Xinlan Book Society

Xinlan Book Society

The Xinlan Book Society is a cultural relics protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The site of the Xinlan Book Society is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit, located at No. 150 Dashadi, Yuhai Subdistrict (by Xihé Bridge). After restoration, the site of the Xinlan Book Society has been greatly improved compared to its previous state, largely restoring its original appearance. The book society features gray tiles and white walls, with a front gate and rear corridor. Square pillars stand between the corridors, and the tops of the pillars are connected by arches — a typical style of the late Qing and early Republican period that blends Chinese and Western elements. The entire floor plan of the book society is in the shape of a "convex" character. It is five bays wide and three bays deep, covering an area of 280 square meters.

After restoration, the main gate of the Xinlan Book Society site faces south. In the center is a large hall, inside which stands a nearly 3-meter-high flat sculpture depicting scholars and students borrowing books in those days. On both sides of the hall are two small rooms containing bookshelves and book-lending windows. The west wing of the book society is furnished with traditional Qing-style tables and chairs, resembling a reading room in a modern library.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units