The 2023 South China Book Festival will be held from Aug 18 to 22 in the Area B of the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Haizhu district.

Spectators watch a performance during the 2022 South China Book Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: gzhzfb]

The festival will have one main venue, four sub-venues and one online venue. The main venue will have six major exhibition areas, including those covering themed publishing, Guangzhou books, lifestyle books and Chinese animation.

The main venue will also have 18 special pavilions, including the international books, cultural and creative products and the humanities and education pavilions.

Over 60 bookstores and public libraries in Guangzhou will participate in the event. It's expected to showcase the achievements of top book publishing in Guangzhou, so that people can understand the Lingnan region (Guangdong and the nearby provinces), the ancient Maritime Silk Road and innovative cultures.

The organizer will use AR, VR and other technologies to launch metaverse digital technology applications scenarios. These will explore integrated publishing, the expansion of new digital reading spaces and will provide readers with new online and offline interactive reading experiences.

The event has also invited over 60 leading writers, cultural figures and experts, including Yan Zhen, Pu Cunxin and Cao Wenxuan, to organize reader meet-ups, book signing events and interviews.