English versions of Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall and The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing debut at the Nanjing Week Paris Station, France, Oct 24.

English editions of two literary works produced by Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing Ltd made a debut showing at the Nanjing Week Paris Station, France, Oct 24.

The novels, Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall and The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, were written by Ji Wen, a female native writer. She took inspiration from Nanjing's profound history and culture, fully integrated her affection for the city with her words, and brought alive the landmarks of Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall and the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing. 

The Imperial Examination Hall of China, or Jiangnan Gongyuan, was the largest establishment for ancient China's imperial examinations, a series of civil service tests to select candidates for the state bureaucracy. 

The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, part of the former Grand Baoen Temple, is a pagoda erected during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) on the south bank of Qinhuai River, a mother river flowing through central Nanjing. The historic site was mostly destroyed in the 19th century, while a modern life-size replica was completed in 2015.

Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall and The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing

The English versions of the novels were issued under the imprint of Xanadu Publishing Ltd, incorporated in 2013 as a subsidiary wholly owned by Phoenix Publishing and Media Inc's first overseas entity, PPM International (London) Ltd. The company is in the business of book editing and printing, marketing and distribution, digital publishing, and rights trading. 

The books were designed by Pan Yanrong, who won honorary appreciation at the 2018 Best Books from all over the World, an annual book design competition held in Leipzig, Germany, since 1963. 

Nanjing Week is a series of activities arranged by the Nanjing municipal government to promote local culture abroad. It has been a global spotlight on the city since its inception in 2015.

A French reader shows her books.