Chongqing - When the fragrance of books permeates the land of Bayu, what kind of cultural feast awaits a city that loves reading? On April 17, the press conference for the 2026 "Bookish Chongqing" public reading campaign was held.
According to Ma Ranxi, Deputy Director-General of the Publicity Department of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and Director-General of the Municipal Press and Publication Bureau (Copyright Bureau), the 2026 "Bookish Chongqing" Public Reading Gala is set to take place on April 25 at Diamond Plaza in Liangjiang New Area. Breaking from previous indoor editions, this year’s event moves outdoors for the first time and will be held alongside the inaugural "BOOK-solutely Amazing" Tent Reading Festival, creating a reading carnival that is accessible, experiential, and immersive for all.
This year's event moves outdoors for the first time and will be held alongside the inaugural "BOOK-solutely Amazing" Tent Reading Festival.
Fun and Inclusive: Outdoor Setting Open to Public Participation
Unlike previous indoor editions, this year’s gala moves to an outdoor venue and is open to public registration, moving beyond organized attendance to allow residents who truly love reading to engage closely with the literary atmosphere. The gala will be integrated with the main grounds of the "BOOK-solutely Amazing" Tent Reading Festival, featuring themed tents, special-topic tents, and "Book-loving Family" tents, offering a relaxed and engaging reading environment.
Chongqing boasts a vibrant reading culture.
Great Reads: Showcasing Innovative Reading Achievements
The event will present outstanding case studies in public reading, covering achievements in integrated reading, community reading, and lifelong learning. It will also recommend quality reads, highlighting Chongqing’s public reading practices and achievements from the past year, allowing residents to experience the cultural vitality that reading brings to the city firsthand.
Engaging and Aesthetic: New "Little Scroll" Icon Lights Up the Night Sky
As a key event of this year’s "Public Reading Week," the inaugural "BOOK-solutely Amazing" Tent Reading Festival offers a fresh, accessible way to experience the joy of reading. The festival is packed with features, creating a cultural extravaganza where visitors can read, play, listen, take photos, and socialize.
Riverside Immersive Reading Zone: Equipped with beach chairs and lounge sofas, visitors can enjoy reading by the river amid gentle breezes and scenic views, blending nature with literary pleasure.
Interactive Podcast Space: A "BOOK-solutely Amazing" podcast booth will host live podcast recordings where visitors can listen to hosts and even join the conversation.
Art Installations and Photo Spots: Artistic displays will be set up throughout the venue, providing culturally rich backdrops for photos.
Reading Benefits: Discount coupons will be available via the "Ant Seeks Books" mini-program, making books more affordable and encouraging everyone to enjoy the pleasure of reading.