Book bars in parks, easy-to-reach retreats for reading and relaxing

Shenzhen is a "city of 1,000 parks." It is also a "city of 1,000 libraries." The city's efforts in building the vast numbers of parks and libraries have greatly improved the accessibility of these public facilities. But it doesn't stop there. In 2020, the city took a step further, integrating the two networks by erecting artistically designed book bars in picturesque parks. When the first book bar of this kind — Bailupo Book Bar — was inaugurated in Shenzhen Bay Park that year, many acclaimed it as an exceptional example of an ideal place for reading: a bright and cozy pavilion with a decent collection of books and against the backdrop of a blue sea and a green lawn. 

Bailupo Book Bar, the first book bar opend in a park in Shenzhen. File photos

By December 2023, Shenzhen has built a total of 62 such book bars in public parks, and each of them is different in architecture design and book collection theme. Often small in scale but all with well-designed interiors and pleasant surroundings, they have become easy-to-reach tranquil retreats from the hustle and bustle of the city life. For Shenzheners, sitting down to read with a cup of tea or coffee in a book bar following a delightful walk in a pastoral landscape has become a common part of their leisure life. The following delves into some of the most-visited book bars in Shenzhen’s parks, and a complete list of such bars is also attached.

Bailupo Book Bar 白鹭坡书吧

Nestled on the Egret Slope of Shenzhen Bay Park, Bailupo Book Bar, or literally Egret Slope Book Bar, is dubbed "Shenzhen's most beautiful seaside book bar."

With floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, the book bar facing the sea is surrounded by various flowers, coconut trees and sculptures of egrets.

Egret-shaped chandeliers are seen in the book bar.

The interior also teems with egret elements, such as egret-shaped chandeliers and ornaments. Apart from seats in the hall, there are three private reading areas inside the book bar, with bookshelves as dividers. There is also an outdoor seating area with small tables and rattan chairs.

Residents take a break from reading outside the book bar.

Sitting by the window, one can take a casual look at the sea or the woods whenever looking up from books. If tired from reading, one can also step out to lean on the handrails of the aisle to feel the gentle sea breeze and watch the sunset.

Opening hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; no reservation required

Add: Egret Slope, Shenzhen Bay Park, Binhai Boulevard, Nanshan District (南山区滨海大道深圳湾公园白鹭坡书吧)

Metro: Lines 9 or 11, Hongshuwannan Station (红树湾南站), Exit A

Lighthouse Library 灯塔图书馆

Only steps away from a coastal boardwalk in Yantian District's Haijing Park, the four-story Lighthouse Library is closer to the sea than any of the other book bars in Shenzhen. 

The Lighthouse Library.

Resembling both a container ship and a lighthouse in appearance, the 343-square-meter library is also equipped with telescopes on its fourth floor for readers to look at the sea in the daytime, and to explore the stars at night. The white-walled library has become a nationally renowned cultural landmark. Among its collection of more than 4,000 paper books and 3,000 e-books, the majority are about astronomy. Readers unassisted can borrow and return books through self-help kiosks.

Opening hours: 12 p.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday to Monday; no reservation required 

Add: East of the sea view boardwalk, Haijing Park, Haijing Road 2, Yantian District (盐田区海景二路海景公园观海平台东侧灯塔图书馆)

Metro: Line 8, Haishan Station (海山站), Exit B

Island Library 荷•美空间

Located on Hexian Island in Honghu Park, Hemeikongjian Library, or Island Library, offers a unique experience for readers, as it lies surrounded by a lotus pond of more than 20,000 square meters in size. The 700-square-meter library has four functional areas, integrating services such as reading, exhibitions, leisure, science education and cultural activities.

Island Library lies surrounded by a lotus pond of more than 20,000 square meters.

The library has an impressive collection of more than 10,000 books covering a wide range of categories such as children's picture books, books for teenagers, humanities and social sciences, art appreciation and encyclopedias. 

Opening hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday; reservations required

Add: Inside Honghu Park, 2023 Wenjin Road North, Luohu District (罗湖区文锦北路2023号洪湖公园内荷•美空间)

Metro: Line 3, Shuibei Station (水贝站), Exit B; Line 7, Honghu Station (洪湖站), Exit A

Kaleidoscope Book Bar 万花筒书屋

Located in Shenzhen Children's Amusement Park in Futian District, the Kaleidoscope Book Bar is a paradise for children. 

The 1,500 books on the shelves of the book bar are categorized in three sections: cardboard books, picture books and text books. The cardboard books are in a variety of interesting forms such as touch books and sound books to satisfy the demands of children under 3 years old. The picture books, suitable for children between 2 to 12 years old, include many award-winning works worldwide, while the text books are for children aged 9 years old or above. 

Kaleidoscope Book Bar is a paradise for children. 

Opening hours: 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m., closed on Mondays; reservations required

Add: Inside Shenzhen Children's Amusement Park, 71 Nonglin Road, Futian District (福田区农林路71号儿童乐园内万花筒书屋)

Metro: Line 7, Nonglin Station (农林站), Exit D1

Meilin Book Bar 梅林书院

Tucked away in a secluded corner of Meilin Park's ancient litchi tree area, the Meilin Book Bar adopts red as its main interior color, in a strong contrast to the sea of greenery outside.

As a branch of Futian Library, it allows reader to borrow books from the reading space and return them at Futian Library or its branches. The 700-square-meter book bar has five functional areas, namely a literature area, comprehensive area, children’s area, special area and e-reading area. It has a collection of more than 15,000 books, covering categories such as children’s literature, young adult books and philosophy.

Sandy plants such as cacti and desert roses are seen outside the book bar.

Sandy plants such as cacti and desert roses were planted around the reading space and a permanent small-scale exhibition about Shenzhen plant species there features both paintings and real plants. 

Opening hours: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday; reservations required

Add: Inside Meilin Park, 14 Meiting Road, Futian District (福田区梅亭路14号梅林公园内梅林书院)

Metro: Line 9, Xiameilin Station (下梅林站), Exit D

Zhongying Street Library 中英街图书馆

Located on Zhongying Street, a site of historical interest, and resembling a castle in appearance, the library traces the street’s development over the past century. 

With red-brick walls, arched floor-to-ceiling windows and British-style wall lanterns, the library exudes a relaxing atmosphere. It has a collection of more than 6,000 paper books, with a focused theme on multinational culture. There are only 35 seats inside the library and reservations are needed.

Zhongying Street Library resembles a castle in appearance.

Opening hours: 12 p.m.-7 p.m., closed on Mondays; reservations required

Add: Inside Huigui Park, Huancheng Road, Yantian District (盐田区中英街环城路回归公园内中英街图书馆)

Metro: Line 8, Shatoujiao Station (沙头角站), Exit B

A full list of book bars in Shenzhen parks

Futian District

Kaleidoscope Book Bar 万花筒书屋 (in Shenzhen Children's Amusement Park 儿童乐园)

Fengyuxuan Book Bar 风雨轩书吧 (in Shenzhen Central Park 中心公园)

Weixun 1968 Book Bar 威逊.1968书吧 (in Shenzhen Central Park 中心公园)

Lihu Book Bar 荔湖书吧 (in Litchi Park 荔枝公园)

Children’s Literature World 儿童文学院 (in Xiangmi Park 香蜜公园)

Meilin Book Bar 梅林书院 (in Meilin Park 梅林公园)

Lotus Hill Book Bar莲花山书吧 (in Lotus Hill Park 莲花山公园)

Lanshufang Book Bar 蓝书房 (in Jingmi Park 景蜜公园)

Luohu District

Mianzhi Book Bar 缅栀书吧 (in Fairy Lake Botanical Garden 仙湖植物园)

Hemeikongjian Book Bar 荷•美空间 (in Honghu Park 洪湖公园)

Taixian Book Bar 苔藓书房 (in Shenzhen Children's Amusement Park 儿童公园)

Yueji Book Bar 月季书吧 (in Shenzhen Renmin Park 人民公园)

Wutong Book Bar 梧桐山河碧道 (in Wutong Greenway 梧桐山河碧道)

Nanshan District

Bailupo Book Bar 白鹭坡书吧 (in Shenzhen Bay Park 深圳湾公园)

Talent Book Bar 人才书吧 (in Shenzhen Talent Park 深圳人才公园)

Huanbao Book Bar 环保书吧 (in Dashahe Ecological Corridor大沙河生态长廊)

Service Center Book Bar 游客服务中心（含氮气茶馆） (in Dashahe Ecological Corridor大沙河生态长廊)

Yujian Teahouse 遇见茶舍 (in Dashahe Ecological Corridor大沙河生态长廊)

Wuhoukafei Book Bar 午后咖啡 (in west section of Shenzhen Bay Green Belt 深圳湾滨海休闲带西段)

Sihai Book Bar 四海书吧 (in Sihai Park 四海公园)

Yuanzhiyuan Coffee & Book Bar 云之园咖啡书吧 (in Yuanzhiyuan Park 云之园)

Xiya Book Bar 熙娅书店 (in Xili Ecological Park 西丽生态公园)

Maizi Coffee & Book Bar 麦子咖啡书吧 (in Xili Ecological Park 西丽生态公园)

Anchangyuan Book Bar 安畅园书吧 (in Anchangyuan Park 安畅园)

Mengkafei Book Bar蒙咖啡 (in Ecological Square Park 生态广场公园)

Yantian District

Xiehou Book Bar 邂逅图书馆 (in Xianfa Park 深圳宪法公园)

Yujian Book Bar 遇见图书馆 (in Shuangyong Park 双拥公园)

Yuehai Book Bar 悦海图书馆 (in Dameisha Coastal Boardwalk 大梅沙海滨栈道)

Guanhai Book Bar 观海图书馆 (in Xiaomeisha Coastal Boardwalk 小梅沙海滨栈道)

Lighthouse Library 灯塔图书馆 (in Haijing Park 海景公园)

Zhongying Street Library 中英街图书馆 (in Huigui Park 回归公园)

Tinghai Library 听海图书馆 (in Dameisha Wish Tower 大梅沙愿望塔)

Chuntianhai Book Bar 春天海公园书吧 (in Chuntianhai Community Park 春天海社区公园)

Qixi Library 栖息图书馆 (in Dameisha Inner Lake Park 大梅沙内湖公园)

Yunduan Guanshanhai Book Bar 云端观山海书吧 (in Yunhai Park 云海公园)

Bao’an District

Dangjian Book Bar 党建书吧 (in Binhai Culture Park 滨海文化公园)

Qiyun Book Bar 绮云书苑 （西湾简阅书吧）(in Xiwan Mangrove Park 西湾红树林公园)

Lixin Lake Book Bar 立新湖书吧 (in Lixin Lake Park 立新湖公园)

Wuzhiba Reading Center 五指耙阅读中心 (in Wuzhiba Park 五指耙公园)

Shiyan Lake Book Bar 宝安图书馆石岩环湖碧道自助分馆 (in Shiyan Lake Country Park 石岩湖郊野公园)

Lanyue Book Bar 揽月书吧 (in Yantai Mountain Forest Park 阳台山森林公园)

Longgang District

Shiyaling Library 石芽岭图书馆 (in Shiyaling Xinyi Sports Park 石芽岭信义体育公园)

Longcheng Park Nature Education Center 龙城公园自然教育中心 (in Longcheng Park 龙城公园)

Yijian Book Bar 一见书吧 (in Zhangbei Country Park 嶂背郊野公园)

Universiade Book Bar & Tangyue Coffee Bar大运书吧棠悦咖啡 (in Universiade Park 大运公园)

Pingshan District

Dachaoping City Book Bar 大草坪城市书亭 (in Pingshan Central Park 坪山中心公园)

Qingqingcao Book Bar 青青草书房 (in Pingshan Children’s Park 坪山儿童公园)

Pingshan Children’s Park Branch of Pingshan Library 坪山图书馆坪山儿童公园分馆 (in Pingshan Children’s Park 坪山儿童公园)

Longhua District

Hudiegu Reading Center 蝴蝶谷阅览室 (in Yantai Mountain Forest Park 阳台山森林公园)

Yunxigu Reading Center 云溪谷阅览室 (in Yantai Mountain Forest Park 阳台山森林公园)

Yunxigu Seeds Library 云溪谷种子书屋 (in Yantai Mountain Forest Park 阳台山森林公园)

“Chip of GBA” Talent Book Bar “湾区之芯”人才书吧 (in Shenzhen North Railway Station Central Park 深圳北站中心公园)

Guangming District

Jianyue Book Bar 简阅书吧 (in Mingxinyuan Park 明心园)

Yushui Garden Book Bar 雨水花园驿站书吧 (in Dadingling Forest Park 大顶岭森林公园)

Dadingling Book Bar 大顶岭驿站书吧 (in Dadingling Forest Park 大顶岭森林公园)

Xitian Sports Park Book Bar 西田体育公园书吧 (in Xitian Sports Park 西田体育公园)

Xitian Community Park Book Bar 西田社区公园书吧 (in Xitian Community Park 西田社区公园)

Xicun Park Book Bar 下村公园书吧 (in Xiacun Park 下村公园)

Sen Book Bar 森•书房特色分馆 (in Hongqiao Park 虹桥公园)

Dapeng New Area

Hetang Shanshui Book Bar 禾塘山水“城管学院”书吧 (in Hetang Shanshui Park 禾塘山水公园)

Bailuting Book Bar 白鹭亭书吧 (in Kuichong Ecological Sports Park 葵涌生态体育公园)