Hongkou District launched its 2025 Public Library Service Week and World Book Day celebration on April 23 with a thematic event titled “Enduring Light, Lifelong Books” at the Heping Library.
The event marked the 30th World Book Day and celebrated the first anniversary of the Heping Library, one of Hongkou’s flagship public cultural spaces.
Since opening on last year’s World Book Day, Heping Library has established itself as a 24-hour cultural destination blending literature, tourism, and commerce.
The library has become a symbol of Hongkou’s commitment to the "People’s City" vision, fostering a community anchored in accessible and inclusive public culture.
During the event, the library’s two-millionth visitor and several outstanding readers and staff members were honored with certificates.
The ceremony also premiered a short documentary, “Reading Around the Clock, Warmth All Year”, reflecting on the library’s first year of operation and community engagement.
Hongkou District has consistently prioritized literacy and public engagement through reading.
In 2024, the district’s libraries remained open every day of the year, receiving more than 2.2 million visitors and hosting 783 cultural activities, with over 400,000 participants. Circulation exceeded 1.65 million borrowed books.
From April 18 to 27, public libraries across Hongkou and its neighborhood branches are hosting reading clubs, cultural lectures, themed exhibitions, book recommendations, and reader training programs to coincide with World Book Day and Public Library Service Week.
As part of the celebration, the themed illustration exhibition “Through Alleys and Streets: Architectural Expressions in Zheng Xinyao’s Cartoons” also opened.
Li Hao, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Lu Xun Memorial Hall, delivered a lecture based on his book “Lu Xun’s Life in Shanghai”, while traditional pinghua storyteller Fang Tian portrayed Lu Xun in a live performance.
The celebration concluded with a symbolic birthday cake installation, where guests marked the first anniversary of Heping Library.
The series of events underscore Hongkou’s mission to cultivate a lifelong reading culture and enrich its public cultural services, further positioning the district as a vibrant hub for literature and learning.