Tsutaya Books, Shanghai

Tsutaya Books, Shanghai
茑屋书店 （上生新所店）

Address: Level 1, No 7 building of Shangshengxinsuo, 1262 Yan’an West Road, Changning district, Shanghai
Opening hours: 10 am- 11pm
Tel: (86-21) 60193126

Opened to the public in 2020, the two-storey Tsutaya Books is situated in the Columbia Country Club -- a protective historical building with a Spanish architectural style. The first floor mainly displays books about humanities and social sciences, as well as lifestyles, along with literature, magazines and stationery.

Why worth visiting
The building, designed by the American architect Elliott Hazzard and completed in 1924, was the venue for entertainment and leisure for the Americans of that day in Shanghai. The fireplace, Corinthian pillars, and other interior decorations are completely preserved and displayed, and present classical architectural aesthetics.

As the original building has arch-shaped windows, the bookstore also adopted the arch shape for its bookshelves. Informative pictures of the history of the building and a map dating back to Shanghai in the Republic of China (1912-49) are printed on the glass walls protecting the Corinthian pillars to create a "history museum" atmosphere.

In addition, the history section on the first floor has a poetic name "The Crossroads of History". Books in this area are about Chinese and world history, and are displayed from left to right in such categories as historical theory, chronological history or national history.

The second floor of Tsutaya Books is brighter and more modern. It is home to books related to design, fashion, architecture, and arts and displays crafts. Moreover, the bookstore boasts a cafe and a bar where you can enjoy your meals while appreciating beautiful scenery from the observation platform. In Tsutaya Books, you can also see art exhibitions and buy Japanese handicrafts and cultural and creative products in globally limited editions.