CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- World Book Day falls on the 23rd of April, whereas Chongqing Book Month falls on every April. By the constructions of the infrastructure, introducing new functions, improving public services and building brands, Chongqing has been improving services for all readers and enriching citizens’ spiritual lives.

Let’s have a trip to discover some unique bookstores in Chongqing, and enjoy reading.

Blade Book and Wine

<With a book, a cup of drink, and a story>

As is in the name of this store, you may discover good books as well as delicacies in it.

Food warms up your stomach, and story here warms your heart. Blade, Book and Wine has combined a bookstore, a tavern and a midnight diner together, opening a door for independent bookstores in Chongqing, and serving its readers with a special corner and different reading experience in the city.

Every of books is selected by their manager, mainly of literature, humanities and social sciences, is put on the shelves following the “one for read, one for sale” principle here, that is, putting only two copies of one book on shelves, one of which unpacked for coming readers, and the other packed for sale. Also, there are shelves only with books out of print and cannot be found in market, which are only for readers rather than for sale.

In this digital era when living space for printed books is constantly being squished, we can still discover something scarce and valuable, as well as our connections to books here.

Location: 2F of Xiexin Xingguang Plaza, Wuyi Road, Yuzhong District

Opening hours: 10:00-22:00
One Book One Week Store

<Only one book will be sold per week>

One Book One Week, with crowdfunding, opened its first bookstore in Tianjin in May, 2021. Later on that, One Book One Week was allured by loyal readers in Chongqing and settled its second store, with crowdfunding again, in Jiulong Yiku on April 16, 2022.

“One book”, for the store sells only one book every week.

For example, the book on the shelve this week is One Hundred Years of Solitude, and you will see multiple editions of, One Hundred Years of Solitude, until next week.

Seems easy though, the store not only changes the “weekly book”, but along with the inner design and relevant activities about the book.

As online media are developing fast today, One Book One Week takes this pattern in an attempt to arouse reader’s affection toward reading, printed books and offline cultural feasts. On top of books, One Book One Week is fulfilling its engagement of “one book” with its readers.

Location: Room 1002 (underground), Building B of Jiulong Yiku, Keyuan 1st Rd., Jiulongpo District

Opening hours: 10:00-22:00
Winwill Books

<The largest Sisyphe in China>

Among more than 300 physical bookstore chains owned by Sisyphe, Winwill Books, located in Chongqing Tiandi, is undoubtedly the most special one.

As Sisyphe’s largest bookstore in China which directly serves its headquarter, Winwill has its own inferior design, contents, environment and activity plans that you cannot find in another bookstore.

Through the printing plates on the walls and the interrogative questions embedded on the floor, Winwill Bookstore presents the grand theme of "the process and spread of civilization" in a space of 1200 square meters, turning the space into reading materials.

In book selections, Winwill adopts the collection style, with a total collection of nearly 50,000 books. Moreover, Sisyphe’s Up coffee and new products by Booart Life will be available in the store.

Location: No. 58, Ruitian Rd, Yuzhong District

Opening hours: 10:00-22:00
Mr. Jun’s Bookstore

<A utopia with memory of Chongqing>

In Huangjueping St., Jiulongpo District, Mr. Jun’s store in an air-raid shelter underneath the downtown seems to be isolated.

Different from its peers, inside the store are mottled walls and yellowed sheets instead of exquisite “look”. In this somewhat sketchy store, Nevertheless, is a time machine which takes its readers from across China to the past in Chongqing.

Mr. Jun’s has a big collection of books, most of which are volumes close to this city. 38 shelves, each corresponds to a district or town in Chongqing, are loaded with books of events, annals and yearbooks of the place. There are now 15,000 books on the shelves in Mr. Jun’s Bookstore, making up a third of Jun’s total collection.

Now, with regular lectures and salons on the history of Chongqing are regularly held here, the store has become a veritable local library of Chongqing history, lingered with its flavor.

Location: No. 1 of No. 159, Tielu 4th Village, Longyin Rd., Jiulongpo District (old store); near the bus station of Tielu 5th Rd. (new store)

Opening hours: 8:00-22:30; 10:00-21:00