SINGAPORE - Singapore's largest book fair is back - this time it's in the heart of the Civic District.

The Singapore Book Fair 2018, officially opened by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Friday (May 25), will run for seven days at Capitol Singapore and Chijmes, with the theme "Reading City".

By holding the book fair in these historic buildings, the organiser - Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) Chinese Media Group - hopes to get city dwellers to rekindle their love for reading.

Previously, the event was held at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Fair-goers can browse through a wide array of books by more than 3,000 publishers, and enjoy plenty of other literary highlights.

These include book launches and signing sessions - including 11 new titles by the Chinese Media Group - as well as talks and sharing sessions by local writers, such as The Straits Times invest editor Lorna Tan and Chinese author Lin Shao Hua.

Visitors can attend movie screenings - including recently released Hong Kong movie Mad World - as well as mini-concerts featuring talents such as local singer-songwriter Ruth Kueo. They can also pick up handicraft skills or learn how to appreciate tea and wine at a series of lifestyle workshops.

There is also a creative culture zone where works of local designers can be found.

And for the history buffs, local writers Yap Seow Choong, Lee Kok Leong and Lim Jen Erh will be leading literary and heritage trails, where they will share interesting stories about Singapore's past while guiding visitors to different parts of the Civic District.

Home-grown muralist Yip Yew Chong will also be leading a trail to examine his evocative wall murals and discuss the inspirations behind them.

The fair, which will end on May 31, will also host the results ceremony of the inaugural Singapore Creative Awards.

The competition is centred on lifestyle products and graphic design. It is jointly organised by the Chinese Media Group and the Singapore branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.