Bookstores with distinctive themes have been appearing across Shanghai in recent years.[Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Apart from Zhongshu Ge bookstore, a large number of other boutique bookshops, each sporting a distinctive theme, have opened in Shanghai over the past few years. In addition to books, many of these shops also stock cultural products and have cafe areas where visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee while reading.

JIC bookstore, which is situated in an old building by the Huangpu River in Hongkou district, even boasts a view of the Bund. The store is known for its collection of biographies.

Over at the Mix Place, a three-story bookshop on Hengshan Road in Xujiahui area, readers can find a large collection of art magazines. Both shops play an active role in the local cultural scene by regularly hosting lectures, panels and themed events.

Peng noted that Shanghai's bookshops have developed a vibrant ecology featuring diverse styles and characteristics. He added that the management teams of these shops consist of talented people who are truly dedicated to the city's cultural development.

A veteran in the publishing industry, the State-owned Xinhua Bookstore is celebrating its 80th birthday this year.

Representatives from the Xinhua group in Heilongjiang province, Shenzhen of Guangdong province, Sichuan and Anhui provinces, shared their experience of reforming and developing physical bookstores during the Shanghai Book Fair.