Where Are the Best Foreign Language Bookshops in Shanghai?

Though nowadays residents in Shanghai live a fast-pace life, many of them still long for a peaceful place to rest. Also, despite the popularity of electronic reading, many are still in favor of paper books. The unique charm of physical bookstores has attracted a number of visitors. This article is going to take you on a trip to several physical bookstores.

1

Shanghai Foreign Language Bookstore

⏰ Opening hours: 10:00-18:30 each day

📍 Address: 390 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District

With a history of more than 60 years, Shanghai Foreign Language Bookstore is a famous foreign language store which stands on the narrow street together with many other bookstores, large or small.

It is a bookstore where expats in Shanghai often visit. Customers could expect a large number of books and atlases introducing China in various languages. The minority language area on the second floor gathers learning materials in nearly 50 languages. And the old book stalls provide people with cheap old books, attracting many book hunters from time to time.

Shanghai Foreign Language Bookstore also has another four physical stores in the Shanghai Museum, Biyun Road in Pudong, Carrefour in Gubei and the Chinese Art Palace in the Expo Site.

2

Garden Books

⏰ Opening hours: 10:00-22:00 each day

📍 Address: No. 325, Changle Road, Xuhui District

Garden Books is a wonderful place to spend your weekend. Praised by many customers as clean and quiet, Garden Books boasts a good reputation among locals and expats.

The foreign books in the Garden Books are mainly English books, including fashion periodicals and translation of Chinese literature, such as Dream of Red Mansions. The classification of books is not particularly clear, but you can pick up a book to read randomly. Every clerk here can speak fluent English. You can turn to them for help whenever you want to find something.

Nevertheless, Garden Books is more than a bookstore. The store sells fresh flowers of many kinds on the first floor. And free exhibitions of high quality are often held on the second floor. It’s really nice to take a casual stroll through the exhibition, carrying a bunch of flowers with light fragrance.

3

BOOCUP

⏰ Opening hours: 10:00-22:00 each day

📍 Address: L4, North Area, Jing'an Kerry Center, No. 1515, West Nanjing Road

Located at the top level of Jing’an Kerry Center, BOOCUP is a delicate bookshop: not very large but holds large collection of books. This shop is specially featured in its arc-shaped bookshelf in the middle of it. With a simple decoration style and the bright, comfortable lighting, the shop attracts many book lovers in Shanghai.

BOOCUP sells English books mainly. If you are a fiction lover, you’d fine plenty of original English novels, including classic ones and best-selling books in recent years. For sure there are various kinds of books ranging from magazines, dictionaries and poetry collections.

It’s worth mentioning that BOOCUP is also a paradise for fans of Japanese cartoons. As soon as you enter the door, the arc-shape shelf which is full of Japanese original books will come into your sight. Not only novels, magazines and sketchbooks from Japan could be found here, cartoons and comics are also available for children and adults. What’s interesting is that you can also find some Vinyl records here in the shop.

4

TSUTAYA BOOKS

⏰ Opening hours: 10:00-22:00 each day

📍Address: ①Floor 2, Building 7, Shangsheng Xinsuo, No. 1262, West Yan'an  Road

②L4, Taikouli Stone Area, Qiantan, Lane 500, Dongyu Road

Compared to BOOKCUP, TSUTAYA BOOKS, which is a Japanese bookstore brand, is rather big. With many different regional divisions, it’s no exaggeration to say that you can wander in there all day.

All kinds of best-selling books are quite complete. The first floor mainly includes best-selling books, literature, finance, work, management, and Japanese hand-painted books. But there are few books for children. So this bookstore is more suitable for adults to come and visit. 

On the second floor, there are many traditional Japanese lacquerware and porcelain handicrafts, as well as calligraphy works, which are of great artistic value. There are also some specially designed stationary on the first floor, which are so unique that they are not to be found elsewhere.

There is also a restaurant on the second floor. It’s recommended for its warm environment and rich, delicious dishes.

There are more bookstores waiting to be explored. Do you expect more introductions to foreign language bookstores? Leave a comment to let us know!

CONTRIBUTOR

Estela

(AnyHelper Volunteer)

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