New era, festivals and a touch of magic give readers stories to savor

The 29th National Book Expo will be held in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, from July 27 to 30. More than 1,000 publishing-related organizations from 30 provincial administrations, and representatives from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative will attend the event, which is estimated to attract 30,000 visitors.

The expo will feature books that celebrate and mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Digital publishing, technology, IP-centered publishing, and the heritage of the Silk Road will be topics of discussion.

One trend in the publishing industry, according to organizers, is that publishers are eyeing the young reader market, aiming at helping people from younger generations to savor the fun of reading.

Here are some highlights of the news and new releases from publishing circles in May.

The books introduced cover a wide range of topics, from ancient festivals to modern reflections of the new era, from the genre of bildungsroman (stories of formative years) to detective thrillers, as well as series such as Look Inside and Harry Potter.

Academic look at theories

China Social Sciences Press released a collection of 12-volumed books of Studying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

The collection presents the combined research and studies by a number of experts and scholars over the past three years, highlighting the academic excellence of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The collection covers philosophy, political economics, diplomacy, culture, management of the Party, and the governance of China to reveal a full picture of the mechanisms and contributions of Xi Jinping Thought.

Zhao Jianying, president of the China Social Sciences Press, says they tried to turn political discourse into academic discussions to provide an academic reference point for readers both at home and abroad.