If you love books, Hangzhou is the place to be this weekend. From April 18 to 19, you’ll be greeted by a cultural feast blending literature, flowers, creative goods, and good vibes at the Confucius Temple. It’s called the “Read Hangzhou” 2026 National Reading Week Confucius Temple Book Fair.

Back in the Southern Song, this very spot was the prefectural school of Hangzhou, and later upgraded to the Imperial College—think of it as the nation’s top university of its time, also known as the “Capital School.”

More than 800 years ago, scholars from all over the country dreamed of making a pilgrimage here, hoping to ace imperial exams and earn scholarly glory. Fast forward to today, and the same historic grounds are hosting a fresh cultural event filled with books, flowers, creative products, and blessings. So what new surprises does it have in store?

Last year’s fair was all about the “Top Scholar Wishes” blessing activity, drawing countless Hangzhou families and students. They flocked to the fair to pray for academic success and enjoyed a big family book-swapping spree, leaving behind loads of fond memories.

Fan favorites like the “Confucius Cat’s Imperial Exam Adventure,” the Prefectural School Book Market, the Top Scholar Wishes blessing and creative goods market, the second-hand book market, and the Little Kid Bookseller Market are all coming back this year.

But this time, the book fair is leveling up with brand-new experiences. 

Building on previous years, the event is centered around “reading for everyone,” deeply weaving together the Confucius Temple’s thousand-year scholarly legacy with traditional exam-blessing customs. The highlight? A new “Books for Blooms” charity activity.

Here’s how it works: bring two or more used books in good condition, and you can swap them on the spot for a small potted plant. It’s a simple way to give old books a new life, spread warmth through reading, and brighten your home with flowers. All of it adds up to a reading celebration that’s both culturally meaningful and charity-specific, dedicated to the students of Hangzhou.

So if you’re interested, grab some friends and head to the Confucius Temple. Lose yourself in the scent of ink and paper, and answer the call of a bookish date that reaches across a thousand years.