The 26th Shenzhen Reading Month kicked off on the evening of November 2 at the newly unveiled rooftop stargazing garden of "Bay Eye," the world's largest physical bookstore and a landmark cultural tourism destination in the Greater Bay Area. This year's theme, "Reading in the AI Era," sets the stage for more than 300 major events totaling over 3,000 activities throughout the month.

Coinciding with the launch, the "Pengcheng Literature Institute" was inaugurated, aiming to become a comprehensive platform for public literary creation. It will promote the integrated development of books, films, comics, and games, curating masterpieces that capture the spirit of the times and tell Shenzhen's stories, enriching the city's reading culture.

China's first "National Reading Special Fund" was also established during the opening ceremony, with certificates awarded to its inaugural corporate sponsors. The fund not only provides financial support for Shenzhen's reading initiatives but also sets a model for mobilizing social participation in cultural development.

Key highlights of the month include cultural exchange programs like "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macau Shared Reading," "Shenzhen-Singapore Shared Reading," and "Shenzhen-Kashgar Shared Reading," featuring dozens of events. The annual "Top Ten Books" and "Top Ten Children's Books" awards have introduced new categories, such as "Most Promising New Work." The "Voices of the Masters" forum welcomed Alan Macfarlane, a lifelong fellow of King's College, Cambridge, to share insights.

Leveraging Shenzhen's robust AI industry, this year's Reading Month integrates smart technology across the reading experience. Initiatives include the "AI Leaders Salon," "Youth Roundtable Dialogues," and the "Citizen AI Literacy Program," alongside interactive activities like "AI Knowledge Challenges" to enhance digital literacy. The "Cloud Reading Month" partners with companies like China Literature to aggregate premium digital content, offering curated reading packages and launching the "Cloud Shared Reading" program to upgrade public engagement.

According to the *2025 Shenzhen Reading Development Report*, the city's adults read an average of 22 books in 2024—12.42 digital and 9.21 print—with daily digital reading time reaching 235.24 minutes, a significant yearly increase. E-reader usage also held steady at 61.62 minutes daily.