A haven for stationery lovers – Bao’er’s Sunday Stationery Shop, selling stationery from around the world

Text & Photos /by Xiao Sun

I’ve always loved the atmosphere of [Sunday Stationery Shop]. It probably satisfies some part of my preference for these ‘designer’ stationery items. Ever since it first grabbed my attention online, it seemed fate that several trips were filled with the joy of looking forward to visiting it – a warm feeling in my heart. That was the case during my Taipei trip, and it’s the same this time in Kaohsiung at Bao’er. Although the things I end up buying each time seem to be more or less the same – pens, paper, notebooks – I still can’t help but make the trip!

To be honest, I’d never been to Bao’er, despite it being such a famous place, until now XD

On the day I visited Kaohsiung, I had come straight from Tainan. After lunch, I had a feeling the weather might turn bad – and sure enough, when we arrived at Sunday Stationery Shop, it started pouring torrentially outside. The rain came down relentlessly, as if bucket after bucket of water was being dumped.

As a result, the whole Sunday Stationery Shop felt like it had paused. Everyone seemed to be taking shelter from the afternoon downpour, and the pace slowed way down. I really appreciated how the shop assistants bustled about, mopping up the water at the entrance after the heavy rain – they didn’t hover or seem eager to shoo away non-buying customers. Instead, they gave off an air of ease, making everyone inside feel completely at home.

Is the space big? Actually, in terms of width, it might be similar to the Taipei store, but this rain made the space feel so warm, without any hint of commercial slickness.

Also, for those of us who love taking photos, the best part is that you can take pictures anywhere in the entire shop – shoot however you like~ Of course, don’t act like an online model; the shop allows photography of the store, not selfies XD

In the middle of the shop, there’s one huge, huge table displaying all the products in an open style. At the other end, there’s a very large cabinet with more delicate items kept behind glass. Then there’s also a huge black bookshelf at the back, stretching all the way to the ceiling, along with a spiral staircase – it feels just like a library!

The big table is stocked with everything imaginable. Stationery from various countries seems to be available here for collectors. Classic mouse pads, all kinds of paper, pens, rulers – they fill the entire table. No matter where you stand, the little items in front of you will make you feel satisfied. Everything looks so good, and you’ll want to take it all home XD

On this table, you’ll find many treasures – even the angles you view them from are treasures. Looking from directly above or peering down from above, the interplay of vertical and horizontal lines all create beautiful compositions. There are also classic wax seals, with all kinds available here.　

Oh, and the glue and paste here – you’ll discover that some of these stationery items are actually internationally renowned and quite precious!

I’m quite fond of collecting pens, maybe because I’ve loved writing since I was little. So the feel of a pen when writing is something I’m pretty ‘neurotic’ about. I tend to buy extra ones if they write really well, or shelve the ones that don’t feel right – it’s kind of neurotic XD

The tall, floor-to-ceiling black bookshelf in the shop has such an international-library vibe. It holds all sorts of notebooks, letter paper, sticky notes, and a few unique types of adhesive tape. I brought back some adhesive tape I liked, as well as the LIFE notebook I’d been eyeing on the website for ages ^~^

There’s also this cash register that looks like it’s from old Europe – it’s super photogenic under the lighting. The golden glow highlights the red, green, blue, yellow, and other colored keys. Maybe it takes a bit of effort to press them, but you really want to fiddle with it. Fortunately, the shop placed it facing the cashier area, or else it might have gone missing after too many curious presses XD

Really good things should be well treasured – after all, testing one’s ‘morality’ isn’t easy!

As I photographed these stationery items, I slipped into a bit of an obsession – I ended up aligning all the text on the pens toward me. Call it my quirk, but it’s especially noticeable in these little details. Thankfully, I don’t do this with crowds in scenic photos, or else the resulting images might get pretty weird XD

I’m drawn to the black color scheme – in fact, I think I already have two or three similar items at home, and even a craft knife or two. I remember during my university dorm days, I had three drawers full of stationery. These days, I’ve really toned it down a lot!

The adorable little elephant-shaped paste jar – I’d fallen for it online and finally brought two small jars home. I originally planned to use it as a prize giveaway, but I ended up putting it on my bookshelf for collection. The paste smells fragrant, as if it’s been specially treated, giving off a lovely scent when used ^~^

The postcards on the wall are simple but capture the essence of local Taiwanese life. With just black, white, and red in strong contrast, it’s like every self-proclaimed hipster (okay, fake hipster) should own a set XD

The rain outside still hadn’t let up. When it came time to check out, the shop assistant kindly wrapped the paper bag in a transparent plastic bag – it felt really nice, like being truly cared for. And it wasn’t because of how much we bought – our little bag only cost seven hundred-something NT dollars, and we still felt valued!

Even after checking out, we didn’t leave. The rain outside was still pouring down hard, so although people gradually left, there were still quite a few inside. We just kept chatting, wandering around, and admiring all the stationery that caught my eye – thinking about what item might charm me next time.

Just then, I noticed that due to the temperature difference between inside and outside and the heavy rain, the shop’s door had fogged up, with streaks of rainwater slowly sliding down. It looked like time had stopped. This moment of stillness – it’s probably my fascination with a certain lifestyle charm. I’m drawn to these stationery items that may be a bit pricier, a bit hipstery, yet each one brings instant satisfaction just by looking at it.

【Tools to Liveby / Sunday Stationery Shop】

▲ Taipei Leli Road Flagship Store Business Hours:

Tuesday to Saturday 12:00 - 21:00
Sunday　　　　　12:00 - 19:00
Monday　　　　　Closed

Address: No. 15, Lane 72, Leye Road, Da’an District, Taipei City

▲Kaohsiung Pier-2 Store Business Hours:

Tuesday to Sunday　10:30 - 19:30
Monday　　　　　Closed

Address: C6-10, Dayi Warehouse, Pier-2 Cultural and Creative Park, No. 2, Dayi Street, Yancheng District, Kaohsiung City C6-10

Phone: 07-521-6823

※Credit card payment is available in-store

▲Online Store Customer Service Hours:

Monday to Friday　10:00 - 19:00

Phone: 02-2736-9090

Article Author: [Enjoy life without boredom. Gui Xiaosun]