Beijing expats' favourite literary hangout The Bookworm goes into publishing

More than a decade after it opened its doors in Beijing's trendy Sanlitun entertainment area, The Bookworm has become a go-to hangout for expatriates in search of the latest books on the Middle Kingdom, or to hear authors talk about their work. Aspiring writers set up their laptops in the casual setting of the cafe and attempt to record their own China experiences.

The popular bookstore and lending library now has branches in Chengdu and Suzhou, and helps to bring writers and readers together through the annual China Bookworm Literary Festival.

This year's festival, the ninth since it began, will take place from March 13 to 29 and feature more than 300 events and participation of 110 authors across eight cities.

Run by bookstore staff and an army of volunteers, the festival includes sessions for fans to meet their favourite authors, and workshops for aspiring authors.

Now, greater plans are in the works. General manager Peter Goff says The Bookworm is going to become a publisher, something he sees as a natural step forward.

Its newly established China Bookworm Press will focus primarily on contemporary Chinese fiction, translating books into English to make them more accessible to readers outside China.