As one of the most influential public book fairs in China’s publishing industry, the 2025 Shanghai Book Fair and «Book Fragrance China» Shanghai Week opened on the 13th. Book lovers from various regions braved the high temperatures and flocked to the main venue early in the morning to browse and purchase books, creating a summer memory filled with the aroma of books.

This year, the book fair introduced a dual-venue model for the first time, with events held at both the Shanghai Exhibition Center and Shanghai Book City. Some activities were also extended to communities, libraries, and physical bookstores, further expanding the reach of nationwide reading. According to statistics, the 2025 Shanghai Book Fair featured over 1,200 reading events, a 23.8% increase compared to the previous year, setting a new record.

Books such as «Why Hanfu: Rediscovering the Attire of the Mawangdui Han Tombs» and «Embroidered Tiger Youth» were among the highlights. In the main venue, the guest province Hunan, known for its spicy cuisine and publishing prowess, curated a selection of new and quality books that reflect Hunan’s elements and continue its cultural heritage, bringing the scholarly atmosphere of Yuelu to the Huangpu River. Bestsellers like Ma Boyong’s «Seeing the Subtle» series («Lychees of Chang’an,» «The Great White Venus Is a Bit Annoyed,» «Nothing’s Wrong in Peach Blossom Spring») and Cai Lan’s «Trilogy of Life Wisdom» attracted many readers.

Publications such as «History of the War of Resistance in Shanghai» by Shanghai People’s Publishing House and the comic «Unyielding Fingers» by Shanghai People’s Fine Arts Publishing House emerged at the book fair, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. East China Normal University Press specially launched a «Retrospective Exhibition Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the First Publication of ‘Zikai’s Cartoons,'» displaying various original publications from the wartime period and replicating many precious cartoons by Feng Zikai, recreating the renowned Chinese cartoonist’s path of resistance through his pen.

The 2025 Shanghai Book Fair hosted the «Old Books, New Knowledge» national invitation exhibition for the first time.

In the newly introduced «Old Books, New Knowledge» national invitation exhibition area, several bookstores, including China Bookstore, Shanghai Old Bookstore, and Sichuan Maobian Bookstore, showcased a collection of rare and antique books, adding further vibrancy to the Shanghai Book Fair, which is already rich with new publications. Among them, China Bookstore, established in 1952, is currently the largest physical store for antique books in China.

«This is our first time bringing antique books to the Shanghai Book Fair. We prepared 3,000 volumes, hoping to place these books in the hands of Shanghai readers. In recent years, the national market for old books has seen a revival, and the cultural value of old books is increasingly recognized. Old books not only represent a form of green recycling for publications but also serve as an important supplement to new books. Sometimes, they even hold sentimental value. Readers can gain new knowledge from old books, find new friends through them, and rediscover fragments of their own lives while flipping through their pages.»

Shanghai Exhibition Center

The Shanghai Exhibition Center is a landmark Stalinist-style building constructed in 1955 with Soviet assistance, originally named the «Sino-Soviet Friendship Building.» It was built to symbolize the alliance between China and the Soviet Union and to host major industrial exhibitions. Today, it remains a prominent venue for large-scale trade fairs, expositions, and cultural events.

Shanghai Book City

Shanghai Book City is a major multi-story bookstore and cultural landmark located on Fuzhou Road, known as the city’s «Culture Street.» It first opened in 1998 and quickly became one of the largest book retailers in China, offering a vast selection of domestic and international publications. It serves as a central hub for readers, authors, and intellectuals, hosting frequent book launches and cultural events.

Mawangdui Han Tombs

The Mawangdui Han Tombs are a famous archaeological site in Changsha, China, dating back to the 2nd century BC during the Western Han Dynasty. They are most renowned for the exceptionally well-preserved mummy of Lady Xin Zhui, the Marquise of Dai. The tombs contained a vast trove of artifacts, including silk texts, maps, and lacquerware, providing an unparalleled insight into Han Dynasty life, culture, and burial practices.

Yuelu

Yuelu is a scenic mountain in Changsha, China, famous for its ancient Yuelu Academy, one of the four great academies of the Song Dynasty. The site is a cradle of Confucian learning and has a history of over a thousand years. It is also home to the historic Lushan Temple and the stunning Aiwan Pavilion.

Huangpu River

The Huangpu River is a 113-kilometer-long river flowing through Shanghai, historically serving as the city’s main commercial artery and dividing it into the districts of Pudong and Puxi. It gained prominence in the 19th century when foreign concessions were established along its western banks, turning the Bund into a global financial hub. Today, it remains a vital waterway and is famous for its iconic skyline views, featuring landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower.

Zikai’s Cartoons

«Zikai’s Cartoons» refers to the influential and beloved body of work by Chinese painter and cartoonist Feng Zikai (1898–1975). His cartoons, which first gained popularity in the 1920s, are celebrated for their simple, expressive style and their focus on capturing the innocence of children and the poetry of everyday life. They represent a unique and humanistic genre in modern Chinese art, often infused with Buddhist philosophy and social commentary.

China Bookstore

China Bookstore (中国书店) is a state-owned enterprise specializing in the trade of secondhand and rare books, with its flagship store located in Beijing’s historic Liulichang cultural district. It was established in 1952 with the mission to rescue, conserve, and redistribute ancient and out-of-print books, playing a vital role in preserving China’s literary heritage. Today, it remains a renowned destination for scholars and collectors, operating multiple branches that trade in antiquarian books and traditional artworks.

Shanghai Old Bookstore

The Shanghai Old Bookstore is a historic cultural landmark founded in 1949, renowned for its vast collection of rare and out-of-print books. It serves as a vital hub for bibliophiles and scholars, preserving literary heritage and offering a tangible connection to China’s publishing history.