Brick-and-mortar bookstores thrive in Hangzhou

Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, is embracing a new wave of growth for brick-and-mortar bookstores with the help of strong government policies and generous subsidies, local media reported on Feb 13.

Despite once being affected by competition from online merchants, physical bookstores are making a comeback, according to the figures from the local government.

In 2018, the provincial capital had a total of 319 newly opened brick-and-mortar bookstores, up 28.6 percent compared with the previous year and hitting a record high in terms of the growth rate. The total book sales for the year amounted to 1.87 billion yuan ($276.64 million).

The latest statistics also reveal that from January to February this year, another 46 bookstores opened in Hangzhou, taking the total number to 3,157.

While Hangzhou is gradually turning itself into a hub of national renowned bookstores, Owspace, an independent bookstore chain, formerly known as One Way Street, officially made its way into the city right after the Yanjiyou bookstore and Sisyphe bookstore, one of the biggest private-owned bookstore chains in China.

Located on the bank of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the three-story branch is the fourth nationwide and the first flagship store in Yangtze River Delta region dedicated to providing a public space for thoughts, culture and life.

"A total of 16 reading salons have been hosted since the inauguration of the bookstore," said a local official.

As China's consumer spending on culture grows, the country's bookstores are reinventing themselves with a vibrant ecology featuring diverse styles and compound management practices.

Today's physical bookstores are not just about selling products, but also serve as comprehensive cultural experience centers where consumers can not only read and buy books but also have a cup of coffee, a nice meal and get together with family and friends, which may help to stimulate leisure and cultural consumption.

"What Hangzhou needs is landmark bookstores with distinctive features that can represent the cultural spirit of the city," said Li Dajun from Hangzhou Printing Association.

Li noted that Tsutaya Books in Japan is a good example which offers customers with an unparalleled collection of books and periodicals from Japan and around the world, a video department, a camera shop, a travel office, coffee shops, a pet-goods store and a full-service restaurant with an outdoor deck.

The construction of the physical bookstore has been included in the overall layout of Hangzhou's urban development, said an official from the Hangzhou Municipal Planning Bureau.