Expo fever takes hold at annual book fair

WORLD Expo-related books and activities will be highlighted at the annual Shanghai Book Fair, which runs from August 11 to 17, the Shanghai Press and Publication Bureau said yesterday.

Under the banner "I love reading, I love life -- go with the World Expo," the fair will present more than 150,000 books from some 470 publishers around the country at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, officials said.

About 10,000 books will be in foreign languages with the bulk of them in English.

There are also at least 420 cultural activities scheduled, including the appearance of renowned economists Wu Jinglian and Justin Yifu Lin, as well as Haim Dotan, designer of the "seashell" Israel Pavilion of the World Expo.

Wu will deliver a speech at the fair's opening ceremony.

Dotan, a well-known Israeli architect, will launch his new book about architecture.

Wu Zhiqiang, general planner of the Expo, will share Expo highlights in a book.

Meanwhile, a book studying ancient Chinese literature collected by Spanish libraries will be launched in the Spain Pavilion.

Officials said there will be an area set up at the fair to sell licensed Expo products, including publications. Expo commemorative stamps will also be available at the fair.

Tourists from other cities will be able to visit free of charge in the evenings on August 13-15. They will get a 20 percent discount on books if they hold an Expo ticket from August, ID cards or Shanghai tour cards.

The book fair runs from 9am to 6pm on August 11, 12, 16 and 17, and from 9am to 9pm on August 13-15.

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