2009 Apr 23 World Reading Day 2009 in Beijing
Today is World Reading Day or 世界读书日 (shìjiè dúshū rì) in Chinese, also known as World Book and Copyright Day through out much of the rest of the world. Unlike last year, none of the big bookstores in Beijing will be offering hefty discounts. Though it seems the National Library of China is organizing a few activities. But never mind the absence of sales, the digital age is here and you can go and read some classics over at the World Digital Library for free instead.
According to AFP: Four years in the making, the World Digital Library went on line, offering free access to hundreds of books, manuscripts, maps, photographs and sound and film recordings, all considered world treasures."
The online archive, which can be viewed in all the official languages of the United Nations (English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Portugese, Arabic and Russian), includes some great China-related content including this detailed map of Peking that was produced by the Cartographic Division of the Royal Prussian Ordnance Society during 1900 and 1901.
Other fascinating Chinese texts that can be viewed at the digital library include an Illustrated Guide of Tilling and Weaving: Rural Life in China (1696). The huge Yongle Encyclopedia (1403-1408) and The Complete Library in Four Sections (Siku Quanshu)(1773-1781) should also keep you busy for a while.
But it's not all about China, you can also take some lessons from Aesop's Fables, follow the romances of Prince Genji, scare kids with tales from Hans Anderson and much much more.
Links and Sources
The Beijinger Directory: Bookstores
UNESCO: World Book and Copyright Day
World Digital Library
France24: World Digital Library to make cultural treasures accessible to all
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