National Library of China, National Digital Library of China
It was established in 1909 under the name Jingshi Library. It was located beside the Purple Bamboo Garden in Haidian District. It was completely rebuilt in 1987 and took its present name in 1998. In terms of its collection and staff size, this is the largest one in Asia and is also one of the largest libraries in the world. It also has the largest collection of foreign books in China.
It has two branches--the General Library and the Ancient Books Library, also called Wenjinjie Library. It has a total area of about 170,000 square meters and a collection of more than 23 million volumes.
Feature Categories: Ancient Books and Inscriptions, Historical Literature, Rare Manuscripts, and Minority Literature.
General Branch: 33, South Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District
Operating Time: Southern Area—09:00-17:00
Northern Area—09:00-21:00(Monday-Friday), 09:00-17:00(Saturday-Sunday)
Tele: 8610-88545426, 88545360
Transportation: Bus 83, 319, 320, 332, 563, 645, 653, 689, 695, 697, 717, 808, 814, subway Line 4
Wenjinjie Branch: 7, Wenjin Street, Xicheng District
Operating Time: 09:00-17:00
Tele: 8610-88003091
Transportation: Bus 5, 14, 55, 101, 103, 109, 124, 812, 814, 846
Capital Library
It was formerly known as the combination of Jingshi Library Branch, Jingshi Tongsu Library and Central Park Reading Institute, separately built in June 1913, October 1913 and August 1917. It was completely rebuilt in 2001 and formally opened to the public in 2003. Its collection totals 3.5 million volumes and it attracts more that 1.5 million visitors annually. It also stages more than two hundred lectures and exhibitions every year.
Feature Categories: Drama, Historical Materials, Art
Add.: 88 Dongsanhuan Nan Lu, Chaoyang District
Operating Time: 09:00-19:30
Transportation: Bus 300, 957, Yuntong 107, 28
Libraries in Different Districts
Dongcheng District
Feature Categories: Costume Materials
Add.: 85, East Street, Jiaodaokou, Dongcheng District
Operating Time: 09:00-20:00 (Tuesday-Thursday), 09:00-17:00 (Friday-Monday)
Transportation: You can take bus 13,116 or subway Line 5 and get off at Beixinqiao Station, then turn west at the crossroad and walk about 200m. Or you can take bus 104 or 108 and get off at Jiaodaokou, then turn east and walk about 200m to get to.
Xicheng District
First Branch
Feature Categories: Tourism, Music, Ancient Books, Local Literature
Add.: 26, Houguangping Hutong, Xicheng District
Operating Time: 14:00-20:30 (Monday), 09:00-20:30 (Tuesday-Thursday), 09:00-17:30 (Friday-Sunday)
Transportation: Bus 50, 7, 105, 111, 808, 44, 392, 693, 21
Second Branch
Feature Categories: Xuannan Local Culture, Dinning Cultural, Medical Material
Add.: 8, Jiaozi Hutong, Xuanwu District
Operating Time: 09:00-18:00 (Monday-Friday), 08:30-18:00 (Saturday-Sunday)
Transportation: Bus 48, 57, 5, 381, 613, 6, 715, tramcar 109
Chongwen District
Feature Categories: Packaging Material, Local Literature, Design Material
Add.: 28, Jia, Xingfu Dajie, Chongwen District
Operating Time: 09:00-17:00(Tuesday-Sunday, closed on Monday)
Transportation: Bus 8, 60, 41, 39, subway Line 5
Chaoyang District
Feature Categories: Law Material, Braille Books
Add.: 17, Jintai Lu, Chaoyang District
Operating Time: 09:00-19:00
Transportation: Bus 488, 615, 671, 718, 846, tramcar 101, 112, 118
Haidian District
Feature Categories: Science, Decorate, Art
Add.: 1-4F/C, Haixing Building, 16, Danleng Jie, Haidian District
Operating Time: 08:00-18:00 (Monday-Friday, closed on the afternoon of Tuesday), 09:00-16:00 (Saturday- Sunday)
Transportation: Bus 26, 302, 374, 394, 528
Fengtai District
Feature Categories: Literature Book
Add.: 64, Xisihuan Nan Lu, Fengtai District
Operating Time: 08:30-19:00 (Tuesday-Friday), 09:00-17:00 (Saturday-Monday)
Transportation: Bus 335, 349, 658, 77, 310, 480, 694, 998
Book Bars in Beijing
The Beijing Bookworm
The Bookworm was established by a British man whose original aim is to share his books with people. Beijing Bookworm is now a very popular book bar among Beijing local people and visitors, especially foreigners. Currently, It boasts more than 14,000 books, 8000 of which are novels. You can also find all kinds of English language magazines plus some French, German, Dutch and Chinese books and periodicals. A book borrowing service is available as well. Food and beverages are available here adding to the comfortable atmosphere.
Add.: Building 4, Nan Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District
Operating Time: 10:00-02:00
Transportation: Bus 416, 635, 909, 110, 117, 120, 403, 132, 24, 418, 688
Tel: 010-65869507
Trends Lounge
Trends Lounge is a bookstore-café which is sure to catch your eye with its sleek curves and spirals in fresh whites and greens. The expansive layout yields plenty of comfy nooks for face time over coffee or an afternoon of reading. You can find lots of English-language magazines and books in this book bar.
Add.: L214, 2/F, Trends Bilding, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
Operating Time: 10:00-22:00
Transportation: Bus 1, 9, 28, 120, 403, 639, 668, 728, 802, subway Line 1
Tel: 010-65871998
San Wei Shu Wu
Add.: 60, Fuxingmennei Dajie, Xicheng District
Operating Time: 12:30-21:00
Transportation: Bus 10, 15, 377, 88
KOSMO Book Bar
Add.: 225, Chaoyangmennei Dajie, Dongcheng District
Operating Time: 10:00-23:00
Transportation: Bus 420, 810, 846, tramcar 101, 109, 112, subway Line 5
Xiaoxin's Café
Add.: 103, Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District
Operating Time: 10:00-02:00
Transportation: Bus 13, 612, 823, 701, 13, tramcar 118
Xing She Cong Cong Book Bar
Add.: B1, 6 Unit, Xiangjunbeili, Dongsanhuan, Chaoyang District
Operating Time: 12:00-21:00 (Monday-Thursday), 12:00-24:00 (Friday –Sunday)
Transportation: Bus 126, 420, 440, 750, 75
Sculpting in time Café
Add.: 7, Weigong Village, Haidian District
Operating Time: 08:00-20:00
Transportation: Bus 26, 320, 332, 563, 689, 697, 808, subway Line 4
All Sages Bookstore (Halloween Bookstore)
Add.: 58, Chengfu Jie, Haidian District
Operating Time: 10:00-22:00
Transportation: Bus 307, 319, 331, 355, 375, 562, 628, 690, 731, Yuntong 110
Xiuxiu British Book Bar
Add.: Northeast of Dongsi Lu, Dongcheng District
Transportation: Bus 420, 810, 846 or tramcar 101, 109, 112
