Taiwan's Eslite makes its debut in Suzhou

Over the years, the bookstore has hosted many activities with local writers and literary critics, gradually becoming an influential venue for cultural communication.

Every month, Eslite recommends two Chinese books and two foreign books to readers.

All these attract attention from readers not only in Taiwan but also in Hong Kong and on the mainland.

Eslite Bookstore is now also a tourist must-see.

But despite his efforts, Wu says that Eslite suffered an annual loss of 4 million yuan for 15 consecutive years until 2004.

Over the years, Wu has tried various ways to prevent Eslite from closing.

In 2010, Eslite became "Eslite life", "a platform for daily life, and cultural and creative products".

Meanwhile, the first floor of the building, which is underground, is designed like a local Suzhou market.

Along the main "avenue" are more than 20 shops for local snacks, drinks and accessories.

Eslite also has a space to exhibit local intangible cultural heritage, including embroidery, fruit-pit carving and fans.

"We want to enable cultural communication between the mainland and Taiwan," says Wu.

Cultural activities are key to Eslite.

Choreographer Lin Hwai-min has a dancing classroom on the fourth floor and artist Cao Guo-qiang's Day and Night is also on display.

In December, writers and literary critics from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, including Bi Feiyu, Luo Yijun and Michael Liu, will have lectures and readings in Suzhou.

Eslite will open stores in Shanghai in March 2016 and in Shenzhen in 2018.

yangyang@chinadaily.com.cn