diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5a8654d..26e8dab 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 The format is inspired by Keep a Changelog and versioned according to PEP 440.
 
-## [2.1.0] - Unreleased
+## [2.1.0] - 2026-04-02
 
-This release continues the 2.x line with internal architecture cleanup, naming
-improvements, and stronger separation between long-lived facade state and
-single-run import workflow state.
+This release continues the stable 2.x line with internal architecture cleanup,
+clearer naming, and a stronger separation between the long-lived facade and the
+single-run import workflow runtime.
 
 ### Added
 
@@ -55,6 +55,14 @@ single-run import workflow state.
   standard deprecation warning that points to `excelalchemy.util.converter`
 - No public import/export workflow API was removed in this release
 
+### Release Summary
+
+- `ExcelAlchemy` is now a lighter facade, with single-run import state handled
+  by `ImportSession`
+- internal configuration now has clearer schema, behavior, and storage layers
+- metadata internals are more structured without forcing users to rewrite
+  existing `FieldMeta(...)` or `ExcelMeta(...)` declarations
+
 ## [2.0.0.post1] - 2026-03-28
 
 This post-release updates the package presentation and release metadata for the
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c518e65..fa3642b 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ This repository is also a design artifact.
 It documents a series of deliberate engineering choices: `src/` layout, Pydantic v2 migration, pandas removal,
 pluggable storage, `uv`-based workflows, and locale-aware workbook output.
 
-The current stable release line is `2.1.0`, which continues the stable ExcelAlchemy 2.x line with internal architecture cleanup and naming improvements.
+The current stable release is `2.1.0`, which continues the ExcelAlchemy 2.x line with a lighter import facade, clearer internal layering, and naming cleanup.
 
 ## At a Glance
 
diff --git a/README_cn.md b/README_cn.md
index ce88d15..441e824 100644
--- a/README_cn.md
+++ b/README_cn.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 ExcelAlchemy 是一个面向 Excel 导入导出的 schema-first Python 库。
 它的核心思路不是“读写表格文件”，而是“把 Excel 当成一种带约束的业务契约”。
 
-当前稳定发布版本是 `2.1.0`，它在稳定的 ExcelAlchemy 2.x 线上继续推进了内部架构整理和命名收口。
+当前稳定发布版本是 `2.1.0`，它在稳定的 ExcelAlchemy 2.x 线上继续推进了导入 facade 轻量化、内部结构分层和命名收口。
 
 你用 Pydantic 模型定义结构，用 `FieldMeta` 定义 Excel 元数据，用显式的导入/导出流程去完成模板生成、数据校验、错误回写和后端集成。
 
diff --git a/docs/releases/2.1.0.md b/docs/releases/2.1.0.md
index 698cac9..757238b 100644
--- a/docs/releases/2.1.0.md
+++ b/docs/releases/2.1.0.md
@@ -1,23 +1,33 @@
 # 2.1.0 Release Checklist
 
-This checklist is intended for the first feature release on top of the stable
-2.0 line.
+This checklist is intended for the first 2.1 stable release on top of the
+stable 2.x line.
 
 ## Purpose
 
-- publish the first 2.1 release of ExcelAlchemy
+- publish the first stable 2.1 release of ExcelAlchemy
 - ship the sessionized import workflow architecture
 - ship internal config normalization and metadata layering without breaking the
   public 2.x API
 - confirm that naming cleanup and compatibility shims are documented clearly
 
+## Release Positioning
+
+`2.1.0` should be presented as an architectural refinement release:
+
+- the public 2.x workflow stays stable
+- the internal import workflow becomes more explicit through `ImportSession`
+- config and metadata become easier to reason about internally
+- compatibility paths remain available for 2.x users
+
 ## Before Tagging
 
 1. Confirm the intended version in `src/excelalchemy/__init__.py`.
 2. Review the `2.1.0` section in `CHANGELOG.md`.
 3. Confirm `README.md`, `README-pypi.md`, and `MIGRATIONS.md` still describe the
    recommended public paths correctly.
-4. Confirm the compatibility notes for:
+4. Confirm `README_cn.md` is still aligned with the current release position.
+5. Confirm the compatibility notes for:
    - `excelalchemy.util.convertor`
    - `df/header_df` compatibility aliases
    - legacy Minio config path
@@ -63,13 +73,22 @@ uv pip install --python .pkg-smoke-minio/bin/python "dist/*.whl[minio]"
 When reviewing the final release notes, make sure they communicate these three
 themes clearly:
 
-- `ExcelAlchemy` is now a lighter facade because import runtime state moved into
-  `ImportSession`
-- config is still easy to construct publicly, but internally it is now split
+- `ExcelAlchemy` is now a lighter facade because import runtime state moved
+  into `ImportSession`
+- config remains easy to construct publicly, but internally it is now split
   into schema, behavior, and storage layers
 - metadata now has clearer internal layering without forcing users to rewrite
   their `FieldMeta(...)` or `ExcelMeta(...)` declarations
 
+## Recommended Release Messaging
+
+Prefer wording that emphasizes refinement rather than disruption:
+
+- "continues the stable 2.x line"
+- "keeps the public import/export workflow API stable"
+- "improves internal architecture and maintainability"
+- "preserves 2.x compatibility paths while moving the implementation forward"
+
 ## PyPI Verification
 
 After the workflow completes:
@@ -91,3 +110,10 @@ pip install -U "ExcelAlchemy[minio]"
 
 6. Run one template-generation example.
 7. Run one import flow and one export flow.
+
+## Done When
+
+- the tag `v2.1.0` is published
+- the GitHub Release notes clearly communicate the three release themes
+- PyPI renders the project description correctly
+- CI, typing, tests, and package publishing all pass for the tagged release