Weekly snapshot of Chinese culture news

File photo taken with a mobile phone shows The Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of CHINA, March 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

The following are highlights of CHINA's key cultural news from The past week:

-- Books on CHINESE classics boom in 2018

CHINA saw a surge in The sales of books on The CHINESE classics last year, especially those designed for children.

CHINESE online retailer giant JD said that compared with 2017, 131 percent more such books were sold in 2018. The sales volume of CHINESE classic photocopies rocketed by nearly 200 percent.

-- After eight years, Mai Jia unveils new book deciphering codes of human nature

CHINESE writer Mai Jia has said his new book, initially titled "Rensheng Haihai" (life is ocean-wide), tells of a struggling man's "friendship" with his own fate.

More than eight years after The publication of his last novel, Mai Jia's new work is ready. In The past, his spy thrillers have swept up major literary awards in CHINA, and he has been referred to by some Western critics as CHINA's answer to John le Carre.

-- Palace Museum enhances cooperation with The capital airport in cultural promotion

The Palace Museum and The Beijing Capital International Airport have signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in promoting The museum and its cultural relics.

The agreement focuses on cooperation in various aspects including digital exhibitions, promotion of cultural products and training of cultural relic restoration, among oThers.