Shanghai International Literary Festival starts today

Now into its fifth year, M on the Bund’s Shanghai International Literary Festival kicks off this weekend and once again has an impressive line up featuring a string of famous names and expert figures from across the book world. Running for the next three weekends, the festival offers Shanghai’s literati the chance to see some of the best Chinese and international writers. With so many great events to choose from (you can buy tickets and view the full line-up here) it’s hard to select highlights, but below are Shanghaiist’s picks from this weekend’s guests…

Lynn Pan – Today, 11am
Launching her first book in a decade at the festival – Shanghai Style: Art and Design Between the Wars – Lynn Pan will offer an intriguing insight into Shanghai’s artistic development in the first half of the 20th century.

Jancis Robinson – Today, 7:30pm
As a Master of Wine and editor of the Oxford Companion to Wine, Jancis Robinson knows a thing or two about the drink and will guide you through a selection of wines as part of this dinner and speaking event with all proceeds going to Room to Read.

Kerry Brown, Duncan Hewitt, & Paul French – Tomorrow, 11am
Experienced China writer Kerry Brown, former BBC China correspondent Duncan Hewitt, and business writer Paul French combine to offer their views on 21st century China.

Colin Thubron – Tomorrow, 5:30pm
English travel writer Colin Thubron has spent the past twenty years writing about central Asia and Russia, including two books on China (Behind the Wall and Shadow of the Silk Road), and has picked up a host of awards for his works along the way.

More information here