Gu Aibin, editor-in-chief of Yilin Press, said that in the past 30 years, books published by the company have ranged from foreign literature to liberal arts and, more recently, popular science works, clearly mirroring the changing demands of Chinese readers.

"Thirty years ago, readers devoured anything available due to the shortage of books. Now, they choose books very carefully for an enjoyable reading experience, which is the result of the 40 years of reform and opening-up. People's material lives have been greatly improved, so have their spiritual lives."

Graduating from Nanjing University in Jiangsu province in 1986, Gu joined Yilin when it was founded in 1988 to introduce foreign literature to China, and to translate it. Apart from the best-selling Yilin Classics Series, the company led the way in introducing contemporary works of literature.

Gu said, "From these works, Chinese readers learned about the latest developments in other societies and avant-garde ideas in literary creativity, which influenced many contemporary Chinese writers."

At the three-floor exhibition marking the Shanghai Translation Publishing House's 40th anniversary, white Chinese characters hung above the entrance, proclaiming Shijie Youwo Gengda (a sail at the force, a world bigger than before).