Li Xiao, 18, is a Beijing girl from a middle-class family, in her last year at middle school. Early June is a crazy time for Li and her classmates as they knuckle down to prepare for the university entrance exams. But once class is over, chatter among the girls quickly strays from the hypnotic tedium of textbooks to the eagerly anticipated new Harry Potter adventure. They are all aware that this is the last time their much loved young wizard will wave his magic wand in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts.

"I've booked the new Potter book's English version from a bookstore, which will be available on July 21st for his fans all over the world. I will definitely be buying the Chinese version later too. I cannot wait to read the final chapter," Li told Beijing Review. Like millions of Potter fans, Li has read the books, watched the movies, discusses the adventures with friends, visits fanclub websites and collects her boy heroes posters and souvenirs. Her Potter memorabilia is so vast that even her mom wears the scarlet and gold scarf of Gryffindor, Harry Potter's school house.

It is still a month before the global launch of the English version of the final book, temporarily entitled Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, on July 21st. Most Chinese fans have opted to pre-order copies of the English version, as it is expected that a Chinese translation may be four months down the line ---- and for Potter fans the wait is not an option. These readers are confident their English ability is good enough to follow the adventures and possible demise of Potter, as hinted by author J.K. Rowling.

More Than Just A Book

 Not only a kids read, Harry Potter books have captivated Chinese readers of all ages. The mainstream fan base is young and well-educated and their speech is peppered with words such as Quidditch (Wizard's national sport), Hogwarts (School of Witchcraft and Wizardry) and Muggles (Person totally without magical powers who lives in ignorance of the world of wizards and witches). These terms have even crept into Chinese."They are being included in the Chinese vocabulary because Potter has gone far beyond just reading fever. He has become a cultural phenomenon for this generation." said Ye Xianlin, editor of the Potter books' Chinese version with the Beijing-based People's Literature Publishing House.

Ye, who is working with the department of children's book at the prestigious publishing house known as the "cradle of literature publishing of new China," told Beijing Review how the Potter books were imported and published to cater for Chinese readers. He believes these stories have even enlightened the imagination of fans about a world previously unknown to them.

"Frankly speaking, we were still ignorant about the publishing business outside China in 2000 when the computer industry was primitive here and the Internet remained something unconnected with the daily life in China. "

In those days, said Ye, there was only one computer in the publishing house having access to the Internet.

"I noticed the Potter books from the articles on Bookseller and New York Times Book Review accidentally and proposed the title for consideration of our press's management."

According to Ye, a number of publishing houses in China had also noticed the title in 2000, when the Potter books were gradually becoming bestsellers worldwide. While other publishing houses were pressurised from senior editors to refuse the buying rights, alleging that the stories of wizards would have a negative impact on Chinese children, People's Literature Publishing House was quick off the mark and went ahead with their negotiations.

"Amazingly, we did not encounter any warnings, neither from our management nor from the publishing authorities." said Ye after the decision was made to publish the Chinese version.