When the night grows late, where do you like to rest your weary feet? A noisy food stall, a raucous nightclub or a cacophonous karaoke room? Perhaps you desire somewhere quiet, somewhere restful; somewhere to calm the most impetuous mind.
Located on a humble corner of Tiyu Dong Lu in Tianhe district, 1200bookshop.cafe is an ideal harbor for every peace-seeking soul. Touted as the first 24-hour bookshop in town, the venue has been generating buzz since it opened on July 12.
Only after climbing a long stairway do you arrive at this cozy hideout, nestled on the second floor. Wooden bookshelves line the walls while desks with battered edges and chairs with soft cushions are placed in the middle. Sofas are arranged beneath the two big windows and are among the most sought-after spots. Decked out in wooden tones, the shop is comfortable and warm, especially when sunbeams shine through the glass facade.
Inside this 150-square-meter haven for literature lovers, there is a 7-square-meter room with two sofa beds and one table. During the day, it serves as a normal reading room, but after 11pm it turns into free accommodation for backpackers, who must reserve a berth in advance.
The idea of opening a 24-hour bookshop and providing complimentary lodging to itinerant backpackers first emerged when the owner, Liu Erxi, was on a 1,200-kilometer bike tour of Taiwan. A graduate from the Department of Architecture of South China University of Technology, Liu posted his concept on his WeChat Moments in May this year and soon received lots of support from his friends, either financially or in spirit.
“The media portray me as a learned scholar and a romantic do-gooder. That makes me feel a bit uneasy. I would rather call myself an adventurer with idealism and humanity,” writes Liu on his Weibo.
Currently, there are around 6,000 books in the shop, all Chinese. Most of them are about modern design, art, travel and architecture. Liu is still working on bringing more volumes, but publications about economy and politics are not represented as yet.
Besides immersing themselves in the written word, customers can order drinks and desserts from the shop. Reading is free, but these refreshments have their prices, since they subsidize the operation of the shop.
For bookworms seeking sanctuary, it’s definitely worth a perusal, even if you are just bringing along your own novels to read in a tranquil environment.
// 27 Tiyu Dong Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 广州市天河区体育东路27号 (020-8526 0827)
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