The annual Southern China Book Fair is being held from August 15 to 19 at Area B, Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou. It is the first provincial-level book fair and cultural carnival on the Chinese mainland open to the general public, serving as a key bridge between overseas bestsellers and mainland readers, publishers, and copyright agencies.
Having lived in Guangdong long enough, we discovered bookstores and libraries housed in buildings with rich histories or featuring exquisite layouts, each proud of its unique signature book selections. They might be just around the corner from your neighborhood and serve as ideal spots to spend your leisure time. Follow GO Guangdong to explore these vibrant reading spaces.
Fangsuo Commune
Fangsuo blends books, design, coffee, and art exhibitions in a 1,800㎡ multi-concept space. Awarded the German iF Design Award, it stocks 40% foreign-language titles and hosts international literary salons. Nominated for London Book Fair's "Bookstore of the Year" in 2019.
Address: MU 35, Taikoo Hui, No. 383, Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00
Photo by Fangsuo Commune
Migu Bookstore
A 9-story tower with 100,000 books and a 30m-high "Hogwarts-style" atrium. Features a café, rice-themed cultural zone (opened 2025), and parent-child farming workshops.
Address: XIFANGDAYUAN (西坊大院文化创意园), No. 262, Huancheng West Road, Shiqiao, Panyu District, Guangzhou City
Opening hours: 10:00-20:00
Photo by VCG.COM
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Library - Wende Road Branch
In 1927, overseas Chinese commemorated Sun Yat-sen by donating nearly 300,000 silver dollars to construct a grand library, distinct from traditional Chinese libraries and modeled after Western examples, on the site of an ancient academy, the original Canton Municipal Sun Yat-sen Library.
Through subsequent mergers and transformations, today's library operates solely as the children's department of the Guangdong Provincial Sun Yat-sen Library, focusing exclusively on children's literature services.
Address: No. 81, Wende North Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City
Opening hours: 9:30-17:30
Photo by Sun Yat Sen Library
Longtang Poetry Club
A 1915 Baroque-Lingnan fusion courtyard with century-old longan trees. Revived as a poetry hub hosting guqin concerts and literary gatherings, honoring its legacy as a Qing-era scholars' sanctuary.
Address: No. 68, Wenming Li, Lingnan Tiandi, Chancheng District, Foshan City
Opening hours：Access all day (Main building visiting hours: 9:00-18:00)
Photo by VCG.COM
Yuishin Books - Longhua Branch
Features a sci-fi "Möbius ring" mirror ceiling creating an endless book tunnel. Curates literature and lifestyle titles, signature osmanthus lattes, and weekend book clubs, ranked "Shenzhen's Most Healing Space".
Address：No. 06, 3rd Floor, INREACH, No. 53, Minzhi Avenue, Longhua District, Shenzhen City
Opening hours：10:00-22:00
Photo by VCG.COM
Readzone Books
A cultural living room with 10,000+ books, English children's section, and creative market. Hosts author signings and floral art classes, offering sea-view reading nooks overlooking Huafa Mall.
Address：3rd Floor, C building, Huafa Shangdu Mall, No. 8 Zhuhai Avenue, Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai City
Opening hours：10:00-22:00
Photo by Readzone Books
Masuland
An island art space featuring sea-view vaulted ceilings. It specializes in Chaoshan culture books and marine-themed picture books, and serves pour-over coffee alongside fisherfolk shell crafts. A popular sunset terrace hotspot.
Address：No. 31, Haibian Road, Masuland, Longhu District, Shantou City
Opening hours：10:00-17:00
Photo by Masuland
Grand Granary Bookstore of Librairie Avant-Garde
Nanjing's Librairie Avant-Garde, named by CNN as "China's Most Beautiful Bookstore", and listed by BBC among the "Top 10 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World", has also opened a branch in Tangkou. The Grand Granary Bookstore is a cultural landmark transformed from five grain storage buildings built in the 1970s. It blends rural charm with urban intellectual vitality, serving as a bridge between history and modernity while offering a serene retreat for book lovers and photographers.
The bookstore integrates reading, exhibitions, and the retail of creative products, housing approximately 38,000 volumes categorized into five themed sections: poetry, social sciences, literature, life & children's books, and art. It is famous for its book collection of humanities and social sciences.
Address：Tangkouxu, Tangkou Town, Kaiping, Jiangmen City
Opening hours：9:00-21:00 on weekdays; 9:00-22:00 on weekends
Photo by Grand Granary Bookstore of Librairie Avant-Garde
King To Library
Donated by overseas Chinese in 1925, this building blends Roman columns with Lingnan stained glass. It houses rare local chronicles, manuscripts by Liang Qichao, and palm-leaf craft archives. The ancient banyan courtyard is iconic.
Address：No.16, Renshou Road, Xinhui District, Jiangmen City
Opening hours：8:30-18:00 (closed on Tuesdays)
Photo by VCG.COM
Reporter: Yin Juewen
Editor: Zhou Jiyin
Poster: Wu Junli