Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, Who Moved My Cheese etc. On March 25th Qingdao Subway Line No. 3 welcomed 100 special “passengers”, namely 100 purely English written books took the subway and began their subway-drifting journey. These books will provide reading to passengers in the form of drifting.

    Bookcrossing, which originates in Britain, has a long history. But the crossing of purely English written novels happens in Qingdao for the first time. At the same time, the “subway English corner” also began to launch.

    A daughter who is studying abroad asked her mom to “grab” a book for her

    “My daughter who is now going to college abroad learned about this activity on the subway WeChat public number. She is very intrigued. She specially asked me to come over and help her “grab” a good book,” Hao Lan, a participant, told us. With curiosity, she came early to the May 4th Square Station of Subway Line No. 3 and learned about the bookcrossing activity with Qingdao characteristics. On 10 am, the activity formally began. Our reporter and Hao Lan followed one of two book crossing squads and witnessed the drifting of 100 books from the May 4th Square Station to Shuangshan Station of Subway Line No. 3. She successfully took the book “The Twilight Saga” and become the first book crosser.

    The family of Zhang Yanning also followed the book crossing squad like Hao Lan. Zhang Yanning is now in the 5th grade in elementary school and likes reading. Zhang Yanning’s mom said: “There is book crossing in other cities’ subway. We have never seen it in Qingdao subway. It is very different this time. All books for drifting are English books. It is very special. Hopefully it can arouse my child’s interest in reading.”

    Feel like receiving a surprise gift

    The book crossing squad departed from the May 4th Square Station of Subway Line No, 3, handed over the books in two directions, got off the subway and changed the carriage in each station to ensure that books can be drifted in every carriage in the subway line No. 3. Liu Yiran, 5-year-old, took the subway with her mom. Liu Yiran was very happy to see the books for crossing and asked mom to read books together in the carriage. Liu Yiran’s mom said: “By reading books in the carriage, it feels like receiving a surprise gift. It is very funny and joyful. My child hasn’t started to learn English in a systematical way. This book is a good beginning.”

    Li Guangjin who is also a reading lover, just returned to Qingdao from a business trip. Li Guangjin told us: “I seldom take the subway. I take it today because of the business trip. I never expected that I would come across such an interesting activity. At the beginning, I think certain passengers lose the books. Open them and find it is a book crossing activity in Qingdao subway. Li Guangjin said: “In the spare time we can get into the habit of reading. In the era of information and electronization, most people watch mobile phone every day. By putting books in the subway, I believe more people will be attracted to reading.”

    The premier subway “English Corner” attracted a lot of attention

    As a part of the book crossing, the premier “English Corner” was held in the May 4th Square Station of Subway Line No. 3. When the activity just began, the guitar playing and rap attracted passengers who went out of the subway station. They stopped around to feel this distinctive “English Corner”. Madam Zhang, a Qingdao citizen, told us: “This is the 1st time I see such activity is held in the subway. It is very interesting.”

    Mr. Bergin, a foreign teacher, were chatting and playing games with passengers who went out of the station. Passengers can feel special English culture in fun and the game named “You draw, I guess” attracted the participation of many passengers. Two people are in a group. One of them draws the image after reading the English word while the other should turn his back. After the drawing is finished, the other turns around and guesses the word according to the image.

    Yu Kun, who majored in English, School of Foreign Languages, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, was intrigued by the activity and joined the English Corner. “I am the chairman of International Exchanges Association of our university and often organize “English Corner” in school, so I pay a lot of attention to this activity. In the site, Mr. Bergin interacted with passengers with affection. The authentic oral English in addition to the open and passionate lecturing way give this “English Corner” a lot of fame and quality.” Yu Kun thinks highly of this activity and also hopes to bring her classmates to join in the next edition. Wang Shifeng

    (Students from Mo Er Wen Middle School (on the left) are introducing English books to citizens in the subway.)