The 20th edition of the Shanghai Book Fair showcased the evolving landscape of the publishing industry, with publishers introducing cutting-edge AI tools and diversifying their offerings to cater to the changing demands of readers and the market. The event, held at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, drew nearly 400,000 attendees and featured over 160,000 titles from 360 publishers, highlighting its growing significance in the city’s cultural calendar.
One of the key trends observed at this year’s fair was the shift towards greater diversity in publishers‘ offerings. Many publishers expanded their product range to include a wider variety of cultural and creative products, leading to a surge in self-developed items. This expansion resulted in the creation of dedicated exhibition areas for these products, showcasing the industry’s commitment to offering a more diverse selection to readers.
In addition to a wider range of products, publishers also introduced interactive activities to engage attendees. One popular activity at the fair was stamp collecting, with nearly 600 collectible stamps available for attendees to acquire. These stamps featured designs themed around the Shanghai Book Fair, vintage elements, and historical cultural themes, adding an interactive and collectible element to the event.
For attendees like 22-year-old Shanghai resident Liu Jiaqi, the stamp collecting activity was a highlight of the fair. Liu shared her notebook filled with stamps obtained from various publishers, some acquired through QR codes and others through purchases. Despite spending nearly 500 yuan ($70) at the fair, Liu felt it was worth it, as she was able to access books at a discounted rate and discover titles that were hard to find in regular bookstores.
In line with the theme of innovation, Shanghai-based Century Publishing Group showcased a series of AI-driven tools at the fair. The group introduced a „writing assistant“ plug-in compatible with Microsoft Word and WPS, offering functions such as definition searches, literary text retrieval, and semantic searches. This tool, sourced exclusively from authoritative reference books, aimed to provide accurate and reliable information to users, addressing common issues associated with large language models.
Another highlight from Century Publishing Group was its digital publishing pavilion, featuring an „open data platform“ that leveraged content from 200 authoritative reference books and connected with over 50 internet applications. The platform included a „word lookup by screen tapping“ feature, allowing users to instantly access word meanings while reading or writing. Attendees like 40-year-old Zhou Youren found this feature particularly useful, prompting him to sign up as a member on the spot.
For Zhou, who has been attending the book fair for the past two decades, the event continues to offer fresh discoveries and surprises each year. He emphasized the magic of the fair lies in the unexpected encounters with books that may not be easily found elsewhere, providing readers with a unique opportunity to explore new worlds and perspectives.
Overall, the 2024 Shanghai Book Fair demonstrated the industry’s commitment to innovation and diversity, showcasing how publishers are adapting to meet the evolving needs of readers and engage a broader audience. With a focus on AI tools, cultural products, and interactive activities, the fair highlighted the dynamic nature of the publishing industry and its ability to evolve with the times.