The Bookworm Literary Festival is a celebration of literature and ideas that brings together diverse voices from China and beyond, and will celebrate it’s 10th anniversary this year. Each year, the festival brings together people from all walks of life in Beijing to celebrate cultural exchange and diversity. This year, we have been told there are over 32 countries represented in the program!

The festival runs from March 11th to the 27th. Events range from panel discussions and speakers series, to performances, children’s events, workshops and comedy shows. The festival is a huge draw and tickets sometimes sell out well in advance. It is recommended to show up about 20 minutes in advance; seating is by general admission and is first-come-first-serve.

There are many excellent events to choose from, (the full festival program can be downloaded here) but here are a few that Anthony recommends for Pengyous:

*Make sure to read to the end to find out how to win tickets!

1. Do Not Marry Before Age 30: Empowering Women (3/14): Joy Chen, the former deputy mayor of Los Angeles, is the author of Do Not Marry Before Age 30 – part memoir and part self-help guide – which debunks conventional wisdom that single women are “leftover” by their late 20s, and helps them unlock their potential and realize their dreams. The book is a bestseller in China, where it has won Chen a massive following. In 2012 the All-China Women’s Federation named Chen “Woman of the Year.” She currently has a movie in development with Wanda Media, and one with Alibaba Pictures. Moderated by Wall Street Journal reporter Felicia Sonmez.
2. The Future of Hong Kong (3/12): Ever since the handover in 1997 – and actually long before that – questions have swirled about the future of Hong Kong. But after the events of the past year and a half, these questions have taken on an urgent tone. At the heart of the matter: how much longer can Deng Xiaoping’s One Country, Two Systems principle survive? Jason Y. Ng, bestselling author of HONG KONG State of Mind and Umbrellas in Bloom, and Beijing-based New York Times writer Didi Kirsten Tatlow, who was born and raised in Hong Kong, will discuss the future of this former British colony. Moderated by Guardian reporter Tom Phillips.
3. Journalism with Chinese Characteristics (3/13): Finding sources, verifying facts, sifting truth from hearsay: journalism is hard enough, but doing it in China – for Chinese publications – presents a whole new set of challenges. It’s worth asking: what exactly is journalism in China, especially with so many voices competing for attention and credibility in the digital sphere? Our panelists include David Bandurski, researcher at China Media Project and co-author of Investigative Journalism in China, a book of eight cases on Chinese watchdog journalism; and Raymond Zhou, senior writer for China Daily and longtime film, theater, and culture critic. Moderated by veteran BBC news executive Marcus Ryder, currently Chief International Digital Media Editor for CCTV.
4. War on Pollution (3/15): China’s rapid industrialization has caused tremendous environmental damage, which in turn has stagnated growth – a 2007 World Bank study concluded that air and water pollution costs China about 4.3 percent annual GDP. Fearing this could lead to social unrest, Premier Li Keqiang declared “war on pollution” in 2013. Two years later, do we see progress, or is this “war” mostly being waged for public perception? Here’s a China environment panel that digs beyond cliché to unveil the problems and challenges at the center of China’s environmental quandary. Featuring Anders Hove, Associate Director for China Research at the Paulson Institute; Li Yan, Deputy Program Director of Greenpeace East Asia; and Ma Tianjie, managing editor in the Beijing office of China Dialogue, a organization specializing in reporting on China’s environment; moderated by New York Times Beijing Bureau Chief Edward Wong.
5. Innovation and Imitation in China (3/19): Every sector seeks innovation, but what does it actually entail? From Baidu’s plans for autonomous vehicles to micro-entrepreneurs and their ingenious do-everything apps, innovation is all around us – and yet, limitations also remain very real. Christina Larson, a contributing correspondent for Science magazine and Bloomberg Businessweek, writes about science, technology, and culture; Edmond Lococo is senior vice president for public relations at ICR, which counsels companies in tech, consumer, and industrial growth; and Kaiser Kuo is director of international communications at Baidu and host of the Sinica podcast.
6. Minority Matters: Focus on Ethnicity in Chinese Culture (3/20): China officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups, from the Ewenki of Inner Mongolia (only 30,000) to the majority Han (about 92 percent of the population), who exist in various states of conflict and cooperation. This panel takes a look at some of China’s ethnic issues, including various policies that both protect and erode the customs and traditions of the country’s lesser-known ethnic minorities. This event will be in Chinese with English interpretation.
7. Territorial Disputes and Regional Stability (3/21): Contested territories, uneasy alliances, energy pacts, strategic differences… China’s relationship with its neighbors has never been more closely scrutinized, and it’s the focus of this panel discussion, featuring foreign correspondents who make a living covering Beijing’s every move. Moderated by Philip Wen, China correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
8. Trends in Spirituality in Modern China (3/22): China still has, by a wide margin, the most atheists in the world, but religion – and spirituality – has steadily risen over the past two decades. Buddhism and Confucianism have been booming, but more people are also turning to Christianity to find a foothold in the modern world. And interestingly, unlike in many countries, the rise of religious conversion in China has paralleled its urban development. What is it about the city – and life there – that nudges people toward faith?
9. The Future of the Chinese Economy (3/24): “Made In China: The Next Global Recession,” blared the headline on a Time magazine story in January. China has been an economic warhorse for the last decade, but recent events – a GDP growth slowdown, a weaker currency, growing debt, stock market crashes – have given analysts reasons for worry. Is the Chinese economy experiencing a hiccup, or are these the early days of a full-blown recession? This panel of experts – featuring Tom Orlik, Beijing-based economist for Bloomberg; Michael Schuman, award-winning journalist and author of The Miracle: The Epic Story of Asia’s Quest for Wealth; and Lingling Wei, finance journalist at the Wall Street Journal – will discuss. Moderated by Wall Street Journal China correspondent Mark Magnier.
10. The Future for Civil Society and Philanthropy in China (3/25): Civil society is defined as the “third sector” of society, outside of government and business. It’s a country’s social sphere, and often can contribute as significantly to a country’s stability as its state or market. How do we define China’s civil society, whose very existence relies upon the state, and whose health is closely tied with the strength of the market? For those working in China’s civil society and philanthropy sectors, what challenges do they face, and how might they overcome them?
11. The Arts Alive: Identity and New Media in Contemporary Chinese Art (3/26): Ellen Larson, editor of opengroundblog.com, will lead a discussion with emerging Beijing-based artists. Together they will discuss current happenings within Beijing’s vibrant, diverse, and rapidly evolving contemporary art world, introducing viewers to innovative and exciting new trends. Members of the panel will discuss the intersection between their work and contemporary Chinese society, taking inspiration from everyday life experiences, memory, tradition, and the increasingly significant role of technology. Ju Anqi is a filmmaker whose There’s a Strong Wind in Beijing was nominated at the Berlin Film Festival as a milestone in experimental Chinese film, while Tian Xiaolei is a digital artist whose video shorts and animations have received accolades from the Odense International Film Festival and Berlin Interfilm International Short Film Festival. This event will be in Chinese with English interpretation.
12. Chinese Filmmaking: From the Indies to Hollywood (3/27): While China’s major film studios continue looking to Hollywood for inspiration – and continue to fast-track projects to capture the attention of foreign audiences – a quiet revolution is happening back home, as a record number of independent films and documentaries are being made every year, screened at small festivals, impromptu theaters, and art houses. What’s the current status of China’s vast filmmaking industry? How does it compare, both internationally and to its own ambitions? And what are the biggest issues confronting Chinese filmmakers and producers today? This panel includes Pema Tseden, an award-winning Tibetan filmmaker (The Search, Tharlo, etc.); Raymond Zhou, a film critic who’s been called “Beijing’s answer to Roger Ebert”; Julie Makinen, former film editor at the Los Angeles Times; and Jenny Man Wu, a filmmaker, film festival organizer, and project manager at a China-Europe coproduction association; moderated by former Hollywood Reporter contributor Clifford Coonan.
13. China LGBT Panel: The Tumultuous Year That Was (3/27): Looking back, 2015 was a rollercoaster ride for China’s LGBT movement. On one hand, members of the community won lawsuits against psychological clinics, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), the Department of Education, and the Department of Civil Affairs; and Taobao joined with LGBT organizations to fund the marriages of seven couples in California. On the other, NGOs were subjected to tougher crackdowns, and the arrest of five female activists caused a chilling effect across the LGBT community. At this event, several important members from the LGBT movement will share their reflections and visions of both past and future. (Of note: 2016 is an important anniversary as it marks 15 years since the Chinese Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental illness.) This event will be in Chinese with English interpretation.
14. China’s Future Perfect (3/27): What kind of future is China building, and what role can we all play? Now is the time for big and bold ideas. This Future Perfect discussion will summarize all the themes previously explored in the China Nonfiction series, then try to answer the hardest question of them all: how does this country create the cleanest, most stable, innovative, and sustainable future for itself? A historian, a journalist, an academic, and a financial expert will speculate. Brought to you in cooperation with the Royal Asiatic Society, Beijing.
15. Knocked Up Abroad (3/13): Pregnancy and childbirth are exciting and life-changing events. When experienced in a foreign country, the adventure takes countless unexpected twists and turns as mothers must navigate foreign languages, customs, and healthcare practices. Knocked Up Abroad: Stories of Pregnancy, Birth, and Raising a Family in a Foreign Country will take readers on an exciting journey through 24 different countries. In each of the unique stories in Knocked Up Abroad, the concepts of family and love translate into every language and are uniquely celebrated. Ember Swift, a contributing writer in the anthology, will present an excerpt alongside three other expat writing moms (Vanessa Jencks, Charlotte Edwards-Zhang, and Ruth Silbermayr-Song).
16. Loreli China Presents: Songwriters of Beijing (3/16): Beijing’s best songwriters discuss lyrics, licks, and taking it to the bridge. Featuring acoustic performances and a lively debate about collaboration, compulsion, and the vibrant and diverse Beijing music scene – plus what the future might hold after the loss of several live venues over the last few years. Featuring singer-songwriter Jordan Darling, Dan Taylor of The Harridans and Luv Plastik, Su Zixiu (苏紫旭) of The Paramecia (Su was a contestant on the TV show Sing My Song), and Xuefeng Ji of the psychedelic band The Peppercorns.
17. Storytelling: “Far From Home” (3/22): Oral storytelling is the oldest form of telling stories, myths, urban legends, and moral lessons. Here’s an event that celebrates it, modeled after the famous storytelling sessions hosted by The Moth in New York. The theme for this night is “Far From Home,” and will feature stories from international authors and some of the best storytellers from the local community.
18. Sinica Live Recording: The Cultural Revolution (3/24): The Sinica Podcast is the most popular podcast in China, featuring themed discussions led by Kaiser Kuo and David Moser with guests covering all facets of society. In this special live recording for the Bookworm Literary Festival, Kuo and Moser sit with award-winning foreign correspondent and Newsweek Beijing Bureau Chief Melinda Liu to revisit the Cultural Revolution, launched 50 years ago by Mao Zedong, and inquire after its legacy.

***WIN TICKETS***

Want to check out one of these events with a friend? Pengyous who email us before March 11th (nihao@projectpengyou.org) their favorite quote from their favorite US-China book will be entered into a drawing to win a pair of tickets to any of the events above!

When you think of free-flowing ideas, you don’t necessarily think of China first, but here in the heart of Beijing, the Bookworm’s Literary Festival is providing a platform for enthusiastic discourse and cultural exchange. If you’re in the capital, be sure to check out one of the many events happening this week!