The Macao International Book Fair 2019, featured in the 2nd Encounter in Macao—Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, and jointly organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao S.A.R. Government and the China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation, will be held from 4 to 7 July, at the Exhibition Hall A of The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel. The book fair attracts the participation of over 60 publishers from more than 20 countries and regions, with a total volume of more than 10,000 books exhibited. Admission is free and the public is welcome.
Exhibitors from Portuguese-speaking countries include publishers from Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, East Timor, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Guinea-Bissau, featuring the world-famous publishing houses, Editora Presença from Portugal and Editora Senac São Paulo from Brazil. Other exhibitors come from Europe, Southeast Asia and South America, and there are also 20 famous publishers from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, such as China Publishing Group Corporation, People’s Literature Publishing House, Guangxi Normal University Press Group, Tsinghua University Press, Sino United Publishing (Holdings) Limited from Hong Kong, Portuguese Bookshop and Macau Ricci Institute, among others.
There are four book exhibition areas of different themes, namely the “Exhibition Area of Food and Wine Books”, the “Exhibition Area of Chinese Publications”, the “International Exhibition Area” and the “Reading Experience Area”. The “Exhibition Area of Chinese Publications” includes the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, which showcases cultural and food publications from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; and the “Macao Pavilion”, jointly presented by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Macao Foundation and the Institute for Tourism Studies, which showcases locally published books on Chinese and Portuguese cultures, food, history and travel; as well as a sector which presents publications of food culture from over 15 local publishers, allowing the audience to have a better understanding of Macao’s food culture and to feel the vigorous charm of Macao as a “Creative City of Gastronomy”.
In addition to various books, the “Macao International Book Fair 2019” features an array of cultural activities which are open to the public with free admission. 24 excellent activities are held in the “Salon Area”, including the “24th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards Ceremony”, seminars on publishing culture, exchange sessions, book launches and writers’ dialogues. Famous writers, including Chua Lam, Ge Liang, Liu Zhenyun and Craig Au Yeung Ying Chai and local writers Tong Mui Siu, Yao Feng, Wang Chen Pao and Cecília Jorge, among others, were invited. They will jointly elaborate a cross-boundary sharing about food and literature, and enlighten unexpected interactions that will turn cultural creativity into a driving force for the sustainable development of the city. Representatives of publishing houses from China and Portuguese-speaking countries gather to share their insights on the development of Chinese and Portuguese publishing culture and encourage the audience to think about the significance of Macao’s food culture from a new perspective, so as to broaden the cultural horizons, improve the city’s status, and invigorate Macao's book publishing market and cultural development. Limited seats for the programmes at the “Salon Area” are available and interested audience are welcome to participate on the spot. Audience at the writers' dialogues sessions will have a chance to obtain a limited-edition postcard.
In order to give the audience a vivid experience of the exotic flavours as described in the food books, a number of national and international distinguished chefs, including internationally renowned chef Chakall; Culinary Arts Director and Head of Le Cordon Bleu Paris Cuisine Department, Philippe Groult; and famous French chef Cyril Rouquet, will host live cooking shows at the Chef’s Kitchen, which includes a demonstration of Macanese cuisine, allowing the audience to have a better understanding of the food culture of different places and showcasing Macao’s vigorous charm as a “Creative City of Gastronomy”. A total of 21 sessions of different themes will be presented at the “Chef’s Kitchen”, offering opportunities for the audience to learn and experience delicacies. Free tasting is offered in each session. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Supporting entities to the book fair include the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao S.A.R., China Publishing Group Corporation, Macao Foundation and Institute for Tourism Studies. Admission is free and all are welcome. The book fair is open from 10:00am to 8:00pm, from 4 to 6 July and from 10:00am to 4:30pm on 7 July, with last admission at 30 minutes before the closing time every day. Visitors can enjoy free parking at Hall B, Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao during the exhibition period. For more information about the “Macao International Book Fair 2019” and the “Encounter in Macao—Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, please visit the webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/FCP or follow the “IC Art” Page on Facebook, or subscribe to WeChat account “ICmacao”.
