The 2025 Southern China Book Fair launched on Aug 15 under the theme "Bay Area Book Festival·Discover the World·Share the Future". It will run through Aug 19.

This 32nd edition features one main venue in Guangzhou and 467 sub-venues across Guangdong province, as well as in Macao and Kashi, Xinjiang. It gathers over 1,500 domestic and international publishers showcasing nearly 500,000 publications and cultural products. A total of 2,335 cultural events are scheduled.

Aiming to act as an international platform for nationwide reading and cultural exchange, the fair hosts renowned figures like Mao Dun Literature Prize winners Ge Fei and Liang Xiaosheng, Hong Kong director Wong Jing, musician Han Hong, American writer Wendelin Van Draanen, author of Flipped, and Neil Packer, illustrator of the full-color edition of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Highlighting global culture, the fair presents treasures from 23 countries and regions. The "Read the World" hall displays works like Classic of Mountains and Seas, Bill Gates' Source Code, Han Kang's We Do Not Part, Percival Everett's James, Katherine Rundell's fantasy novels, the 10th-anniversary edition of The Nightingale, plus global hits like Stranger Things and Atomic Habits.

Pavilions offer immersive cultural experiences: Vietnamese coffee and snacks, Southeast Asian porcelain painting and drumming, European desserts and wine, Qatari coffee ceremonies and Arab dance, Central Asian music and food, international records, and VR experiences at the IP Licensing and Millet Culture Exhibition. The fair seeks to deepen its international reach and promote cultural exchange.

The 2025 Southern China Book Fair is held from Aug 15 to 19. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]