The Shanghai Book Fair, set to run from Aug 13 to 19, is off to a strong start, with over 20,000 tickets sold within the first 30 minutes of sales.

For the first time, the annual literary event will feature two major venues: the Shanghai Exhibition Center and Shanghai Book Mall. The Exhibition Center is the ticketed venue, while the Book Mall offers free public access.

Single-day passes for the Exhibition Center are divided into day and evening sessions. Ticket prices remain the same as previous editions, with daytime entry priced at 10 yuan ($1.37) and nighttime session priced at 5 yuan.

The daytime session runs from 9 am to 4 pm, with last admission at 3:30 pm. The night session begins at 4:30 pm, with indoor exhibits closing at 9 pm and the outdoor "Reading Night Market" remaining open until 10 pm. The night market will be closed on Aug 19.

The book fair adopts a full-name registration system for ticketing and entry. All attendees must present a valid ID for both ticket purchase and venue entry.

To enhance the visitor experience, on-site service stations will offer assistance for elderly attendees, including ticket support and navigation guidance. Dedicated access lanes will also be available for visitors with disabilities.

This year's event includes a range of promotional collaborations aimed at boosting ticket sales and cultural engagement.

Shanghai Metro's official mobile app "Metro 大都会" launched a limited-edition themed e-ticket priced at 15 yuan, which includes a one-way metro QR code pass and a full-day fair ticket, both valid on specified dates. The metro pass allows for single-use travel across all lines, excluding maglev trains and suburban routes. The book fair ticket is valid for one-time entry at any session during operating hours on the selected date.

In addition, M&G Stationery has launched co-branded ticket packages in partnership with the fair. The Shanghai Illustration Art Fair, taking place from Aug 8 to 10, is also offering a 128 yuan bundle that includes a single-day admission to the art fair and a single-session ticket to the Shanghai Book Fair.

All ticket packages are now available for purchase on the Damai ticketing platform.

Source: Shanghai Observer