Unique Bookstores in Chengdu

In Chengdu,
visiting a bookstore is as much a part of everyday leisure as enjoying tea,

strolling through the streets, or soaking up the sunshine.

It is a simple pleasure that brings a sense of ease to everyday life.
With their distinctive characters,

Chengdu’s unique bookstores have become popular destinations for both

residents and visitors.

“Seaside Bookstore”

Recently popular on social media, the “Seaside Bookstore” is located in an office building by Xinglong Lake. This cultural space is both a bookstore and a café.

Sitting by the window, visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of Xinglong Lake, with the water in the foreground and mountains in the distance.

“Underwater Bookstore”

Opened in 2021 as Lakeside Bookstore, it quickly became a photo spot. After renovations this year, it was renamed Resonance Bookstore.

Its glass curtain wall extends all the way below the water. Outside the glass, aquatic plants sway gently as fish glide through the water, making visitors inside feel as though they are beneath the water.

Panda Bookshop (Panda Base Store)

Located on the first floor of the Panda Tower at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Bookshop offers around 2,000 selected books, mainly on giant panda science education, photography, and picture books. It sells more than 2,000 panda-themed cultural creative products. Featured zones, such as the Celebrity Panda Zone and the Fridge Magnet Museum, have been set up in the shop.

Fangsuo Commune (Taikoo Li Store)

Spanning 4,000 square meters, the bookstore features an 8-meter-high ceiling, 37 uniquely designed columns, and a floor patterned with planetary orbits. Together, these elements evoke a mysterious space set apart from the world outside. In addition to more than 150,000 books across a wide range of categories, Fangsuo Commune combines books with coffee, cultural creative products, exhibitions, and more.

Zhongshuge (Dujiangyan Store)

In 2025, Dujiangyan Zhongshuge was named one of the “10 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World”, becoming the only Chinese bookstore on the list. The host described it as “a living surrealist painting”.

Xinshan Bookstore (Chengdu Tianhui Store)

When Xinshan Bookstore opened in Chengdu in 2019, it had already been named one of the “Most Beautiful Bookstores in China” at the 2018 China Bookstore Conference. Its biggest highlight is its distinctive interior design, which uses aged wood and wooden plates as the main materials. Old architectural elements collected from across western Sichuan are placed throughout the staircases, creating a warm, nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of old times.

Sanhua Culture Bookstore (Tiexiang Temple Riverfront Store)

Located in the northern section of Tiexiang Temple Riverfront, Sanhua Culture Bookstore sits beside the water. Its architecture blends the charm of western Sichuan gardens with the character of Jiangnan water towns, with traditional pavilions and waterside structures arranged throughout the space. In addition to reading, the bookstore offers experiences centered on Chinese tea and incense culture.

Source: HomeinChengdu