Bookstores
Many Beijing bookstores carry English and other foreign-language guidebooks concerning China and other countries. Listed below are some of those with the best inventory. Happy reading and enjoy your trip.
Beijing Book Building
The foreign-language collection on floor B1 is comprehensive and updated. The latest books on art and design, business and economics and novels can be found here.
Address: 17 Chang'an Jie West, Xicheng District
Tel: +86 10 6607 8546
Subway: Line 1 Xidan Station; Bus No.: 1, 4, 10, 102, 603, 728, 808
Beijing Foreign Languages Bookstore
This is the largest foreign languages bookstore in Beijing with a wide range of literary works, specialized books, directories, city guidebooks, maps and magazines, comics, CDs and DVDs.
Open: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Tel: +86 10 6512 6903
Address: 235 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Subway: Line 1 Wangfujing Station; Bus No.: 1, 4, 10, 20
Chaterhouse Books
Chaterhouse Books offers a wide variety of English-language fiction, non-fiction, literature, biography, cookery, travel, art, design, management, magazines and children's books.
Shunyi North Branch
Open: 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Tel: +86 10 8046 6211
Email: customer@chaterhouse.com.cn
Address: River Garden Clubhouse, 7 Yuyang Lu, Houshayu, Shunyi District
The Place Branch
Open: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Tel: +86 10 6587 1328
Email: customer@chaterhouse.com.cn
Address: Shop B107, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
Cuckoo Bookstore
Open: 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Tel: +86 10 6505 9286
Address: NBS4, B1/F, China World Shopping Mall (next to the Bank of China), 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
Haidian Book City
Address: 36 Haidian Xidajie, Haidian District
Tel: +86 10 6257 3167
Bus No.: 16, 302, 751, 983
Le Petit Gourmand
A lending library with a large selection of second-hand English and other foreign language books
Open: 9:30 a.m. - Midnight. Bar open until 2 a.m.
Tel: +86 10 6417 6095
Address: 3/F, Tongli Studios, Sanlitun Houjie, Chaoyang District
The Bookworm
Address: 4 Sanlitun Nanjie, Chaoyang District
Tel: +86 10 6416 7154
Timezone 8 Bookstore
Address: 798 Art Area, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
Tel: +86 10 8456 0336
Bus No.: 401, 420, 909, 991
Trends Lounge
Open: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Tel: +86 10 6587 1998
Address: L214, 2/F, Trends Building, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
Wangfujing Bookstore
Address: 218 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: +86 10 6525 2592
Subway: Line 1 Wangfujing Station; Bus No.: 1, 4, 10, 20
Yansha Books
Address: 4F, Lufthansa Shopping Centre, 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
Tel: +86 10 6465 1188
Bus No.: 701, 707, 909
Libraries
The National Library of China (NLC)
With its new building opened to the public on September 9, 2009, the NLC became the world's third largest in terms of floor space. With the operation of the new building, the library's total floor area is now 250,000 square meters, behind only the national libraries in France (Paris) and the United States (Washington, D.C.). The new building is designed to serve general readers; it has 2,900 seats and can serve 8,000 readers daily with about 600, 000 books. Readers can also use the wireless Internet via their own laptops or use any of the 460 computers in the new building. The old building of the NLC is for researchers.
Right outside the library's southern gate is the Kunyu River; across the river is the Purple Bamboo Park. Sitting on the riverbank with a book borrowed from the library and watching people wandering in the park can provide a tranquil moment.
Take your passport to apply for a reader's card and get access to the most fascinating and best- equipped library in China. Borrowing foreign language books requires a deposit of 1,000 yuan, and the annual fee is 10 yuan. The NLC Concert Hall serves as a venue for films, concerts, drama and other performances.
Open: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.(Monday to Friday), 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Weekends)
Tel: +86 10 8854 5426 (readers service consultancy)
Address: 33 Zhongguancun Nandajie, Haidian District
The Capital Library
The eight-storey Capital Library, located east of the Huawei Bridge in Southeast Beijing is the second largest library in the city. Lectures and exhibitions are held periodically at the library. Borrowing foreign language books is allowed with a CNY 500 deposit.
The Bookworm
This large green building located on Gongti Beilu is the library for many foreigners living in Beijing. With its cosy sofas, juice drinks and coffee, light meals, and a large selection of English-language books and periodicals, the Bookworm is likely the most popular lending library and bookshop in town. In addition to being a peaceful place to relax, the Bookwarm also hosts library events for adults and children during the week.
Open: 9 a.m. - 2 a.m (Food orders end at 11 p.m.)
Lending library membership: CNY 200 for individual six-month membership; CNY 300 for individual one-year membership; CNY 500 for family one-year memberships
Tel: +86 10 6586 9507
Address: Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District
Biblioteca Antonio Machado
This is the library of the Instituto Cervantes in Beijing named after Spanish poet Antonio Machado (1875 - 1939). The library offers more than 5,000 Spanish language books ranging from language learning materials to literature works, as well comics and Spanish/Latin American films.
Open: 11 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., daily
Membership: 200 yuan per year to borrow books, CDs and DVD
Tel: +86 10 5879 9666
Address: 2/F, 1A Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang District
Goethe Institut Library
The library of Goethe Institut of Beijing offers German-language books, journals and magazines, as well CDs, DVDs and videotapes. Their collection centers on contemporary Germany literature, modern architecture and plastic arts.
Open: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday
Membership: CNY 200/year for adults; CNY 100/ year for students
Tel: +86 10 8260 5785
Address: 1/F, Tower C, Haixing Plaza, 16 Danling Jie, Haidian District
French Cultural Center Library
The library located on the first floor of the French Cultural Center offers 220,000 books and magazines in French and Chinese for readers to enjoy at a spacious and cosy environment. Internet access, soft music and TV5 Monde are available. There are more that 100 kinds of magazines and newspapers to read, including five dailies.
Open: 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., daily (closes at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays)
Membership: CNY 220 per adult for a year; CNY 100 for students
Tel: +86 10 6553 2627, ext. 111
Address: 18 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District
More Beijing Travel Tips:
Performances Cinemas & KTVs Galleries & Museums
Health Centers Schools & Communities Foreign Embassies and Consulates in Beijing
