The Christian Publishing Association’s annual highlight—the 40th Christian United Book Fair—is taking place from October 22 to 28 at the Kowloon Welfare Association Hall in Tsim Sha Tsui. The seven-day event, themed “Stand by Me”, features a series of programs celebrating the power of words to accompany readers through life’s journey. The fair officially opened on October 22.
The exhibition’s main visual design features purple tones, with a logo that integrates the number “40” beneath the Chinese characters for “accompaniment,” reflecting the fair’s thoughtful theme of “Stand by Me.”
At the entrance, a large display titled “One Publisher, One Book” presents a special selection from each publishing house—books personally recommended by publishers or chief editors to showcase their institution’s focus and highlight signature titles. Next to the display, visitors can read personal reflections shared by readers who have engaged with those books.
During the evening hours, as people finished work, the venue gradually filled with visitors, including seminary professors, pastors, and professionals from various fields. Some browsed through books and stood reading at the stalls; others watched product videos displayed on screens. While the opening night crowd was moderate, the atmosphere was lively, allowing readers to stroll comfortably and choose their favorite titles at leisure.
35 Publishers Join the Exhibition
A total of 35 publishers are participating in this year’s fair, including: Tao Sheng Publishing House（道聲出版社）, Virtue & Wisdom Link（德慧文化）, Grace Publishing House（恩道出版）, Olive Press（橄欖文化）, Alliance Press（基道出版社）, Aurora Creative Media（極光創作）, Peace Market（和平市集）, Baptist Press（浸信會出版社）, Short-term Mission Centre（短宣中心）, Art and Literature Publishing（文藝出版社）, Religious Education Centre（宗教教育中心）, Hong Kong Bible Society（香港讀經會）, Tien Dao Christian Media（天道書樓）, Glory Ministries（榮耀事工）, Alliance Communications（宣道傳意）, Chinese Bible International（漢語聖經協會）, Asia Lutheran Seminary（亞洲路德宗神學院）, and Logos Chinese Bible Software（Logos中文聖經軟件） among others.
Exhibitors are offering a wide variety of books, multimedia products, and Christian-themed gifts—continuing the fair’s 40-year legacy of using words and publications to inspire and accompany readers.
Special Bible Exhibition: From 3D Covers to Ultra-Thin Paper
A highlight of this year’s fair is the special Bible exhibition by Amity Printing Company of Nanjing. The display traces the evolution of Amity’s Bible printing from 1988 to 2025, featuring a range of editions including early Braille Bibles for the visually impaired and various editions of the Chinese Union Version.
Among the most eye-catching items is a 2019 edition Bible featuring a three-dimensional embossed cover, created using advanced relief printing technology. Also on display is a 2023 Bible produced with ultra-thin 19-gram paper, a world first. Visitors can even try out printing tools on-site, adding an interactive element to the exhibit.
Next to this display is a Bible Translation Zone, introducing a rich variety of Bible editions from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States. These include the New Cantonese Bible (by the Anglican Church), the New Testament Olympic Edition (published by the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the China Christian Council), Taiwan Gospel Book Room’s Recovery Version, the New Chinese Bible Study Edition (by the Global Bible Society), the Children’s Bible: Jesus Tells Parables (by Pure Heart Publishing), the Catholic Bible (by the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum), and the Greek and English New Testament (by the U.S. Church of Christ).
30 Events and Thematic Programs
The fair’s activities center around four themes: “Translating the Bible, Appreciating the Bible, Studying the Bible, and Reading the Bible.” In total, 30 events are scheduled, including book launches, seminars, and author signings, giving readers opportunities to engage directly with writers and scholars.
Family-oriented programs encourage parents and children to explore faith-based wisdom through picture books, while the “One Publisher, One Book” campaign features each exhibitor’s highlighted work on the official website. The “One Book That Accompanied Me” project invites book lovers to recommend Christian books that have profoundly influenced their lives.
To better understand current Christian reading trends, the Christian Publishing Association has conducted a reading survey, with the results to be released later during the fair.
