During this year's Spring Festival, Shenzhen transformed its cultural landmarks and commercial districts into immersive "city living rooms," blending traditional customs with modern technology to create diverse holiday experiences.

At the city's cultural landmark, the "Eye of the Greater Bay Area" Book City, visitors experienced a striking contrast between quiet reflection and festive vibrancy. The modern architectural complex has become a popular destination for social media users. In the upstairs reading areas, people sat absorbed in books or engaged in soft conversations. Downstairs, a lively Spring Festival market featured lion dance performances and festive stalls, creating a dynamic interplay between stillness and celebration.

"We are leveraging new cultural spaces such as the 'Eye of the Greater Bay Area,' major book cities and park reading lounges to build urban living rooms during the Spring Festival," said Tang Hanlong, president of Shenzhen Publishing Group. "By transforming traditional New Year customs into immersive and diversified cultural consumption scenarios, we aim to create shared spaces where residents can fully experience the festive spirit."

The publishing group organized a range of themed events, including a Guinness Spring Festival couplet challenge, intangible cultural heritage folk activities, tea gatherings around a traditional stove, and artificial intelligence robot demonstrations. By integrating "culture + technology" and "culture + folk traditions," the initiative injected fresh vitality into traditional celebrations.

Reading scenes also extended beyond bookstores into major commercial districts across the city. For the first time, Shenzhen introduced the concept of the "city cultural living room" into shopping areas, pioneering a "reading in business districts" model. Shoppers browsing markets or relaxing at cafés could also encounter literary experiences.

Residents brought old books from home to exchange for blind book boxes wrapped in red envelopes, while others scanned QR codes to access the Shenzhen Library's digital reading platform, which offers 280,000 e-books and 220,000 audio resources. The fusion of digital reading and traditional festive markets added a distinctive cultural dimension to the city's holiday atmosphere.