A reading activity is recently held in Chongchuan district, Nantong, involving local volunteers, children and parents. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]

In recent years, Chongchuan district in Nantong has seen significant cultural development, and the reading rate of local residents reached 95.3 percent in 2019, ranking best in the city.

Around 800 reading activities are held in bookstores, cultural centers, enterprises and communities around the district every year, attracting over 400,000 participants. Reading has become an important part of people's life in the district.

According to the chairman of an integrated bookstore in the district, the store strives to enrich the spiritual life of residents and encourage regular reading among them by hosting exchange activities and regularly introducing new books to readers.

The district government invests 300,000 yuan ($42,430) every year to support reading projects. Several clubs have been established in local communities, consisting of residents, students and teachers. A library set up by overseas Chinese has benefited over 10,000 readers in only six months.

The first reading day in Chongchuan district was launched in 2015 and since then the event has become a cultural brand in the district.

In addition, Chongchuan District Library started operation on April 23, 2020, and is open from 9 am to 7 pm every day, except Monday. The library, covering 5,700 square meters, stores nearly 100,000 books and provides 1,200 seats for readers.