On October 21, 2024, the Capital Library of China celebrated its 111th anniversary, officially launching the Capital Library of China Performances series of activities, inviting readers to participate in and enjoy a cultural feast together.
Over the past year, the Capital Library of China has opened the Beijing Library in Tongzhou, Beijing's sub-center. Since its opening on December 27, 2023, it quickly became a popular attraction in the sub-center, earning the title of the "most beautiful library" and becoming a new public cultural landmark in Beijing. Within 88 days of its opening, it welcomed one million visitors, and in just over nine months, the number of visitors surpassed 3.35 million. The average stay time for readers was 2.5 hours, with about 10% staying for more than 6.5 hours. The library held nearly 1,200 online and offline reading promotion activities, attracting nearly 13 million participants. In October 2024, the Beijing Library stood out among 16 libraries from 10 countries worldwide and won the "2024 Public Library Award" from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), marking the first time China has received this top honor in the world of public libraries.
As it embarks on a new journey of 111 years, the Capital Library of China has formed a new pattern with three locations: the Huaweiqiao Branch, the Beijing Library, and the Daxing Airport Branch. It actively explores the innovative fusion of culture, technology, and wisdom, strives to achieve new breakthroughs in public cultural services in the context of artificial intelligence, and promotes high-quality development of new libraries that are "personalized, precise, intelligent, and accessible." It advocates for lifelong reading and explores dual content supply for online and offline resources and promotion activities, collaborating with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Library Alliance and initiating the establishment of the Grand Canal Library Alliance to carry out cross-regional cultural exchanges and resource sharing, fully demonstrating its role and social influence as a "world-class" library.
To celebrate its 111th anniversary, the Capital Library of China prepared six special cultural activities for readers and launched the new "Reading + Performance" immersive experience activity, "Capital Library of China Performances," simultaneously at its three locations.
A Night of Poetry Marks a New Journey, and the Fragrance of Plum Blossoms Remains Forever
A night of poetry marks a new journey, and the fragrance of plum blossoms remains forever. At 7 p.m. on October 21, the second season of A Night at the Library: Journeying Through the Mountains and Seas of Poetry will kick off at the Beijing Library. An immersive ancient marketplace will bustle in the Ginkgo Valley, featuring poetry recitals, puzzle-solving, and costume parades, offering a time-traveling experience. Three poetry experts—Professor Luo Yuming from the Chinese Department of Fudan University, Professor Yang Yu from the School of Humanities of Central South University, and Lecturer Han Xiao from the University of International Business and Economics—will guide readers on a journey through the mountains and seas of poetry, showcasing the charm of ancient rhyme. Dance performances such as Just This Green and story interpretations of Cut A Mume Flower and Bring in the Wine will lead readers and audiences to communicate with ancients in the verdant beauty and snowy moonlight, enjoying the joy of sharing drinks and conversation.
The exhibition titled The Fragrance of Plum Blossoms Remains Forever: Commemorating the 130th Anniversary of the Birth of Peking Opera Master Mei Lanfang will open at the Capital Library of China's Huaweiqiao Branch on October 22. Combining offline and online elements, the exhibition displays the artistic charm of Mei Lanfang through physical records, text, images, and sound, allowing visitors to understand the history of Mei Lanfang and the Mei School art and experience its profoundness.
A Musical Feast Gathers Elegance, and the Beauty of the Central Axis Leads the Way
A musical feast gathers elegance, and the beauty of the central axis leads the way. The first event of the City Music Hub SPIRIOCAST series will be held on October 22 at the Zhihe Hall of the Beijing Library. World-renowned pianist Lang Lang will perform live, using his magical fingertips to interpret moving melodies. Pieces such as Pavane and Moonlight will bring audiences visual and auditory enjoyment and spiritual communication through the interplay of black and white piano keys. Meanwhile, "remote" performances will also lead audiences into a new era of music appreciation.
On October 23, the Daxing Airport Branch of the Capital Library of China will invite Lu Chen and Jiao Yanan, the third-generation inheritors of the Tan School's monochord performance, to perform Poetic Singing of the Central Axis, and invite senior craft artist Zhong Mei to share the aesthetics of the central axis, leading readers to feel the historical charm and modern style of Beijing's central axis through melodious melodies and the gaps between bricks and tiles.
Classical Chinese Music Plays a Glorious Chapter, and Witnessing Memories Wins Benefits
Classical Chinese music plays a glorious chapter, and witnessing memories wins benefits. The Classical Film and Television Theme Songs Concert in Chinese Music will officially kick off at the Capital Library of China's Huawaiqiao Branch on October 25. Themes from films and TV series adapted from classic works have been carefully arranged and brought back to the stage. Familiar timeless golden tunes and film and TV music from China's Four Great Classical Novels, as well as The Grand Mansion Gate and Qiao's Grand Courtyard, will take the stage in succession. The perfect fusion of national symphony orchestras and vocals, classic melodies, heartfelt singing, and high-level performances will bring readers the timeless charm of classical Chinese learning.
Over the 111 years of spring and autumn at the Capital Library of China, readers have certainly left beautiful moments. The Capital Library of China's online "Library Walk" activity aims to collect readers' memories at the Capital Library of China. Readers can submit a "photo+a 50-word description" with the hashtag #CapitalLibraryPerformances and tag @CapitalLibrary on Sina Weibo for a chance to win a reading card.
