Eyes of the GBA mixes books, tech and park

Video and photos by Sun Yuchen

The colossal Bay Area Store of Shenzhen Book City opened in Qianhai on Sept. 26, combining retail bookstores, exhibition spaces, a science-and-technology innovation showcase, and a leisure park.

Dubbed the "Eyes of the GBA" (Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area), the new cultural landmark consists of two arc-shaped buildings that resemble a pair of large, round eyes, when viewed from high above. Standing side by side with the square-shaped Bao’an District Library, it forms the distinctive Qianhai cultural complexes.

With 131,000 square meters of floor space, equivalent to 18 standard soccer fields, it is twice the size of the Shenzhen Book City CBD Store in Futian District, earning the nickname of “the colossus of Shenzhen’s bookstores.” It houses a collection of more than 300,000 volumes across nearly 100,000 categories, from arts and design to humanities and parenting. Whatever your literary niche, you are likely to find it here.

Some collections of the Art Garden, which is one of the three themed reading spaces.

A highlight of the bookstore is its three themed reading spaces: the Art Garden, the Kaleidoscope of Humanities and Happy Meta. Designed by internationally renowned artists, each of the reading spaces features a distinctive yet complementary architectural style, offering visitors an immersive reading experience.

Located on the first floor in the north wing of the bookstore, the nearly 3,000-square-meter Kaleidoscope of Humanities offers a spacious interior with carefully designed lighting, creating a cozy, tranquil ambience.

The Art Garden, situated above the Kaleidoscope on the second floor, provides 270-degree panoramic views of the neighborhood. With interiors adorned with abundant plantings, it feels like reading surrounded by nature and art.

For families with young children, the Happy Meta space on the B floor in the south wing is ideal. Decorated in bright hues with a stars-and-sea theme, it includes distinct corners for children’s picture books, hands-on exploration and more. Children can read, craft, and make new friends here.

Visitors immerse reading at the Eyes of the GBA store.

Just like the Shenzhen Book City CBD Store, the Eyes of the GBA store is essentially a multipurpose cultural complex designed to meet a wide range of public needs.

The Folk Culture Exhibition Hall in the south wing, in partnership with Shaanxi History Museum, is currently showcasing high-definition replicas of Tang Dynasty (618-907) mural paintings. The large exhibition, marking the grand opening of the Eyes of the GBA store, recreates an immersive Tang Dynasty experience of time traveling back to Chang’an (the historical name of Xi’an until 1386) by using VR (visual reality).

Installations of characters in animation "Nobody" are on display in the atrium.

The popular domestic animation “Nobody” (Little Monsters of Langlang Mountain) has been faithfully recreated in the atrium. The lifelike exhibition was a major hit with children during the just-ended eight-day public holiday.

At the sci-tech innovation showcase center, the latest cutting-edge products by BYD, Huawei, DJI and other Shenzhen high-tech firms are on display, highlighting the city’s innovation strengths and offering hands-on experiences on Shenzhen-made products.

Sci-fi enthusiasts should not miss the Three-Body experience center here. The first of its kind in South China, the center features the country’s largest Natural Selection warship installation and VR setups, allowing visitors literally step into and explore the Three-Body universe.

Another architectural highlight of the establishment is the rooftop park spanning more than 20,000 square meters — the Starry Garden.

Connecting the south and north wings and open year-round, the Starry Garden creates a seamless indoor-outdoor experience that blends bookstore and park.

Readers indulge in reading in the bookstore.

Add: 1 Baohua Road, Qianhai (前海宝华路1号)

Metro: Line 5 to Baohua Station (宝华站), Exit A1