The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province launched a reading promotion event entitled "Reading Power Hope" on April 20 to mark this year's World Book and Copyright Day, which falls on April 23.

A total of 400 activities catering to different age groups and reading preferences will take place during the event, according to the Qingdao municipal bureau of culture and tourism.

Reading activities will be held in the city's libraries, bookstores, schools, resident communities, villages and enterprises to involve more participants and encourage the public to read more books.

Poetry recitations, audio sharing, parent-child reading and more will also take place.

A series of online activities and live streams will be held to recommend books, share audiobooks and give cultural lectures.

Customers browse books at a bookstore in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo by Liang Xiaopeng/Xinhua]

A customer reads books at a bookstore in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo by Liang Xiaopeng/Xinhua]

People browse books at a bookstore in Qingdao. Reading has seen a surge in popularity amid the coronavirus pandemic, as people are barred from outside activities and spend most of their time at home. [Photo by Liang Xiaopeng/Xinhua]