The 2026 Physical Bookstore Development Forum was held in Beijing on Tuesday, unveiling innovative pathways for the high-quality development of physical bookstores and gathering momentum for the book business in the new era.

Under the theme, "New Era of Reading, New Landmark for Bookstores", the annual event was organized by the Books and Periodicals Distribution Association of China, the Anhui Xinhua Distribution Group Holding, and Bookdao, a publishing and book market intelligence information platform.

Ai Limin, chairman of the Books and Periodicals Distribution Association of China, says that amid rapid upgrades in digital technology, evolving reading habits, and an urgent demand for culture, physical bookstores now face unprecedented challenges while also embracing significant opportunities for transformation and growth.

The core of the "new landmark" for physical bookstores lies in redefining their functions and value: they should strive to become the "deep cultivator" and "promotional hub" for public reading, establishing themselves as regional cultural centers for reading through diverse activities, Ai says.

They should also serve as the "experience center" and "aesthetic space" for cultural consumption, meeting multidimensional spiritual needs, and function as "innovation nodes" and "service hubs" within the industrial ecosystem, advancing digital integration and cross-sector collaboration, he adds.

Six physical bookstore professionals shared their experiences from multiple perspectives, including urban empowerment, brand building, product innovation and technological integration, offering valuable insights for the industry.