Beijing's "antique street" Liulichang has brought back its Old Book Fair after a four-year break. Early Saturday morning, hundreds of readers across Beijing swarmed to the stores in search of old favorites.

The largest ever Liulichang Old Book Fair attracted crowds of readers in the early morning. Seventeen branches of the organizer, Cathay Bookstore, contributed nearly 30,000 books, published between the 1930s and 70s. The most popular volumes date back to the years before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

The volumes range from calligraphy models to old periodicals, from dictionaries to children's picture books. They cover a variety of topics, including literature, economics, fine arts and medical care. It's a literary treasure hunt.

"I want to buy some novels adapted from those TV series that I love," said a visitor.

"This is priced at 1,000. He says he can sell it at 800. But I only have 700 with me. I'll try to bargain with him. I buy books on antique appraisal," said another visitor.

"I came with my husband. We like classic Chinese literature. I hope we can get some rare and cheap books here," said a visitor.

The annual book fair started in 1981 and won immediate acclaim, but stopped in year 2000 because of nearby construction projects. It was reopened this year by popular request. Bookworms have until next Sunday to get to Liulichang.

(CCTV.com September 8, 2003)