Why Free E-books on the Beijing Subway is a Cool Idea

The Beijing Subway and the National Library may have stumbled onto something very cool.

Subway prices may have risen, but at least a new partnership between the two Beijing institutions now provides free reading material for your journey.

Passengers on Line 4 may scan QR codes that appears on ads throughout the trains. The books are classic Chinese historical texts. The free books are part of cooperative program between the National Library, which Line 4 serves, and the Beijing Subway. The books are in Chinese, and 10 titles will be available over the next few months. Maybe an opportunity to learn more Chinese on the way to work?

What's cool about that? Imagine advertisers picking up on this. Promotions could include electronic editions of magazines, free music samples, video clips, and coupons for businesses with locations near subway stations. The Beijing Subway is a captive audience, and commuters would likely be amenable to ideas that make their ride more interesting.

We love books, but we hope that this idea will become so much more.

Photo: Goubao5