Bookstore for migrant workers thrives in Urumqi

Ma Hui arranges books in his bookstore for migrant workers in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Nov 16, 2010. Ma has been running the bookstore for 10 years, during which it expanded from 8 square meters into the current 200 square meters. The idea of opening the bookstore hit Ma when he came to Urumqi in 1999, from his hometown in Henan province, for work at a construction site. He soon fell ill while also running out of money, before his fellow workers lent a hand. He decided to open a bookstore and lending library after noticing they couldn't afford new books. Now with the help of his migrant worker friends, the bookstore boasts a large collection of second-hand books, ranging from classic Chinese to popular Internet fictions, even comic books, offering customers a variety of choices. The rent has stayed at 2 yuan a month and 3 yuan a year. Ma says he will not consider shutting the bookstore down because seeing his friends enjoy their leisure time reading makes him happy. [Photo/CFP]