The sales of books in China’s physical bookstores declined by nearly 3 percent in the first half of this year over the same period last year, while online book sales saw an increase of more than 20 percent, data released at the Shanghai Book Fair on Thursday showed.

　　上海书展周四公布的数据显示，在今年上半年，书的销量在中国实体书店同比下降了近3%，而在线图书销售同比增长超过了20%。

　　According to data from OpenBook, a Beijing-based publishing market monitor and information service provider, sales of books in China between January and June this year increased by 11.37 percent over the same period last year, though the pace of growth slowed down.

　　北京出版市场监测和信息服务提供商OpenBook的数据显示，今年1～6月，尽管增速有所放缓，但中国图书销量同比增长11.37%。

　　The sale price of children’s books made up a large part of overall sales at 26.25 percent, followed by social science books at 24.57 percent.

　　儿童读物的销售价格占总销售额的很大一部分，为26.25%，其次是社会科学书籍，为24.57%。

　　Jiang Xiliang, president of OpenBook, pointed out that physical bookstores should lay more emphasis on the services rather than just selling books.

　　OpenBook的总裁蒋喜良指出，实体书店应该更加注重服务，而不仅仅是卖书。

　　According to Xu Jiong, director of the city’s press and publications administration, last year there were more than 20 new physical bookstores opened in Shanghai, and a similar number will open this year.

　　市新闻出版管理局局长徐炯表示，去年超过20家书店在上海开张，与今年开张的书店一样多。

　　Shanghai-based Dayin Bookmall said at the conference that they will have a total of 11 new stores opening this year. Besides the variety of books, they also provide activities relating to Chinese culture, including bamboo weaving, paper cutting, ceramics, tea practice, flower arrangement and ancient Chinese plucked instrument playing.

　　总部位于上海的大英书城在会议上表示,他们今年将共有11家新店开业。除了各种各样的书籍,他们也提供了各种有关中国文化的活动,包括竹子编织、剪纸、陶艺、茶道、插花和中国古代拨弦乐器演奏等。