While some feel that bookstores are fading away, one Chinese bookstore has found new life by marching into rural areas in China to bring colorful cultural life and higher incomes lo local residents.
By absorbing local rural characteristics, the village branches of the Librairie Avantgarde Bookstore (LAB) chain have transformed into important platforms to display local history, culture and folk traditions. Not just bookstores, they are foundations helping to relieve spiritual poverty (贫困) and centers for gathering and displaying rural culture.
To better fit in the lives of local residents, earth village branch has its own characteristics, like the branch in Shaxi, southwest China’s Yunnan province. Many of nearly 20,000 books in the store are associated with the history, geography and folk customs of Yunnan and the Bai people.
“Turning in profits is not our only aim. Our bookstore has become a public gathering space for villagers. Not only young people, but many elderly residents come here. They do not buy books, but pass the time by reading or chatting with each other in our store.” Liu Xia, the bookstore owner explained.
She added that this is a cultural atmosphere that bookstores offer the area. Some residents have grown accustomed to turning to the books of the store to find answers to the troubles they face, such as operating a business or controlling tourists from urban areas. The biggest benefit of opening bookstores in villages is that it helps provide a healthy environment for children’s growth. “My kids often come to the store. They love reading books here. They gain knowledge and curiosity about outside world.” one villager said.
The arrival of the bookstore menus a lot to the village when young residents have been leaving for urban areas in recent years. During the 2020 May Day and National Day holidays, the daily number of tourists traveling to the village reached 5,000, a record high. Visitors were attracted by the bookstore. Surrounding it, several restaurants and holds have opened.
8. Which of the following best describes village branches of the LAB?
A.They are disappearing gradually. |
B.They feature local rural cultures. |
C.They could make much higher profits. |
D.They have set up poverty-relief foundations. |
9. What do we know about the branch in Shaxi?
A.It specializes in history-related books. |
B.It creates a public gathering space for business. |
C.It shares the same features with oilier branches. |
D.It helps villagers know more about the Bai people. |
10. What’s the greatest influence of village bookshops on the local areas?
A.Attracting more people lo pay a visit. |
B.Offering kids a healthy atmosphere. |
C.Helping residents lo acquire knowledge. |
D.Encouraging the young to go to big cities. |
11. Which of the following can be the best title of the text?
A.LAB: A Bookstore on the Rise |
B.Local Culture Welcomed by Tourists |
C.Village Bookshops Promote Rural Life |
D.Great Ambitions of Village Bookstores |