A new regulation to promote reading among the public will officially come into force on Feb. 1, 2026, marking a new historical stage for China’s nationwide reading initiative. After more than a decade of sustained advocacy and in-depth promotion, the endeavor is now entering an era of institutionalization and legal protection, laying a solid foundation for building a culturally strong nation in the new era.

Legislating national reading

Hu Zhengrong, director general of the Institute of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), noted that the core of a nation’s soft power ultimately lies in the quality and cultivation of its people. Reading, he emphasized, is the most profound and enduring force for enhancing citizens’ intellectual horizons, scientific literacy, and humanistic depth.

The shift from “advocacy” to “legislation” reflects the deepening of the nation’s developmental logic, asserted Guo Yingjian, head of the Institute for National Reading Education Research at Renmin University of China. Elevating nationwide reading to the status of stable legal regulation demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to governance. Through predictable and sustained institutional support, the regulation seeks to systematically strengthen society’s epistemic foundations and spiritual underpinnings. This not only serves the broader vision of building a culturally strong nation, but also provides indispensable cultural support for building an innovative country and improving the modern governance system.

Ensuring diverse participation

As China’s first administrative regulation dedicated specifically to promoting reading among the public, the regulation’s most significant breakthrough lies in the establishment of an institutional framework characterized by clearly defined rights and responsibilities, robust safeguards, and diverse participation. It represents a fundamental shift from “policy guidance” to “institutional guarantees.”

Wang Bin, director of the marketing center of China Social Sciences Press under CASS, emphasized that in the past, publishers, bookstores, and non-governmental reading organizations were actively involved in promoting nationwide reading, but often played supporting or auxiliary roles. Through its top-level design, the regulation clarifies the roles and spaces available for social actors, transforming them from “facilitators” into “co-builders.” This, he said, will significantly stimulate the intrinsic motivation of market and social participants, propelling nationwide reading toward broader and deeper forms of self-driven social development.

Physical bookstores are an indispensable part of this collective effort. Hao Dachao, general manager of the Sanlian Taofen Bookstore, explained that brick-and-mortar bookstores scattered across urban and rural areas are not merely places to sell books, but also public cultural spaces and community beacons. They serve as critical hubs for translating nationwide reading from policy documents into everyday life.

Equally important, the regulation fully embodies China’s people-centered development philosophy. It explicitly requires the provision of tailored reading services for specific groups, including minors, disabled persons, the elderly, and migrant populations, while promoting a stronger allocation of reading resources toward rural, remote, and underdeveloped areas.

Revolutionizing reading in digital age

The rapid advancement of digital technology has profoundly reshaped reading practices. According to a recent survey, 80.6% of China’s adult population now engages in digital reading, indicating a substantial user base.

Ji Chuanbo, editor-in-chief of Peking University Press, suggested that proactive use be made of emerging media formats such as short videos and livestreaming to cultivate a culture of “reading on screens.” By leveraging these platforms, challenges can be turned into opportunities, drawing more people—especially young readers—into sustained engagement with reading.

Several scholars interviewed also pointed out that legislation is merely the starting point—implementation and enforcement are far more critical. The challenges facing today’s reading landscape are systemic—encompassing gaps between legislation and execution, tensions between market viability and public value, conflicts between technological convenience and humanistic depth, as well as issues of equitable resource allocation and the scientific validity of evaluation systems. The effectiveness of the regulation will depend on detailed supporting measures and collaborative efforts across society.