Beijing's Baoguo Temple Old Book Market and the inaugural Book Sunning Festival opened on Saturday, marking the resurgence of an ancient literary tradition in the heart of the city. Baoguo Temple hosted the capital's most renowned book market during the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Last December preparations began for the Baoguo Temple Old Book Market, which has gradually attracted a growing number of avid readers. Over the past two weekends alone, it has seen impressive turnouts in excess of 10,000 visitors. Scheduled to run every weekend until October, the market promises to be a vibrant celebration of literary culture.

It is divided into three main sections: a secondhand book zone, an intangible cultural heritage creative zone, and an interactive experience zone. Another zone, the Public Sunning Book Zone allows people to bring treasured books to exchange, fostering community and environmental sustainability.

Visitors can also exchange books for flowers or coffee. They get one voucher for every three books, which can be redeemed against a coffee or a bouquet of flowers. Secondhand books that have been exchanged are displayed nearby for purchase at low prices, with around 200 books changing hands daily.

"We believe there are unwanted books in many households. Instead of letting them sit unread, why not exchange them and share them? This not only promotes environmental friendliness but also gives secondhand books new readers, allowing others to learn from them," says Du Yuchen, deputy head of the publicity department of Xicheng district.

The secondhand book zone has around 200 booths. Well-known book vendors like the China Bookstore and the Beijing Publishing Group are among the participants. The China Bookstore alone has around 10,000 books on display in two booths.

In addition, the secondhand book market also organizes cultural activities like book restoration, woodblock rubbing, and wearing hanfu. These activities seek to engage attendees, especially the younger generation, in China's rich cultural heritage.

In the future, Xicheng plans to set up old book circulation platforms, regular secondhand book sales platforms, and a community secondhand book sharing platform. The initiatives are designed to promote the development of the secondhand book market, vitalizing traditional culture and fostering a deeper appreciation of literature among the populace, Du says.

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