Taipei Promotes Literary Culture on the MRT

Commuters on Taipei's mass rapid transit (MRT) system can now enjoy a little literary respite from the bustle of the city. On July 28, Ms. Lung Ying-tai (龍應台), director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taipei, Mr. Chen Chun-liang (陳椿亮), manager of the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp., and Mr. Chou Cheng-kang (周正剛), president of Kingstone Book Store Co., announced the opening a series of activities called 'Reading on the MRT'. The activities included poetry submissions, lectures on social and cultural issues, and a public vote for suggested books. Poetry has been displayed in city buses for several years, but this is the first year that topics will focus on the significance of the MRT in the daily life and culture of Taipei.