The 2015 Beijing Book Fair will start on Friday at Sun Park in the capital's Chaoyang District, with 300,000 Chinese and foreign books, audio and video products and electronic publications on display and for sale.

The fair, which will run through May 18, has designated areas for publications commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, said organizers on Tuesday.

The event has exhibition areas for books from Beijing and neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province as well as for best-sellers and books on folk culture, education and children.

The fair has attracted 230 domestic publishers to participate, with 468 exhibition stalls, a 10-percent increase from last year.

Organizers have offered 300,000 free tickets to students at 24 universities and nearly 100 residential communities in Beijing to encourage the public to participate.

The fair has been held annually since 1990 to promote reading among citizens and has hosted 50 million people since its inception.

Famous writers, historians and critics have been invited to recommend books for visitors, and the event will feature traditional folk culture performances.

The majority of books on sale at the fair will be discounted. Nearly 6,000 imported foreign language books will be on sale for up to 70 percent off.