Chongqing — Near the tourist area of Shibaozhai in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality, a small reading room operates in quiet contrast to the busy streets outside. Inside, children and adults read in silence while books line the shelves and visitors sit at shared tables throughout the space.
Wu Yongliang launches a “1-Hour Silent Reading Challenge” initiative. (Photo/Interviewee)
For 15 years, Wu Yongliang, a teacher at Shibao Middle School in Zhongxian County, has been running a community library for left-behind children — children whose parents work in cities while they remain in rural hometowns under the care of relatives. The library began in 2011 with fewer than 100 books in a 40-square-meter storefront near the Shibaozhai scenic area.
Today, the library holds more than 50,000 books and has served more than 1,000 children in Shibao Town, according to the account described in the original report. Wu said the idea came from years of teaching in rural schools, where he observed that many students struggled with reading comprehension and learning ability due to limited early exposure to books.
Wu Yongliang displays an old notebook filled with handwritten messages. (Photo/Peng Yu)
“Many students’ learning difficulties came from a lack of reading in early years,” he said.
After graduating from Chongqing Normal University in 1998, Wu returned to teach in his hometown. Together with fellow teacher Yuan Weiping, he created the first version of the reading space using donated furniture and secondhand books collected from schools and individuals. At first, only a small number of children attended regularly.
To encourage participation, Wu organized storytelling sessions, chess activities, poetry readings and word games. He also used personal income to provide small rewards such as stationery. As participation grew, book shortages became a challenge.
The library’s location near a tourist site brought occasional visitors, some of whom donated money or later sent books from other regions and abroad. Wu also received handwritten messages left by visitors in multiple languages, including English, German and French. He said one visitor from the United Kingdom later sent children’s books and toys after returning home.
Over time, donations increased. A public welfare initiative known as the Yangfan Project now provides about 2,000 books annually, while businesses, alumni and individuals have also contributed. Wu said he has personally invested about 50,000 yuan (about $6,900) into the library.
The bookstore is filled with children reading books. (Photo/Interviewee)
But Wu said the greater challenge was not building the library, but building reading habits. Many children initially came for small rewards but did not continue reading regularly. He also noted that grandparents raise many, and reading habits are not strongly formed at home. The growing use of smartphones has further reduced time spent on reading, he said.
To address this, Wu introduced family reading activities and encouraged caregivers to read with children for short periods each week. He also launched a one-hour silent reading program requiring children to choose a book and read without switching for an hour.
Over time, some children began staying longer and returning voluntarily. Former participants have since returned as volunteers or supporters, while others have contributed funds or helped renovate the space. One former student now studying at Chongqing University of Science and Technology said she initially came for small rewards but later developed a lasting interest in reading.
“At first I came for the gifts,” she said. “Later, I stayed because I enjoyed reading.”
The library has since moved into a larger community reading space in Shibao Town, allowing it to serve more children. For Wu, success is measured not by size or funding, but by long-term change.
“The effect of reading is slow,” he said. “But it stays with children as they grow.”