At the opening ceremony, people from Baiwu village, other areas of Huize county and nearby cities like Kunming gathered to hear musician Mo Xizishi play the guitar and sing songs, architects Liu, Huang Yinwu and Zhao Yang discuss architecture, and poets like Yu and Han Dong read their works. A woman named Gui Lisha from Huize read a poem she had written in the local dialect.
In his speech, Zhang invited villagers to frequent the bookstore in their free time.
"In addition to promoting local economic development, we believe the bookstore, cultural events and visitors will gradually influence villagers' attitudes toward life, especially the children," he adds.
He Jian says the opening of the bookstore is a significant event for Huize county. The attention brought by a renowned brand and a famous architect who just won the world's highest architectural honor is immeasurable, he says.
He observes a noticeable rise in tourists visiting Baiwu village to take photos, read books and purchase cultural products.
"It is a pleasant surprise that many villagers have started visiting the bookstore. It can be said that its arrival has injected great vitality into Baiwu village, offering villagers a new lifestyle and bringing more possibilities to the countryside," he says.
