THE Bay Area Store of Shenzhen Book City, a project dubbed the “Eyes of the GBA,” is set to become the world’s largest physical bookstore when its doors open Sept. 26 in Qianhai, Shenzhen Publishing Group said Tuesday.

The next-generation complex boasts a colossal floor space of 131,000  sqm, combining reading spaces with art, technology, exhibitions, performances, and tourism.

Operated by Shenzhen Publishing Group, the project is designed to be a premier cultural landmark for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

From an aerial view, the bookstore and an adjacent folk customs museum form two cylindrical structures that resemble jade dishes. They face two square buildings on the opposite end of a coastal green axis: the Bao’an Library and the Bao’an Children’s Palace.

The opening will feature several inaugural events, including a Tang Dynasty mural exhibition in partnership with the Shaanxi History Museum, an immersive virtual reality experience based on “The Three-Body Problem” science fiction book series, and a technology exhibit showcasing products from companies like Huawei and BYD.

The complex will include several innovative attractions. Themed reading spaces, designed by an international art team, feature panoramic windows and specialized areas including a retro study and children’s zone.

It also features a theater space developed with ACOrange Group, an interactive space centered around intellectual property, and a robot display center. From its opening through Oct. 8, the venue will host seven major themed events.

(Zhang Yu)