{"id":147536,"date":"2020-08-17T09:31:24","date_gmt":"2020-08-17T07:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/?p=147536"},"modified":"2023-09-21T18:21:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T16:21:03","slug":"beijing-bookstore-classical-chinese-gardens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/beijing-bookstore-classical-chinese-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"Beijing&#8217;s new surrealist bookstore inspired by classical Chinese gardens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized alignwide\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=1600%2C840&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Beijing bookstore classic Chinese garden\" class=\"wp-image-147547\" width=\"1600\" height=\"840\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=220%2C116&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=540%2C284&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=768%2C403&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=1536%2C806&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=160%2C84&amp;ssl=1 160w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=840%2C441&amp;ssl=1 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"lead\"><strong>Designed by architectural firm X+Living, this breath-taking bookstore brings book buying in Beijing to a whole different level.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bursting with creative ideas, like <a href=\"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/china-unmanned-intelligent-24h-bookstore\/\">unmanned 24-hour intelligent bookstore<\/a>, China is a bit like Silicon Valley for book lovers, taking bookshops and libraries to a completely different level in their innovation and architectural design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-background has-system-sans-serif-font-family is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-color:#dedede;border-width:1px;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-top:1em;padding-right:1.5em;padding-bottom:1em;padding-left:1.5em\"><ul class=\"has-dates has-small-font-size wp-block-rss\"><li class='wp-block-rss__item'><div class='wp-block-rss__item-title'><a href='https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/top-free-ebooks-christmas-2023\/'>Free ebooks for Christmas 2023: here are the top 20 downloads<\/a><\/div><time datetime=\"2023-12-15T14:05:39+01:00\" class=\"wp-block-rss__item-publish-date\">Dec 15, 2023<\/time> <\/li><li class='wp-block-rss__item'><div class='wp-block-rss__item-title'><a href='https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/best-personalized-library-gifts\/'>12 best personalized gifts for librarians and library supporters<\/a><\/div><time datetime=\"2023-11-18T11:11:37+01:00\" class=\"wp-block-rss__item-publish-date\">Nov 18, 2023<\/time> <\/li><\/ul><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p>And this year, the country raised the bar yet again with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.designboom.com\/architecture\/xliving-zhongshuge-bookstore-beijing-07-08-2020\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X+Living&#8217;s new Zhongshuge Bookstore<\/a>. Occupying 12,000-square feet and located in the Lafayette department store in Beijing, the bookstore was created by chief designer Li Xiang and project directors Rea Lijiao and Wu Feng \u2013 and it&#8217;s unlike you&#8217;ve ever seen before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Architectural firm X+Living is known for creating out-of-the-box, perplexing designs for Zhongshuge bookstores \u2013 and their newest creation is inspired by traditional Chinese gardens. The design is characterized by intriguing circular structures and flowing arched forms that invite readers to wander around the bookstore \u2013 just like they would in a classical garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Beijing Zhongshuge Lafayette store is divided into five areas \u2013 a conceptual area, a cultural and creative area, a study area, an area dedicated to children\u2019s books, and a caf\u00e9 \u2013 all inspired by different elements of the Chinese tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The conceptual area, for example, is characterized by arched openings reminiscent of classic circular openings in the walls of traditional Chinese gardens called the Moon Gates; then, there&#8217;s the creative area \u2013 a minimalistic, elegant spin on the symbol of Chinese nature \u2013 the bamboo grove. Later on, the study hall, built around a symmetrical layout, is divided by luminous walls, while the brightly colored and playful children&#8217;s area is a paradise for the little ones. Finally, the caf\u00e9 is decorated with irregular and flowing-shaped tables \u2013 and once all the seats are occupied, it resembles the famous Chinese painting, \u201cQu Shui Liu Shang\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scroll on to take a peek inside the breathtakingly hypnotic design of the new Zhongshuge Bookstore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beijing bookstore like traditional Chinese gardens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"nmb wp-block-heading\">1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-breath-taking-classic-Chinese-gardens.jpeg?resize=540%2C540&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Beijing bookstore breath-taking classic Chinese gardens\" class=\"wp-image-147545\" width=\"540\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-breath-taking-classic-Chinese-gardens.jpeg?resize=540%2C540&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-breath-taking-classic-Chinese-gardens.jpeg?resize=220%2C220&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-breath-taking-classic-Chinese-gardens.jpeg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-breath-taking-classic-Chinese-gardens.jpeg?resize=65%2C65&amp;ssl=1 65w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-breath-taking-classic-Chinese-gardens.jpeg?resize=160%2C160&amp;ssl=1 160w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-breath-taking-classic-Chinese-gardens.jpeg?w=840&amp;ssl=1 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"nmb wp-block-heading\">2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-wide is-resized alignwide\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-surreal-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=840%2C561&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Beijing bookstore surreal Chinese garden\" class=\"wp-image-147550\" width=\"840\" height=\"561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-surreal-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=840%2C561&amp;ssl=1 840w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-surreal-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=220%2C147&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-surreal-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=540%2C361&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-surreal-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-surreal-Chinese-garden.jpg?resize=160%2C107&amp;ssl=1 160w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-surreal-Chinese-garden.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"nmb wp-block-heading\">3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden-hallway.jpg?resize=540%2C591&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Beijing bookstore classic Chinese garden hallway\" class=\"wp-image-147546\" width=\"540\" height=\"591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden-hallway.jpg?resize=540%2C591&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden-hallway.jpg?resize=220%2C241&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden-hallway.jpg?resize=768%2C840&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden-hallway.jpg?resize=146%2C160&amp;ssl=1 146w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden-hallway.jpg?resize=840%2C919&amp;ssl=1 840w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-garden-hallway.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"nmb wp-block-heading\">4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-gardens-kids-area.jpg?resize=540%2C613&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Beijing bookstore classic Chinese gardens kids area\" class=\"wp-image-147548\" width=\"540\" height=\"613\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-gardens-kids-area.jpg?resize=540%2C613&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-gardens-kids-area.jpg?resize=220%2C250&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-gardens-kids-area.jpg?resize=768%2C871&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-gardens-kids-area.jpg?resize=141%2C160&amp;ssl=1 141w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-classic-Chinese-gardens-kids-area.jpg?w=840&amp;ssl=1 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"nmb wp-block-heading\">5<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-wide is-resized alignwide\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-reading-area.jpeg?resize=840%2C630&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Beijing bookstore reading area\" class=\"wp-image-147549\" width=\"840\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-reading-area.jpeg?resize=840%2C630&amp;ssl=1 840w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-reading-area.jpeg?resize=220%2C165&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-reading-area.jpeg?resize=540%2C405&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-reading-area.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-reading-area.jpeg?resize=160%2C120&amp;ssl=1 160w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-reading-area.jpeg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"nmb wp-block-heading\">6<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-gardens.jpg?resize=540%2C361&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Beijing bookstore traditional Chinese gardens\" class=\"wp-image-147551\" width=\"540\" height=\"361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-gardens.jpg?resize=540%2C361&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-gardens.jpg?resize=220%2C147&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-gardens.jpg?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-gardens.jpg?resize=160%2C107&amp;ssl=1 160w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-gardens.jpg?resize=840%2C562&amp;ssl=1 840w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-gardens.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"nmb wp-block-heading\">7<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-wide is-resized alignwide\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-garden-collage.jpg?resize=840%2C840&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Beijing bookstore traditional Chinese garden collage\" class=\"wp-image-147556\" width=\"840\" height=\"840\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-garden-collage.jpg?resize=840%2C840&amp;ssl=1 840w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-garden-collage.jpg?resize=220%2C220&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-garden-collage.jpg?resize=540%2C540&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-garden-collage.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-garden-collage.jpg?resize=65%2C65&amp;ssl=1 65w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-garden-collage.jpg?resize=160%2C160&amp;ssl=1 160w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-garden-collage.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Images via <a href=\"https:\/\/designwanted.com\/architecture\/zhongshuge-bookstore-xliving\/\">Design Wanted<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Interested in bookstores and libraries? Keep exploring:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>[ef-archive number=5 tag=&#8221;libraries&#8221;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Designed by architectural firm X+Living, this breath-taking bookstore brings book buying in Beijing to a whole different level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":147556,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[7],"tags":[11510,11435],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Beijing-bookstore-traditional-Chinese-garden-collage.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pdOQhx-CnC","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147536"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147536"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":147560,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147536\/revisions\/147560"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}