Hutong keeps books alive
Independent bookstores in historic hutong foster reading, community engagement, and cultural heritage, offering spaces where literature, creativity, and human connection thrive.
Adding to the shop's charm are its two feline "employees". Yuanbao is affectionate and observant, often watching quietly from a corner, while Zhaosi is moody and lazy, usually napping when visitors arrive — embodying the cozy, lived-in comfort that makes the bookstore feel like home.
Surrounded by the hutong's timeless lanes, young readers bring their own vitality to the space. Some study quietly as they prepare for exams, while others linger over slim volumes of poetry until dusk. Once, a young man even proposed among the shelves, secretly hiding a ring with Zhao's permission.
"Most young people come for two things: content and atmosphere," Zhao said. "A good book, or a space that sparks new ideas — that's true fulfillment."
Independent bookstores like Possibly Books have become cultural anchors, keeping the hutong spirit alive.
