Curiosity and enthusiasm for learning more about China were clearly visible among visitors crowding the booths of Chinese publishers at the 77th Frankfurt Book Fair, held from October 14 to 19. The event once again showcased the growing global interest in Chinese literature, art, and culture.
Among a wide range of Chinese publications, comic books particularly attracted young readers. The original Chinese-style comic Cang Lan Jue created a sensation at the fair.
German high school student Lisiane Scharle, who painted an ink wash artwork on-site with Lin Dihuan, the creator of Xiaolin Comics, said, “Chinese culture and art are far deeper than people think.”
Not only popular culture but also academic and cultural works gained significant attention. Arnaud Begle, CEO of Peter Lang Group, which published the German edition of Research on Tao Yuanming, stated, “This book is not only a literary heritage but also an invitation to share and engage.”
Highlighting China’s contemporary development, China Social Sciences Press and Britain-based Taylor & Francis Group jointly released the English editions of New Quality Productive Forces and The China Path and Its Original Meaning. Jeremy North, President of Global Book Business at Taylor & Francis, said the collaboration aims “to promote a deeper understanding among the global academic community of China’s development and its theoretical innovations.”
At a panel discussion titled “How Chinese Young Writers Are Seen by the World,” German translator Eva Schestag, who translated the full version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, said the event provided valuable insights for the German publishing and translation community into contemporary Chinese authors.
Rexhep Hida, President of Fan Noli Publishing House in Albania, praised the diversity of Chinese publications at the fair. “Over the years, I have focused on China and its achievements across various fields. Through books on history, philosophy, psychology, and diplomacy, I have gained a much deeper understanding of China,” Hida said.