Finding a good book, you’ll open the door to a new world. Beijing is home to many special bookstores, and the editor will introduce some unique, delicate, and small second-hand bookstores in Beijing, which sell discounted books to pass on invaluable knowledge.
Douban Bookstore
Douban Bookstore is located at a small place one kilometer away from the east gate of Peking University, in which books are put in layers neatly. It’s better to be careful when walking inside, otherwise, it might disturb some sage.
The owner of the bookstore especially buys valuable books from the stockpiles of various publishing presses at low prices and sells them at 50% or 40% discount, thus the relatively low prices can attract customers. Moreover, people can find books that are rare in other bookstores here. Gradually, it is visited by a large number of frequenters.
As an artistic bookstore that is popular online, it emits a sense of literature and art through the selected books of humanities and social science rather than commercial elements, such as fancy decoration or delicious coffee.
Douban Bookstore is meaningful because it provides those who truly love and know about books with a cozy stop, in which they can find precious books surprisingly.
Address: No. 262 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing
All Sages Bookstore
Some said All Sages Bookstore is the best independent bookstore in Beijing, and others called it the fine example of pure bookstores and the “sweeping monk” of bookstores.
People highly praised All Sages Bookstore because of its time-honored history and pure decoration rather than gorgeous settings, thus it doesn’t attract people to swarm in to take photos but those who really want to buy books.
Entering the bookstore, one can understand what a real “Paradise of Books” is. Bookshelves are so high that even close to the ceiling and each of them is equipped with a ladder beside to make it convenient to take books from shelves. The aisles are a little narrow, thus when two people come face to face, one needs to step back for the other to go first. However, this friendly and polite atmosphere makes it more like a bookstore. Totally different from that felt when trying to swarm into a subway or elevator, this crowding sense is of some literature feeling and isn’t offensive at all.
Over the past 16 years, All Sages Bookstore has been relocated multiple times and the scale has shrunken from two-storage building to one-storage building, however, it still opens tenaciously on Chengfu Road. Just ask several students of Peking University or Tsinghua University, and they will tell you that All Sages Bookstore is one of the important parts of their learning memory.
Address: No. 59-1 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Sound on Paper Bookstore
There is a bookstore on the corner of South Lisi Road near Fuwai Street, which is not equipped with too much eye-catching decoration and doesn’t chase the avant-garde trend, but sits quietly there. If you are interested, come and visit this Sound on Paper Bookstore. All the noise is shut out of the door, you will feel intoxicated by the mimeographed smell of old books.
The book price is not expensive, which is about ten yuan on average, and the new books are sold at 70% or 40% discount. You will find a lot books that you might like as long as be patient. You can exchange a second-hand book for a free cup of coffee in the cafe on the upper floor, where you can read a book while sipping your coffee and be accompanied by a lovely cat. This might be called a peaceful and tranquil time.
Like a street lamp lit at dusk, Sound on Paper Bookstore is quiet but powerful.
In addition to the store on Fuchengmen, there is a subbranch in Dongsi, thus you can go to different stores as you like.
Address: Room 117, Floor 1, Building 1, No. 6, Fuchengmenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing; No. 72, Dongsi South Street, Dongcheng District
AGORA Bookstore
AGORA Bookstore is hidden inside a bustling shop immersed in the aroma of food and noise from the amusement arcade, which is difficult to be noticed by people except those who come for it. Just we find some second-hand books that we’ve wanted for a long time by the aid of luck, people just take notice of this bookstore by fate.
AGORA Bookstore is attractive not because it provides a large quantity of second-hand books for customers to choose, but because it makes it possible for people to reserve to recycle their own books, which is very practical for families with children. People can send well preserved books that they don’t need anymore directly for recycling. Therefore, mothers no longer need to worry that second-hand books occupy a large area in their houses!
People can read in the reading area, buy coffee, cakes and enjoy the afternoon tea if they like. AGORA Bookstore is more like a comprehensive space with a coffee shop, bookstore, stationery shop and study room. What comforts the mothers most is a reading area for children to read and play all day.
Address: 3 / F, Bidaomai Life Plaza, Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Warm Tips:
Tips from the Beijing Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism: The National Day holiday is near. We encourage citizens to spend the holiday in Beijing and avoid going to other cities. People who indeed need to travel outside Beijing should take precautions against the risk of COVID-19, wear masks and take good personal protection during the whole journey. Anyone should not go to counties(cities, regions and vlags) Those who return or come to Beijing are not supposed to have dinner, party and go to crowded places within 7 days after arriving, and take undergo nucleic acid testing according to regulations. The citizens are suggested to make an appointment in advance to enter all kinds of parks, scenic spots, scenic spots, libraries, art galleries, etc, and try to visit at different times, so as to avoid peak times.
