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A refreshing trip to distinctive bookstores in Guangzhou

If there is a space,

with the right sound, color, smell and temperature;

if there is such time,

from day to night, memory to reality,

with feelings, no turmoil;

will you stay?

In Guangzhou, there are several such distinctive bookstores; they bear the reading memories of generations; they show the thinking and inspiration of the city; In here, you can read books, make friends, enjoy life and set free by your imagination; apart from those famous scenic spots, visiting these bookstores can also get a glimpse of the city’s enchantment.

Distinctive bookstores

Where you can find another possibility

For World Book Day (April 23)

For everyday

1200bookshop

Light a late-night lamp for the city

1200bookshop is the first 24 hours bookstore in Guangzhou, lighting up a late-night lamp for the city. The first branch of 1200bookshop in Guangzhou is located in No. 27 Tianyu East Road, Tianhe District. It covers 150 square meters with kitchen, washroom, bar counter, bookcases, reading areas, leisure areas with sofas, etc.

It sells books, coffee as well as simple meals. Therefore, you can come here to read and buy books at night, or stay here for the night and have a rest in the backpacker reading section if you are a backpacker in town.

Recommended books: humanity, history, aesthetics and travel, no martial arts fiction nor inspirational books;

Recommended events: late night story sharing, book signings, concert, watching movies;

Add.:

◆ No. 27 Tianyu East Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou (体育东店|广州市天河区体育东路27号)

◆ First floor of Voka Street, No. 460 Tianhe North Road, Guangzhou (天河北店|广州市天河北路460号沃凯街首层)

◆ No. 3 Back Street, BM Floor of CITIC Plaza, No. 233 Tianhe North Road, Guangzhou (中信后街店|广州市天河北路233号中信广场BM层后街3号)


Hetian Study (禾田书房)

Aesthetic space focusing on female initiation

“Each woman should have a study. Close the door, wash your hands, open a book, and read.” This sentence is frequently seen in Hetian Study.

Hetian Study was founded in October 2013 by nine females of different professions from different industries. In 2014, it added coffee shop, floorra, art studio, tailor-made travel, independent brands and so on. Now it is a space of life aesthetics focusing on female initiation and advocating back to inherence.

The book store is situated inside the Dong Fang Hong Creative Design Center in Haizhu District, shaded by trees. You can see old chimney and red wall, which highlights the elegance and brightness of the white house.

Recommended books: female theme literature, history and life, plus gourmet, travel, and botany;

Recommended events: floriculture, baking, handicraft art, and sharing;

Add.: Building 11-1102 of Dong Fang Hong Creative Design Center, No. 313 Gongye Avenue Middle, Haizhu District, Guangzhou (广州市海珠区工业大道中313号东方红创意园西区11-1102栋)


Haotian Second-hand Bookstore (浩天古旧书店)

A time collection museum with a history of 22 years

As the biggest second-hand bookstore in Guangzhou, Haotian was established by a young man named Wu Hao who wanted to carry on the spirit of an old man sticking to operate a bookstore for years.

Since it was opened in 1994, the bookstore has been operated by Wu Hao and his wife for 22 years. They moved six times, got cut off power and water. For years, Wu Hao is dedicated to collecting old objects, repairing and treasuring.

In the bookstore, there are old photos, old mailboxes, old filmstrips, old tickets, old newspapers and so on. It houses more than 30,000 second-hand books, with the oldest dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

For middle aged and elderly people, this place arouse flashback memories; for curious youth, it is like an image projector of old times, showing the imprint of older generations.

Recommended books: politics, history, literature, philosophy, Kung Fu novels, romance, essay, manuscript, picture-story books, newspapers and periodicals from Hong Kong and Taiwan;

Add.: Wende Sixth Alley, No. 148 Wenming Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区文明路148号文徳六巷)


Tangning Bookstore (唐宁书店)

To enjoy a more interesting cultural life

In 2003, three Beijing girls of different majors set up Tangning Bookstore with self-raised funds in Guangzhou. The bookstore mainly sales quality culture books, targeting businessmen and culture elites.

In the last 13 years, Tangning Bookstore opened music workshop, coffee shop, salon, etc. With unique style and thoughtful service, it has now become one of the landmarks in Guangzhou.

All the shop assistants wear Tang suit uniforms, and there are high class music and regular activities for you to enjoy as well.

Recommended books: social science, design;

Recommended events: book reading and sharing, lectures, music performances, movie sharing, art exhibition;

Add.: No. 50, 52, 56, 58 Qingfeng Street, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou (广州市天河区珠江新城清风街50、52、56、58号)


Fang Suo Commune (方所书店)

A place you can find sense of belonging

Originally, it is a unique and perfect cultural combination of bookstore, esthetical life store, coffee house, art gallery and exceptive clothing store. As it is a “home” with a combination of knowledge, beauty-appreciation and life, it attracts many artists and talents to give lectures.

In here, you can read while drinking coffee; you can walk around while feeling the elegant artistic atmosphere. As time passes, many people come here to prove they are tasteful, thus youngsters call this group of people ‘pretentious’ (‘Drunbility’ in Chinglish).

Recommended books: poetry, novels, children’s books, architectural design, photography, books from Hong Kong and Taiwan, foreign books, etc;

Recommended events: lectures by craftsmen and men of literature and writing;

Add.: MU 35 B1 Floor, Taikoo Hui, No.388 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou (广州市天河区天河路383号太古汇B1层MU35号)


UN Book Store (联合书店)

High-quality bookstore of Hong Kong style

UN Book Store is the first wholly-owned bookstore opened in Mainland China by HK Sino United Publishing (Holdings) Limited. It is a comprehensive bookstore seated in a building of six stories. Its orientation and management idea is “humanity, art, quality life”, so the bookstore is full of vitality and humanistic atmosphere. It’s also a bookstore with strong modern sense.

The UN Book Store in Zhujiang New Town enjoys a nontraditional structure. There is no boundary among book section, creative cultural product section, center stage and UN Bookcafe. You can enjoy art, literature and life at the same time at the same place.

Recommended books: humanity, art, high quality life;

Recommended events: culture exhibition, lectures, drama workshop, music live, performance art, installation art;

Add.:

◆ No. 314 Beijing Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区北京路314号)

◆ 4F 407 Winter Plaza, GT Land Plaza, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou (广州市天河区珠江东路高德置地冬广场4F407)


XOOYO Bookstore (学而优书店)

Pursue your studies, enjoy your leisure time

XOOYO Bookstore offers you high quality books as well as elaborately designed reading space. It has been one of the largest and most academic bookstores in Guangzhou since it was founded in 1994.

Someone once said if you cannot find a book in XOOYO Bookstore, you won’t find it anywhere else in Guangzhou. There is also coffee house, multifunctional conference hall, music products, art exhibitions, cultural salons, academic discussion and scholar gathering.

Recommended books: social sciences, culture, business & economy, academic, children’s book;

Recommended events: book signings, lectures on humanities & social sciences, cultural salons, academic discussions, art exhibitions;

 

Add.:

◆ No. 93 Xingang West Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou (广州市海珠区新港西路93号)

◆ Lobby of Xinghai Concert Hall, No. 33 Qingbo Road, Ersha Island, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区二沙岛晴波路33号星海音乐厅大堂)

◆ 2/F Guangdong Museum, No. 2 Zhujiang East Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (广州市珠江东路2号广东省博物馆二楼夹层)

◆ 1st Floor of Guangdong Museum of Art, No. 38 Yanyu Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区烟雨路38号广东美术馆1楼)

◆ 2nd Floor, Guangzhou Children’s Palace, No. 273 Huajiu Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (广州天河区珠江新城华就路273号第二少年宫2楼)

(By Monica)

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