Songjiang’s Bookstores
Duoyun
Located in the newly-opened Guangfulin Relics Park, Duoyun Bookstore in the style of old Anhui architecture offers a quiet place for visitors to have a moment of peace with books and tea or coffee. Every brick, stone and piece of wood was reclaimed from an old house in Anhui Province that dated back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The bookstore has more than 10,000 books, spanning the fields of art, history, culture and sociology. A highlight is the ancient calligraphy books of rare, limited editions.
Address: 3260 Guangfulin Rd, inside the Guangfulin Relics Park
Zhongshuge
Known as “one of the seven most beautiful bookstores in the city,” Zhongshuge is an example of how brick-and-mortar bookstores can survive in the era of digital books. Unlike many bookstores forced to close because of online competition, Zhongshuge is expanding from the city’s suburban Songjiang to downtown. It goes beyond mere book stacks to attract patrons. Its stores feature a stylized interior design of modern elements, such as mirrored ceilings and zebra crossings, with shelving in various geometric shapes, a cafeteria adorned by posters of literary quotes and soft, white lighting that enhances the pleasure of reading.
Address: 900 Sanxin Rd N. inside the Thames Town
Sanlian
Sitting at the foot of Sheshan Hill, Sanlian Bookstore nestles in the arms of nature. The four-story building is a combination of books, movies, music, a DIY workshop and coffee making. Readers can idle away a sunny afternoon with a good book and a cup of coffee, or kill time with a romantic movie in a big, cozy sofa. Lectures and reading salons by writers and poets are held every month.
Address: 3770 Sichen Rd inside the Sheshan Hill Oasis Cultural Park
Thinkers
This mini library with its a collection of more than 3,000 books is hidden in a restaurant in Thames Town. Visitors to the restaurant can borrow its books freely. Every month, new books are added. Address: 900 Sanxin Rd N.
Dazhong
This bookstore, at Dream Plaza, has more than 100,000 books. It also features a youth center for various activities.
Address: 860 Rongle Rd W.
Xinhua
The bookstore group has three stores in Songjiang: Pinggao Mall, the Mediterranean Shopping Plaza and Sijing Town. The traditional bookstore brand is also undergoing reform in recent years to face the digital era with an “online reading plus offline experience.”
Come for reading!
The reading space project co-built by Songjiang Cultural Center and Songjiang Library has three reading rooms set up in the downtown cultural center, Xingri Community and a courtyard in Jiuqu Village. Farmers can come for reading, borrowing books or talking about community matters.