Writers receive their awards at the award ceremony for the second Sanmao Prose Prize in Dinghai district, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province on April 20. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

The award ceremony for the second Sanmao Prose Prize was held in Dinghai district, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province on April 20.

The Sanmao Prose Prize, co-hosted by the Zhejiang Writers' Association and the Dinghai authorities, is named after contemporary Chinese writer Sanmao, or Echo Chan, who is originally from Dinghai district but moved to Taiwan with her family at six. It is currently one of the top literary awards in Zhejiang province and has gained an international reputation. 

The second Sanmao Prose Prize has seen the participation of 650 Chinese writers, including those living in overseas countries such as the United States, Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and Canada.

Altogether 13 prose anthologies and 13 essays won awards. 

Covering multiple topics such as history, culture, and urban life, and written using a host of different styles, the winners represent the most extraordinary Chinese prose of 2018. 

Several supplementary activities were held on April 21, the day after the ceremony, including a cross-Straits forum on Sanmao literature and a tree-planting ceremony.

In addition, an exhibition in memory of Sanmao opened on March 26 at the Museum of Zhoushan and will last until Aug 31. The exhibition features more than 200 items which belonged to the writer, such as paintings and manuscripts, and personal photos from different times in her life, many of which have never been exhibited before. They were donated by Sanmao's family.

Dinghai authorities have been dedicated to promoting Sanmao in recent years. Apart from the Sanmao Prose Prize, they have established a research council on Sanmao, renovated her ancestral house, and built a memorial hall, bookstore, park and characteristic town in her memory. 

A series of cultural activities such as seminars and lectures have also been held.

According to the local authorities, they will continue to organize various activities to promote Sanmao, enhance the cultural influence of the district and boost its tourism and cultural industries.

Foreign exchange students in Zhoushan and fans of Sanmao express their love for her work at the award ceremony. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]