On April 22, the launch ceremony for the 2026 Henan Provincial Public Library National Reading Event, "Reading the Millennium of Poetry, Savoring the Fragrance of Books in Central China," was held in Qixian, Hebi City. The event was hosted by the Henan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Hebi Municipal People's Government, organized by the Henan Provincial Library, Hebi Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, Qixian Cultural Tourism Group, and the libraries of various provincial cities and Jiyuan Demonstration Zone.
With the theme "Reading the Millennium of the Book of Songs, Savoring the Fragrance of Central Plains," the event is rooted in Chaoge's cultural heritage, integrating the literary context and scholarly essence of the Book of Songs. Through diverse formats such as achievement displays, cultural performances, interactive reading, and immersive experiences, it offers library staff and readers across the province a rich, vibrant, and Central Plains-flavored reading cultural feast.
At the launch ceremony, Guo Lulu, member of the Standing Committee of the Qixian County Party Committee, Minister of the Publicity Department, and Deputy County Head, delivered a speech for the event. A short video of the 2025 Henan Provincial Public Library Construction Achievements was screened at the event, showcasing the achievements of high-quality development of public libraries across the province; Commend advanced models of the 2025 "Yu Shine · Let's Read Together" cultural benefit activities; The 2026 "Yu Shines · Read Together" National Reading Series Activity Plan was released, comprehensively mapping out the province's annual national reading activity plan. Wan Jie, member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Henan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, announced the launch of the 2026 provincial public library reading campaign on site.
The subsequent themed performance segment featured five main chapters: "Scroll of Books," "Swimming in the Waves of the Qi River," "Let the Starlight Fill Every Corner," "Sunshine Is the Poetic Path from Afar," and "Listening to Our Hearts." Through situational performances, classic recitations, and original song and dance, the segments vividly presented stories of grassroots reading promotion, care for special groups, and the literary fragrance of rural books, fully highlighting the humanistic warmth and contemporary value of nationwide reading. At the end of the event, directors of public libraries across the province jointly issued a nationwide reading initiative, advocating for the whole society to enjoy the fragrance of books and share reading together.
Scenario recitation: 'Scrolls of the Galaxy'
"Spring Dawn on the Qi River"
Liu Haiyong, winner of the Henan Poetry Competition, shares "The Gentle Times of the Book of Songs"
Reciting the classics
Dance 'Bamboo Pole'
"Protecting the Pure Land"
Zhao Fengying, Party Branch Secretary and Principal of Shangqiu Special Education School, spoke about "Sending a Brush of Books to Fill the World"
Zhang Xinyi, Zhang Xinya, and others performed the song "The World Gifts Me"
"Breeze Between the Clouds"
Li Cuili, a deputy to the National People's Congress and founder of "Weiguang Book Garden," shared "The Temperature of a Beam of Light."
Famous works were recited and recited
"The Brightest Star in the Night Sky"
Representatives from public libraries across the province jointly launched the National Reading Initiative
The Meishui Covered Bridge also simultaneously presents immersive reading live performances for a wide audience. Using the Qi River as a curtain and covered bridges as scenery, the Book of Songs emerged from its pages and flowed through the night, creating an immersive reading experience where "people, culture, and scenery" deeply fused together, sparking strong resonance and continuous applause on site.
The event was fully broadcast live on the "Cultural Yuyue" platform, conducted simultaneously online and offline, effectively expanding the event's coverage and influence.
The successful launch ceremony of the 2026 Henan Public Library National Reading Campaign is an important measure for our province to further promote nationwide reading and build a bookish Henan, as well as a vivid practice of the deep integration of public cultural services with outstanding regional traditional culture. Henan Provincial Library will take this event as an opportunity to collaborate with public libraries at all levels across the province to continuously optimize cultural supply, innovate service models, strengthen brand building, and promote the extension of nationwide reading to grassroots, contributing library strength to accelerating the construction of a strong province in culture and tourism and writing a more brilliant chapter in the Central Plains in the new era.