Recently, the physical Booyee Bookstore has made a comeback. The sunlight and white clouds outside the window complement the mix of old and new books inside, which creates a harmonious atmosphere as readers browse and participate in live broadcasts. As the founder of Booyee Bookstore, Hutong, observes this scene, he feels both tired and happy. In an interview with reporters this March, he shared his heartfelt wish for the day when the Booyee physical store would thrive again, where people could gather to chat, read books, and provide warmth to one another. Now, his dream has finally been realized.

Every book has a story of being collected

With the reopening of the Booyee physical store, valuable books that have been accumulated for over twenty years have finally been “promoted” from the basement to the ground floor. The bookstore is located on the second floor of the Zhongguang International Complex Building at No.1 Guangqu East Road, covering 600 square meters, making it the largest single space in Booyee Bookstore's history.

The new Booyee Bookstore is divided into sales, office, warehouse, and live broadcasting areas—an integrated layout. “It’s like an open kitchen; we hope that when people come, they can truly feel how we sell old books,” Hutong said.

The sales area spans 400 square meters, where both antique and new books are displayed on bookshelves and desks, totaling two to three thousand volumes. Hutong mentions that this number is still far from the target of ten thousand books due to tight timelines and heavy tasks. Currently, not all books can be placed on the shelves, but he anticipates a significant increase in the number of books in the future. His strategy is to captivate readers with a vast selection of excellent books, which allows them to thoroughly enjoy the pleasure of treasure hunting: “I aim to engage the readers for at least two to three hours, making them not want to leave. If they do, I consider it a failure.”

Although not all books are yet on display, to Wen Xiaofei, the deputy general manager of Booyee Bookstore, each book is endearing and moving. Many of the books were personally inventoried and collected from the homes of collectors. The most prominent part of the store features three long tables, where books are categorized into modern and contemporary literature, foreign literature, and classical literature. In the modern literature table, Wen Xiaofei recounts the story of a collector as if counting his own treasures. The displayed antique editions by famous authors like Lao She, Mao Dun, Cao Yu, Zhu Ziqing, and Zhang Zhongxing all originated from this collector. This seasoned publisher was reluctant to part with these collections until one day, a pile of books collapsed, startling an elderly person downstairs, compelling him to painfully sell them. “Just this year, I've made four trips, each time taking away a van full of books.”

Wen Xiaofei mentioned that some books were also rescued from the storeroom, such as the 22-volume series “Collected Research on Historical Imperial Examination Literature.” Due to frequent heavy rains, the warehouse in Langfang started leaking, but the staff promptly discovered the issue and moved the books out without any damage.

He then approached another bookshelf, pointing to a row of blue hardcover books, saying, “These are the treasured collection of a botanist over many years. Now, as the elderly collector's health is a concern, the family has decided to sell them to ensure they find a better home.” This collection, “Flora of China,” spans from 1959 to 2004 and includes 128 parts. Some were compiled with the participation of the botanist, while others were inscribed gifts from colleagues. The botanist summarized his life with a hundred volumes of botanical books.

A set of books that Booyee Bookstore had not sold for many years was also displayed. This set, “Chuan Shi Cang Shu (Treasured Books Through the Ages),” consisting of 123 volumes and priced at nearly ten thousand yuan, occupies two bookshelves.

The exhibits update every two weeks

Since the reopening of the physical Booyee Bookstore, it has hosted exhibitions related to Wang Shixiang and Ye Jiaying. These exhibitions were also live-streamed online.

Scholar Chen Kai is devoted to the collection and analysis of Mr. Ye's works and manuscripts. The exhibition of Ye Jiaying's works editions shows his collection accumulated over more than a decade. At the site, reporters saw more than 360 books authored by Ye Jiaying, as well as several precious letters. Among them, a letter from Ye Jiaying in 1991 to the then-president of Nankai University, Mu Guoguang, was displayed. In Chen Kai's view, this letter reflects the profound friendship between Nankai University and a renowned scholar.

During the live broadcast, Chen Kai mentioned that Mr. Ye devoted her life to preserving Chinese poetry and cultural heritage, evoking memories and longing for our "hometown." "She was not fighting alone; her students have been everywhere. The teaching of Chinese poetry is increasingly shining bright," Chen Kai concluded.

Ms. Yang learned about the exhibition through a WeChat public account and specifically traveled to the site to participate in the live broadcast. Following Chen Kai's commentary on Mr. Ye's knowledge, contributions, and experiences, she felt a deep respect. She said that spreading traditional culture through exhibitions and live broadcasts is like passing on a torch, which will make more people love and draw closer to traditional culture.

The scale of the Booyee Bookstore's exhibitions may not be large, but the exhibits are updated often. Hutong plans to update every two weeks, which is also a tactic to draw readers to visit. "Only by continually updating the exhibitions do readers have a reason to come from afar," he said.

All exhibitions are related to books, and the latest one has already been prepared, which will exhibit hundreds of precious editions, including "Grimm's Fairy Tales," "Andersen's Fairy Tales," and "One Thousand and One Nights," marking the public debut of the collection owned by Wu Wei, a senior editor at the Higher Education Press.

The celebrity study room: A faithful restoration

Booyee Bookstore, originally founded as "Idle Book Talks" in the Tianya community in early 2002, officially opened its doors on April 25, 2004. This relocation marks the ninth move for Booyee Bookstore, and its physical stores closed in May 2023. Despite numerous relocations, none of the collected items from famous figures such as Jiang Shaoyuan, Jiang Deming, and Yang Chengkai—including bookcases, desks, and chairs—have been lost. Additionally, many vintage items like wall clocks, trunks, and bookcases have been preserved and are now once again on display. These items and books fill the spacious area and accompany readers as they revisit the bygone days.

When Jiang Deming's children saw their father's "new home," they were moved deeply, saying it was just like his old study. Hutong is also very pleased with his new home. The bookstore's five-meter-high ceilings have brightened his and his colleagues' spirits considerably. Even the cat that has moved with them four times has become much more lively. Hutong describes them as "like unbridled ponies," running around without the awkwardness of bumping into walls after just a few steps, as was the case before.

He mentioned that Booyee Bookstore will also set up a row of desks by the window that allow everyone to read intently in the sunlight and browse through old books. He aims to create an atmosphere where readers feel close to ancient texts and traditional culture. He believes this approach is much more effective than direct instruction or preaching by encouraging them to feel, discover, and explore independently.

Translator: JIANG Yuanqin

Reviewer: DING Zhizhong