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In this digital age, with e-books becoming increasingly popular, one Beijing bricks-and-mortar bookstore has turned a new page to lure readers.
The Sanlian Bookstore has also proved that it can lure a reader to travel across Beijing and keep her reading throughout the night.
This was the experience of Zhuang Xing, a 23-year-old independent filmmaker, who took the last bus from Songzhuang and traveled 30 km to attend what she described as a "must-go-to" overnight event at the store.
The two-story shop, near the National Museum of Art, has just launched a trial run for round-the-clock opening, becoming the first 24-hour bookstore in the capital. It has added a night shift crew, eight desks, new lamps and 3 million yuan ($484,000) in investment, with 1 million yuan subsidized by the central government.
"Many people had previously asked us for longer opening hours," said Wang Yu, manager of the branch. "They need this. For night-time activities, what's the option apart from going to a pub?
"We hope to start a trend and remind others about the need to read and the joy of doing so."
Zhuang, who is making a documentary about Chinese bookshops, said, "The store is accepting its social responsibility by doing this."
On the first night of the round-the-clock opening trial run on Tuesday, the store, which mainly stocks Chinese-language titles, had 400 customers and took 14,000 yuan. The next day, revenue almost doubled.
University student Zhao Lanfei, 22, who was holding a pile of books at the store, said: "It's so important for a city to have an all-night reading space. Just touching and feeling the books soothes me.
"Reading is second nature to me and many of my friends," said Zhao, who was visiting the store with her cinematography-obsessed boyfriend. "It's the most important thing for me, next to food, so I'll be here often."
Fan Xi'an, general manager of Sanlian Publishing House, said Beijing should have its own 24-hour cultural landmark, adding, "We do what we're best at - dealing with books."
Sanlian is not the only one looking to change. The Sanlitun branch of Page One, a chain bookstore that features English-language publications, has been open until midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and during holidays since its launch early last year.
"It's a decision we find is the most cost-efficient, as crowds dwindle after midnight," said Liu Gui, Page One's China manager.
"But opening longer is more meaningful because of its social returns in making people aware that reading is a great past-time."
Bo Bookshop in Beijing's Xicheng district, a hybrid of reading, live show and theater space, is also eyeing late-night business.
"We've asked young people what they want, and a cultural space with scheduled events is their answer," said Huang Liping, who carried out research for the company. The bookshop, which is being renovated, will introduce round-the-clock opening in the middle of this year.
Meanwhile, Zhuang, encouraged by what she saw on the first two days, has promised to stay up throughout Sanlian's 10-day trial operation.
"But let me tell you the truth - by 3 am I'm the only one reading here," she said.
The 24/7 Sanlian Bookstore will officially open on April 23, World Book Day. More reader-friendly facilities are on the way.
In 2013, the 10th National Reading Survey, carried out by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication, found that on average each Chinese person read 4.3 printed books and 2.35 digital ones a year. China also produced 400,000 book titles in 2013.
Fan Xiaoqing, president of the writers' association in Jiangsu province, said: "I don't think we're reading less than before. If you count all the online articles, micro blogs and bits of information that come right at us, the amount is staggering."
sunye@chinadaily.com.cn
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Potential buyers stay up late to read at the Sanlian Bookstore in Beijing on Wednesday after it started a trial run the day before for 24-hour opening. Zou Hong / China Daily |
