Beijing Women's Federation

On April 26, during the inaugural National Reading Week, the Beijing Women’s Federation hosted the “Share Books and Read at Home” event—marking the launch of the 2026 Beijing Happy Family Parent-Child Initiative and Beijing Family Reading Leadership Program—at the Honglou Public Library. Chen Yanping, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairperson of the Beijing Women’s Federation; Liu Yun, Deputy Director of the Children’s Division of the Department of Family and Children’s Affairs of the All-China Women’s Federation; and Zhao Wei, Level-3 Division Rank Official from the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, attended the event. More than 120 participants, including representatives from district-level women’s federations, families, children, and media, attended in person, while over 10,000 viewers watched via livestreaming.

The event opened with a graceful recital of classical poetry. Zhu Changsi, Executive Council Member of the Traditional Culture Education Branch of the Chinese Society of Education and Chair of the Chanting Education Committee of the Beijing Academic Society of Education, performed three evocative spring-themed poems with students using traditional chanting techniques, guiding the audience to experience the unique rhythm and spiritual depth of classical Chinese poetry. In his remarks, Zhu noted, “Chanting is not only about reading poetry; it is also a form of emotional expression and communication. Through reciting the classics, we can nurture our minds, broaden our horizons, and gain inspiration.”

 

 

At the event, the recommended book list for the 2026 Beijing Happy Family Parent-Child Initiative and Beijing Family Reading Leadership Program was officially released.

The Beijing Women’s Federation had previously collected more than 400 book submissions from major publishers and invited seven experts in child psychology, education, and publishing to conduct a rigorous selection process. Ultimately, 40 outstanding titles were selected, covering stages from early childhood to adolescence and providing high-quality reading resources for families. The initiative encourages parents and children to read, appreciate, and learn together, fostering a trend of high-quality family reading. This will be a true embodiment of “reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles,” allowing a love of reading and classical culture to be passed down across generations.

An interactive poetry quiz was held on site, with enthusiastic participation from families, who experienced the beauty of Chinese poetry in a lively and engaging way. Copies of President Xi Jinping’s Visits in People’s Homes (Vol. 2) were presented to participating families, with the hope that the book would serve as a new starting point for family reading—encouraging children to develop a love for reading and draw strength from the classics.

During the family reading storytelling session, Li Ying, a laureate of Beijing’s “Most Beautiful Families” and founder of the “We Love Our Home” Reading Club in Tiantongyuan Community, shared her story. Beginning with parent-child reading in her own living room, she gradually mobilized mothers in the community to establish the “Mothers-Children Reading” program, which later expanded into initiatives for classic inheritance and public service outreach. Li said, “The joy of reading can be shared. The culture of reading within one family can spread throughout an entire community. Family reading leadership is not just about sharing books—it is about passing on values and creating a positive atmosphere.”

At the conclusion of the event, attending officials and representatives of “Most Beautiful Families” jointly unveiled the event’s themed scroll on stage, officially announcing the launch of the 2026 Beijing Happy Family Parent-Child Initiative and Beijing Family Reading Leadership Program.

Under the guidance of the All-China Women’s Federation, the Beijing Women’s Federation has actively promoted family reading and the development of a reading-oriented society. Women’s federations at all levels across the city have organized a wide range of parent-child reading activities, creating a number of distinctive program brands. In 2026, the Beijing Women’s Federation introduced the “Beijing Family Reading Leadership Program,” which will mobilize women’s federations at all levels and connect with diverse social resources to reach out. Through various initiatives, such as “reading + practice,” the program is going to cultivate a group of passionate and influential reading-ushering individuals and families, create diverse online and offline reading scenarios, and carry out a series of family reading activities with strong Beijing characteristics. The initiative seeks to guide families in developing good parent-child reading habits, promote positive family values, and contribute to nurturing a new generation capable of shouldering the mission of national rejuvenation.

Following the launch ceremony, the first demonstration activity—“Let’s Create: Intangible Cultural Heritage Kite-Making”—was held. Wu Tongtai, a recognized inheritor of Cao Xueqin cultural arts, taught participating families how to make Cao-style kites. Children engaged in hands-on practice to appreciate the charm of intangible cultural heritage, while parents strengthened family values through collaboration, in which the joy of reading was blended with the transmission of traditional culture.

Looking ahead, the Beijing Women’s Federation will continue to roll out a series of “Parent-Child Reading + Family Education” themed study tours, including activities such as “Let’s Look For: Honest and Upright” and “Let’s Explore: Aerospace Dreams.” These initiatives aim to further guide families in cultivating good parent-child reading habits and putting learning into practice. Recruitment information will be released via the “Beijing Women” WeChat official account. Families are encouraged to follow and participate.