Beijing Book Building

Beijing Book Building

The Beijing Book Building is located on the northeast side of Xidan Intersection, with a total construction area of over 50,000 square meters. Over 100,000 types of books are on display. The sales hall features a novel and unique design that is truly refreshing. All the bookshelves are uniquely curved and arranged in a radial pattern. In the central shared space, a large stainless steel cone connects the four floors of the sales area into an organic whole, while exquisitely crafted, majestic sculptures stand within. On the west side of the hall, bas-relief murals depicting the Four Great Inventions of ancient China, a civilization with a long history, complement large-scale round sculptures. The columns in sections dedicated to philosophy, history, law, military science, and other subjects are inlaid with bronze ornaments featuring various historical themes, conveying a profound cultural symbolism.

All four floors of the Book Building are dedicated to retail book sales, displaying over 100,000 types of books. It is worth mentioning that the building has a specially designed “Children’s Fun Book Garden” on the second floor for kids. More than 8,000 types of children’s books are displayed on various styles of shelves. In addition to brightly colored books, there are also entertainment facilities such as uniquely shaped slides. According to officials from the Book Building, it operates with a full range of titles, meaning all new editions released by publishers each year are displayed and sold on the shelves.

The Book Building has moved away from the traditional manual sales approach of former Xinhua Bookstores, adopting a computerized management information system with POS terminals for payment. The building has also shifted from the conventional single-purpose book-selling model to become a large-scale, comprehensive cultural consumption venue integrating multiple functions.

The Beijing Book Building is a key cultural facility in Beijing, a project that was personally cared for and approved by  during his lifetime. The site was selected in 1958, the project was established in 1985, and construction began in 1993, embodying the hopes of several generations.