an even closer and warmer communication with the readers. The book I read today is my new book, which is based on the Sichuan Wenchuan earthquake 11 years ago. I think we don't have many works on these kinds of huge disasters. Maybe because it's difficult to deal with that kind of grief. But I'm very happy that I found a way to handle this grief and despair and turn it into something warm and hopeful."

During the Beijing International Book Fair, over 40 literary activities will take place in bookstores across the city.

With a theme of "the law of attraction", the literary salons will focus on the interaction between people, as well as between people and the world.

LIU ZHENYUN WRITER "The law of attraction is a physics term, but there is also a law of attraction in books and literature. It comes from people's hearts. Like in my book 'A Sentence is Worth Thousands,' it tells the story of ordinary people. Their words may not tell the whole story, but together they can form a torrent. The torrent in our hearts is even bigger than the torrent in the outer world."

Since 2017, Liu Zhenyun has been the promotional ambassador of the Beijing International Book Fair.

Now in its 26th year, the event has become the largest book fair in Asia and the second largest in the world.

This year, over 1,000 book and publishing-related events are being hosted.

LIU ZHENYUN WRITER "The Beijing Book Fair has one big difference compared with other big international book fairs like the ones at Frankfort, London and New York. Those book fairs are more focused on copy-right transactions. So they are more like a place for trade and commerce. But the Beijing Book Fair pays more attention to the relationship and communication between books, writers and readers."

With these activities, the Beijing International Book Fair brings audiences a good chance to meet writers and immerse themselves in a world of literature. DSY, CGTN, BJ.