Based in Shanxi Province in northern China, Hope Publishing House has been all about high-quality children’s books ever since its establishment in 1985.
“We are focused on telling Shanxi stories well, continuing the Three Jins cultural heritage, and promoting Red Shanxi culture,” says president and editor-in-chief Wang Qi, who is also vice president of Shanxi Publishing and Media Group. “Our province is rich in history, possessing more than seventy percent of our nation’s surviving buildings built during or before the Song dynasty, which ruled from 960 to 1279. We draw our inspiration from these resources in planning our publishing program.”
“Three Jins” refers to the three powerful families (and their independent territories)—Han, Zhao, and Wei—who divided the ancient State of Jin, in what is now Shanxi, during the late Spring and Autumn period (around 770 to 481 BC). Shanxi’s culture is also associated with the development of the Communist Party of China and its efforts for national independence and development; hence the phrase “Red Shanxi culture.”
Hope Publishing House, says Wang, “is the only professional children’s book publisher in the province. Its titles cover Shanxi in a way that appeals to young people.” Hope has won the China Good Books award three times: for Chen Hongjin’s Zhang Guimei and Her Children (2022), Ma Sanzao’s The Rain of Cijiang (2023), and Zeng Weihui’s Chinese Mother (2024). Its titles have also received the China Publishing Government Award and the National Outstanding Publication Award, among others. Hope’s stable of leading authors—including Qiu Shanshan, Zeng Youqing, Zeng Weihui, Ma Sanzao, Chen Hongjin, Wen Yanxia, Ge Shuiping, Li Shanshan, Tang Chizi—is known for writing stories about the charms of childhood in the province.
Last year, its three bestselling titles, Qiu Shanshan’s Swimming Across the Moon River, Wen Yanxia’s Ballad of Fireflies, and Chiangjiang Rain, sold 14,224, 8,000, and 14,023 copies, respectively. Ballad of Fireflies, set against the backdrop of rural revitalization, begins with folk songs and nursery rhymes from the Hakka people, who originated in northern China and migrated southward. This story of a young girl and her grandfather focuses on rural Hakka customs and practices, explores the thoughts of modern youth, and preserves cultural traditions while continuing to innovate.
Thematic publishing, says Wang, is a top priority. “We are proactively planning publications that reflect major historical events and significant milestones, such as our distinctive Red and Military signature brand of children’s literature.” This year, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Global Anti-Fascist War, Wang and her team have launched several Red and Military series, with such titles as Youth in the Flames of War, Door Gods on Crimson Steeds, Sparks Over Jinyang, General’s Terrace, Under the Red Star Tree, A Boy’s Honor, and The Walking School.
Swimming Across the Moon River, another work from the signature brand, tells the story of six-year-old Guang Yazi. After losing his parents in a flood, he is rescued by a People’s Liberation Army service member, who perishes in the process. He is subsequently adopted by the service member’s father, and they form a new family that includes a playful dog. “This book celebrates heroes, extols the profound love among people, and depicts the harmonic and touching relationship between the military and civilians,” says Wang.
Several new publications focus on similar themes. Pang Yuliang’s Plains and Youth is a compilation of essays on rural youth and the hardships and poetic beauty of farming life. Liang Fang’s The Stork Boy uses storks as a thread to weave the spiritual transformation of 13-year-old Tiangeng with contemporary themes such as ecological protection, water and resource management, rural revitalization, social issues, and youth development in Niangziguan Town. Liu Qingpeng’s Anji’s Summer, on the other hand, is an intriguing novel set against the backdrop of drug control, with elements of adventure, detective work, and suspense.
This year, Wang and her team will release some 300 new titles. “In the past three years we’ve published about eight hundred titles annually,” she says. “We remain steadfast in our mission to cultivate the soul and enlighten the mind. Our goal is to provide excellent content for children, to foster their love of reading, to educate and inspire them, and to support their emotional, intellectual, and personal growth, all while promoting our rich cultural and historical heritage—both locally and globally.”
