A book tour themed "Books of Hechi, Reading For All" is travelling around 11 counties in Hechi in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region from April to December with the aim of promoting greater reading within the community.

The tour is currently on its third stop, in Bama Yao autonomous county, following on from visits to Huanjiang Monan autonomous county and Donglan county. Each tour stop in each county should last approximately two weeks.

Organized by local authorities, the tour provides free reading areas to anyone who is interested, as well as selling books to locals, such as students or soldiers, who are able to purchase items at a 50 percent discount when showing their relevant identification. Books will also be donated to school libraries, rural bookstores and given out for free to poorer students.

Another key aim of the book tour is to provide greater access to reading materials for those from poorer backgrounds and to educate communities in local history, culture and literature.

Edited by Owen Fishwick