Back in 2000, Chinese titles included in the event totalled just 2400. But by 2009 that number had increased to 6398. In 2000, China signed contracts on 953 items of copyright trade; twelve years later in 2012, the number climbed to 2682. [...] 160 Chinese exhibitors have attended this year’s fair. Exhibitors say instead of relying on promotional activities sponsored by the Chinese government, now Chinese books are attracting attention on their own. In addition, previously it was just the big publishing houses who attended, but now more small scale, less known publishers have a presence. Moreover, foreign publishers are seeking to promote their books to Chinese publishers and distributors at the fair, hoping to take a share of the promising Chinese book market.