A contestant recites in the recitation contest of the 2017 Shanghai Citizens Art Festival, August 13, 2017.[Photo by Yan Liyan/ Eastday]

The recitation contest of the 2017 Shanghai Citizens Art Festival, an annual cultural gala with a wide range of activities being launched throughout the city had its final match on August 13.

Different from general recitation contest, the competition with the aim of popularizing public reading required contestants to recite a section of the book they recommend and share their perception with audiences.

"I anticipate books contestants recommend, I wish I could be recommended excellent books after each match."said Wang Jiayu, a contest judge. According to Wang, with more people becoming concerned about reading, this contest is meaningful in terms of improving Shanghai citizens' civilization quality.

Apart from launching recitation contest, in order to improve contestants' comprehensive level, the organizing committee also arranged experts to provide special training for them through introducing difference and correlation between recitation and reading, the social meaning and humanity value of recitation.