Local literature gains in popularity in Shanxi province

The Xinhua Bookstore, China's largest, and only, country-wide book chain, has been localizing itself with various local cultural events wherever one of its many branches can be found, for example, in Pingyao country, in Shanxi province, where it provided a special bookshelf displaying the works of local writers, for the first time, to better show the local cultural work and to provide an easy way for tourists, and even locals, to learn more about Pingyao.

The county's cultural heritage and history contain a lot of folk literature and arts, and, as its economy grew in recent years, there were more works available, and the special bookshelf is expected to bring more exposure to local writers, while encouraging them to continue in their craft.

Ji Xinlin, an assistant manager at the Pingyao branch, says that he thinks that local literary works ccan show Pingyao's features better than those of authors living elsewhere and that this event is good for promoting regional culture. He went on to say he believes that it is their bookstore's responsibility to do this and that it welcomes any and all Pingyao authors to contact it whenever they like.

There are already some local works, such as Old Pingyao County Council Chronicles and Album of Pingyao Old City Gates, up on the shelf along with a number of paintings and calligraphic work by local artists.