山東 李 霞

From the sound of children reading books in the mountainous area to the inextinguishable light of the 24-hour bookstore,life is all ordinary yet full of extraordinary moments that are fortunately captured by photographers. The beauty of reading has taken deep roots in the heart of our people.

On Nov. 10, 2020, the “Literary and Beautiful China” National Reading Photography Exhibition opened at China Millennium Monument in Beijing. In order to ensure the diversity of the artworks, the exhibition was the first to collect short video works nationwide. Within three months the organizing committee received a total of 21,685 video works, which cover a wide range of topics with rich and colorful expression. They present the increasingly popular reading concept and the literary atmosphere from various angles.

The construction of a literary society is inseparable from the high-quality reading. Statistics show that in 1978, there were only more than 100 publishing houses with about 15,000 books published annually; today, there are more than 580 publishing houses with annual publication of 500,000 books.The leap from book shortage to well-stocked libraries is a witness to the development of the country and the progress of the times, and has in turn fulfilled the expectation of the people's spiritual and cultural life.

One of British writer William Somerset Maugham's most famous quotes from his reading notes argues: “To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.” In prosperity, prepare for change; in adversity (逆境), hope for one. Everyone, whether rich or poor, healthy or ill, is born equal in front of books, and reading can soothe (緩和) fear, tension and exhaustion, and bring warmth, excitement and solicitude (牽掛).

Reading is an important way to acquire knowledge and accumulate wisdom, and it is also an important way to inherit civilization and improve a nation's cultural accomplishment.

What's the benefit of reading?