Martin Li, Shan Shan

    martin.mouse@163.com

    MANY Shenzhen residents chose to spend the three-day New Year’s Day holiday, which concluded Saturday, by reading at local bookstores.

    One of the most popular bookstores in Shenzhen, Shenzhen Book City’s CBD store in central Futian District, saw crowds of visitors during the holiday, either reading or buying books.

    It is common to see people sit on the ground inside the store to concentrate on reading during weekends and holidays. This holiday was no exception.

    “A holiday like New Year’s Day gives me adequate time to read and learn from books. There is a comfortable learning environment here,” a man surnamed Liu told Shenzhen Daily in the bookstore Saturday. “Hanging out with family members or travelling are not good choices for me. Reading a book is better.”

    Liu, who works in the software industry, reads books about investment. “I mainly read books about stocks and financial management in order to learn how to analyze the rise and fall of stock markets, as well as how to make proper investments that can improve the quality of my life,” he said.

    A retired teacher, Chang, read books about health in the store Saturday.

    “My physical condition is not good, so I always pay attention to how traditional Chinese medicine works to improve health ... the pace of life is accelerating due to material pursuits in a developed city like Shenzhen. However, reading can slow down our pace of life and enrich our spiritual life,” said Chang.

    A doctor, Wang, was reading books about leisure and sports.

    “Life should be diversified,” said Wang.

    While many felt free to read by sitting on the ground, a man, Hong, said he prefers the 24-hour book bar on the second floor of the store, which sells books and serves drinks.

    “I can enjoy coffee while reading at the bar,” said Hong, who works in the financial industry. “I often read books about philosophy and classical literature.”

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    The 24-hour book bar opened on November 1, 2006 and has never been closed thus far.

    “The book bar is not just a book store. It is also a place for friends to meet, creative exhibitions to be held, as well as for individuals to stay,” said Shu Zhan, manager of the CBD store.

    Li Chuannan, an employee of the book bar, said what impresses him most is the cultural salon that is held in the bar every April 23, World Reading Day.

    “Many scholars and experts come to talk then,” said Li, who has been working at the bar for two years.

    An advocate of 24-hour reading facilities in Shenzhen, Wang Jingsheng, the city’s publicity chief, said during last year’s salon that reading is the birthplace of dreams.

    “When we have a dream, reading can help us realize it,” said Wang.

    Shenzhen launched a campaign to turn itself into a city of libraries and to promote public reading in 2003. The city government has invested more than one billion yuan in construction of reading facilities, according to official statistics.

    There are more than 600 public libraries in the city, roughly one community library per 15,000 people.

    In addition, at least 200 self-service libraries, machines that allow people to borrow and return books by themselves, have been installed in subdistricts, communities, Metro stations and the airport.