Wei Jie

claudiamente@hotmail.com

SHENZHEN is known as a “City of Books” and “City of Libraries” that boasts large bookstores and public libraries in every district. In addition, there are some lesser-known bookstores with unique collections that are perfect for visits. Here are some of them worth exploring.

Coffee Flower Books 溪木素年书店

Located next to the Shekou Port in Nanshan District, Coffee Flower Books sells second-hand books collected by its owner from various sources.

Upon stepping into the bookstore, you will be greeted by a unique smell of old books. The space is packed with antique bookshelves, on which books are placed in categories, with a focus on humanities and social sciences. The bookstore owner has a collection of more than 10,000 volumes of books, mostly second-hand, he collected from various sources, including a quarter of English originals and some rare editions.

The hustle and bustle of the neighborhood suddenly becomes quiet when being inside the bookstore, where time seems come to a still. The tranquil ambience calms visitors, whether they come to read or find a quiet place to study. You can order a drink and spend as much time as you like here browsing through books.

A former UI designer, the founder quit his job after getting tired of the monotonous life and ventured into his dream of running a bookstore. Most of the books in the store are available for borrowing, as it has been one of the owner’s intentions in opening the store to connect with other like-minded friends.

Movies are shown at the bookstore every Saturday night, costing only 19.9 yuan per person.

Open: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Add: 1/F, Shunfa Commerce Building, 3 Gongye 1st Road, Nanshan District (南山区工业一路3号顺发商业大厦一楼)

Metro: Line 2 to Shekou Port Station (蛇口港站), Exit C

Jieyun Library 解愠书馆

Nestled in an ancient house in the 400-year-old Shangwei Village in Longhua District, Jieyun Library focuses on art and graphic books. Curated by Longhua-based scholar Shen Xiaoli, it has a collection of approximately 20,000 volumes of art books and 30,000 picture books.

You will find various editions of traditional Chinese comic strips, prints and illustrated books of different eras, classic Japanese comic books, limited editions of photograph collections and hand-drawn picture albums, imported European and American graphic novels, architecture and humanities books, all of which are with collection value.

The interior of the library maintains the traditional style and tone of the century-old house, retaining its original layout while integrating a specialized collection system of illustrated books.

Open: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Add: No. 81, Shangwei Art Village East, Longhua District (龙华区上围艺术村东81号)

Metro: Line 4 to Qinghu Station (清湖站) and then take Longhua Modern Tram to Xiawei Station (下围站)

Ozu Book Room 小津概念书房

If you are an enthusiast of movies, this is a place you must visit — the Ozu Book Room in Futian District. Named after Japanese film director Yasujiro Ozu, the book room has a collection of books related to films.

The store is not large but cozy: a wall-high shelf of books, a magazine rack, several couches and a few tables and chairs. It’s a place to read during the day, with highly anticipated movie screenings at 8 p.m.

There is an unwritten rule at the Ozu: No inspirational books, no commercial films. People gather at Ozu as they share common interests — they love movies and they prefer arthouse films. Come visit Ozu and you might see a good old movie that you had missed seeing before.

Open: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Add: 1/F, Tagen Shishang Xintiandi, Futian District (福田区天健时尚新天地一楼)

Metro: Line 2 or 9 to Jingtian Station (景田站), Exit E

Old Heaven Bookstore 旧天堂书店

Located in OCT-LOFT, a known gathering place of the city’s art and literary lovers, Old Heaven Bookstore specializes in humanity book collections, some of which are rare editions and hard to come by in the market. Its independent music collections include some vinyl records, appealing to nostalgic music enthusiasts. It also hosts cultural exchange activities and improvisational music gigs at night.

Add: Building A5, North Area, OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District (南山区华侨城创意文化园北区A5栋)

Metro: Line 2 to Qiaocheng North Station (侨城北站), Exit B