A talk show, in which experts and celebrities discussed their understanding of reading and life, was staged in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Jan 1, 2021.

Themed on "time", the three-episode talk show featured topics ranging from culture, music, films and television to natural science and archaeology, according to a statement by Qianjiang Evening News, one of the sponsors of the event.

Xu Zechen, Mao Dun Literature Prize winner, delivers a speech at the talk show held in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Jan 1, 2021. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

Experts and celebrities who were present at the talk show included Liu Xinglong and Xu Zechen, Mao Dun Literature Prize winners, Zhang Jing, producer of Like the Dyer's Hand, a documentary film on scholar Florence Chia-ying Yeh, Chen Shuihua, curator of Zhejiang Museum and Chen Xi, lyricist of the song in Zhang Yimou's latest movie One Second.

"Reading poetry not only help us gain knowledge both from aesthetics and literature but also brings us spiritual strength," said Zhang Jing, when talking at the event about why we need to read traditional Chinese poetry.

An art performance is staged during the event. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

Echoing Zhang, Li Gao, deputy head of the Zhejiang Provincial Publicity Department, said that it was meaningful to hold such a reading-themed talk show at the beginning of the new year and that the province will roll out various policies and measures in a bid to encourage people to embrace a culture of reading.