Free books enlighten Xinjiang minds

Sixteen bookstores in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region are donating books to the poor as part of an ongoing charity drive.

Inspired by a popular charity activity in Western countries where cafe customers buy an extra cup of coffee for a person unable to pay, the book-donating activity - called "Book On The Wall" - invites customers to buy extra books and then post the titles and prices on the wall instead of taking them home. The books are offered free of charge to people who don't have the means to pay.

Yalkun Osman, one of the founders of the activity, said, "We hope to help poverty-stricken people who like to read but have no money for books."