Beijingers unwind in 'hush hour' as community libraries spread

Culture vultures

A younger generation of readers — most of them born after the 1990s and many preparing for work exams — now occupies community libraries.

Sweet Town, a community library in Chaoyang district established in 2021, is popular with these young bookworms.

Designed in a modern style, it has white spiral staircases that cascade between stepped tiers of bookshelves that line the walls. The study carrels have been organized into a round space decorated by soft pads while comfortable nooks are illuminated by ceiling lights.

In a sunny corner, next to a quiet coffee bar, armchairs beckon readers.

The library is part of an innovative business model that combines a library, bookstore and exhibition space, according to the Beijing municipal government website, and has a collection of over 40,000 books covering diverse genres.

This model not only meets the diverse needs of the public, but helps innovate the operations of brick-and-mortar bookstores, according to the website.

Pi Ruoyi, 26, a primary schoolteacher, has visited Sweet Town a dozen times in the past year and often sits in the windowless area downstairs.

A bookworm for 20 years, she has always sought a simple place that offers a reassuring hush so she can settle down to read and study.

Pi came to Beijing at the end of 2020 to look for work. Although she landed a job in 2021, she soon realized it wasn't quite what she had envisioned.

The young teacher is now pursuing a master's degree in economics.