'Light Space' Xinhua Bookstore, Shanghai

'Light Space' Xinhua Bookstore, Shanghai
上海“光的空间”新华书店

Address: F7 Aegean Place, 1588 Wuzhong Road, Minhang district, Shanghai
Opening hours: 10 am-10 pm
Tel: (86-21) 61135968

Covering more than 4,000 square meters and designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the 'Light Space' Xinhua Bookstore in Shanghai is a multifunctional art space linked to the Pearl Art Museum via the upper floor. Resembling a giant egg in shape, it was voted one of the most beautiful bookstores in China in 2019.

Entering the bookstore, you are first confronted by rows of wooden bookshelves. The square hollows set into the middle of the rows allow people a view of the layers of bookshelves, leading into the depths of the store. The dark blue light filtering through and the beauty of the square holes create a surreal effect.

Why it’s special
As the Pearl Art Museum is located in the bookstore, visitors can find exhibition catalogues and related materials after appreciating the museum's artworks.

The bookstore has also adopted many cutting-edge technologies, including big data and new retail technologies, to help readers select and pinpoint their favorite books. Readers can even get book recommendations from an analysis of their age, gender, and emotions after making a facial expression in front of a screen. In addition to recommending books through big data, from cultural figures or through other excellent bookstores, the Light Space Xinhua Bookstore also invites its regulars, book lovers and other people from all walks of life, to visit the bookstore to share their feelings and exchange their stories after reading.