A recent survey said an average Chinese adult read less than eight books a year. Some of us would find it hard to remember the last time we read in a bookstore. To keep their appeal, some bookstores are now bigger, more beautiful and grander.
Librairie Avant-Garde, NanjingAs a cultural icon in Nanjing, Librairie Avant-Garde is a must-see for both book lovers and travelers. The bookshop was listed among the world’s most beautiful bookshops by BBC in 2014. The 4,000-square-meter store, founded in 1996, now sits in an underground parking lot, housing more than 300, 000 books, mainly philosophy, literature, history and art.
Eslite, SuzhouThe Taiwan-based Eslite opened its first branch on the Chinese mainland in Suzhou, due to its popularity among book lovers. The store houses over 500,000 books, of which one-third are from Taiwan. It’s also famous for varied creative cultural products. Wandering inside, you may get lost which books and delicate cups to buy.
Liyuan Library, BeijingLocated in mountains of Huairou on the suburbs of Beijing, the Liyuan Library is a comfortable place to escape from the crowded urban life in Beijing. It houses over 10,000 books ranging from works of literature and art to history and philosophy. The most outstanding part in its structure is that the walls and roof of the 170-square-meter library are covered with 40,000 firewood sticks.
Fang Suo Commune, GuangzhouThe Fang Suo Commune is a 2, 000-square-meter place for reading, relaxing and shopping in downtown Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong province. The store houses over 90, 000 publications from both China and abroad, covering mainly designing, architecture, literature and arts.
1. Which bookstore has the largest collection of books?
A.Eslite. | B.Liyuan Library. |
C.Librairie Avant-Garde. | D.Fang Suo Commune. |
2. What is special about Librairie Avant-Garde?
A.It attracts only book lovers. | B.It has branches nationwide. |
C.It rose to fame internationally. | D.It sits in an open parking lot. |
3. What do Liyuan Library and Fang Suo Commune have in common?
A.They both hold books from abroad. | B.They are both suitable for relaxation. |
C.They are both located in downtown areas. | D.They both have unique structures. |