Peking University, April 23, 2024: On April 19, Peking University (PKU) Press, along with the School of Journalism and Communications, School of Chinese as a Second Language, Department of Information Management, and the Graduate School of Education, hosted the PKU 2024 Reading Culture Festival in conjunction with the World Book Day Fair.
From the School of Journalism and Communications (SJC) to the PKU Bookstore, six booths featuring reading-related games were set up. These games were designed to immerse students in the beauty of poetry, test their literary knowledge, and allow them to share their love of reading with friends.
At one of the SJC booths, students were invited to share poetry that was meaningful to them. Among the many post-it notes was a blue one written in Thai, shared by Nataramon Ponsongkrouk (Amp), a second-year SJC student. It featured an excerpt from a Thai poem taught to her in elementary school:
"วิชาเหมือนสินค้า
อันมีค่าอยู่เมืองไกล
ต้องยากลำบากไป
จึงจะได้สินค้ามา
จงตั้งเอากายเจ้า
เป็นสำเภาอันโสภา
ความเพียรเป็นโยธา
แขนซ้ายขวาเป็นเสาใบ"
"Knowledge is like a precious commodity,
Found in lands far and wide.
One must face many hardships,
To bring such treasures back home.
Make of your body a grand vessel,
Sailing with elegance and might.
Let perseverance steer your course,
With arms as sails, embracing the light."
Another booth encouraged students to write book recommendations for international friends. Fan Xiaoyu, a second-year student volunteer from the Department of Information Management, shared that among the numerous recommendations, No More Than Skins (by Cai Chongda) and To Live (by Yu Hua) particularly resonated with her. To her, To Live captures the unique values and the spirit of perseverance of a generation, offering international students a glimpse into China's history.
Yiyi, another undergraduate student, recommended Pangcah Girl (by Gan Yaoming), a book set in the mountains in Taiwan, China. This coming-of-age story emphasizes the healing power of nature and discusses how one's socio-cultural background shapes their identity. Yiyi hopes this book will bring readers peace, as reflected in the protagonist's journey of growth.
For PKUers, reading constitutes an essential part of the campus life, a year-round celebration of knowledge, wisdom, and fun. As the old Chinese proverb says, "Books hold a treasure trove (书中自有黄金屋)"; may we all find precious treasures in the world of reading.
Written by: Zhang Yiyi, Glenda Ho
Edited by: Glenda Ho
Photos by: Zhu Chengxuan, Xu Yifeng, Xu Zhuoyu, Zheng Yixin, Zheng Boyu, Wu Feng Xiaojing, Xie Binyan, Yu Xinyue, Zhang Qiqi, Glenda Ho
