Beijing's boutique bookstores

China Plus has visited several popular bookstores around Beijing recently to discover how they're catering to customers in today's online lifestyle.

Combo photo shows four popular bookstores in Beijing. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

With e-books readily available the world-over, traditional bookstores have been looking for ways to stay relevant.

A glimpse of The Bookworm

A well-decorated stairway to The Bookworm. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

A well-decorated stairway leads people into a new world. The Bookworm has been a hit in Beijing due to its ability to multi-task. It's been in its current location near Worker's Stadium for over 10 years now, and also has branches in Suzhou and Chengdu.

A photo of The Bookworm. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

Opening from 9 in the morning until midnight, the management model of the bookstore is very different from the traditional ones.

People chat and do their work at The Bookworm. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

"I'm frequent visitor of the bookstore, but don't only come here for buying books, sometimes I just need a place like here to deal with my business. I like the atmosphere here, people here all mind their own business," said Mary, a customer of The Bookworm, "Food and drink are also available here, which is really convenient. But if I want to or need to buy a book, this place is where I’ll go first."

English-language books sold at The Bookworm. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

The Bookworm is more than a bookshop. It also serves as a bar and restaurant, and also hosts significant events.

Craft beers on offer at The Bookworm, as well as some of the finest whiskies in town. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

More than 300 events have been held here with over 3,000 famous writers from more than 100 countries being invited to give talks.

The bookstore also serves its customers with a vast variety of food and drinks, including foreign and Chinese options, appetizers and desserts, craft beers, as well as some of the finest whiskies.

Photo shows the menu of The Bookworm, including foreign and Chinese food, appetizers and desserts. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

Travellers' paradise 

Drinks are also provided in this small bookstore called Paradise Time Travel Bookstore, which is favored by travellers.

Photo shows the menu of drinks at the Paradise Time Travel Bookstore. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

A customer in Paradise Time Travel Bookstore enjoys a craft Yogurt. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

The owner of this quiet bookstore also raises several animals.

A customer plays with a cat at the Paradise Time Travel Bookstore. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

A myna bird at Paradise Time Travel Bookstore that can speak several sentences. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

The Paradise Time Travel Bookstore is owned by a travel enthusiast. The biggest feature of the store is the postcard. Customers are able to send off specialized postcards here, with all of the pictures on the postcards taken by the owner.

A closet at Paradise Time Travel Bookstore covered with postcards. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

Chinese style bookstores

Different from modern bookstores, a bookstore called Sanwei Shuwu established in 1988 is very popular among middle-aged groups.

The photo of Sanwei Shuwu. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

The corridor of Sanwei Shuwu with many photos on the wall showing the history and the story of the bookstore. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

An old Guzheng, a Chinese zither, rests in the corridor of Sanwei Shuwu, a bookstore with a Chinese character located in central Beijing.

A Guzheng in Sanwei Shuwu. [Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

A wide range of products and services are available at Sanwei Shuwu, including food, animals and music to create a more comfortable and harmonious space for readers. Its extended business hours also attracts a lot of return customers. 

A 24-hour bookstore in Beijing.[Photo: China Plus/ Li Xiang]

Some estimates suggest more than half of all brick-and-mortar bookstores have been shut down over the past decade due to the rise in e-books.

Compared to traditional bookstores, these popular, stylish bookstores in Beijing have found a way to survive by catering more to their customers, offering diversified services that fit with people's daily lives.