"I help them (the students) because they endure many hardships. Reading can change their lives," says Xu, with tears in her eyes.

Xu's father used to say, just as "a fertile land must get seedlings, a student's desk must have books", she recalls.

Publishers and bookstores are also doing their best to encourage people to read by publishing good books and making it convenient for people to buy books.

According to Zhang Yashan, secretary-general of China Xinhua Bookstore Association, his organization has placed about 200 book-vending machines in Beijing, Shenyang in Liaoning province, and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region this year.

The industry body also plans to have 500 to 1,000 more upgraded machines within three months across the country.

Other than spot purchases, one can also order online on the machine and get the books from the machine's locker with a password.

The association hopes to help local governments in their efforts to promote reading nationwide.

It will place the vending machines in public places such as schools, housing communities and airports, with the closest Xinhua Bookstore in charge of maintaining the machines.

Xinhua Bookstore is also planning to build activity centers at its bookshops, where readers can enjoy tea and coffee amid literary events.

"Besides the logistics advantage, our bookstores have large spaces," Zhang adds.

He believes the transformation represents the further development of traditional bookstores.

It's not only a place to sell books, but also a platform for readers to have cultural activities and exchange views on different subjects, according to Zhang.