Guiyang Zhongshuge: A Bookstore That Transcends Boundaries

Exploring the Unique Design of China's Most Beautiful Bookstore

Guiyang Zhongshuge, located in Guiyang, China, is the brainchild of designer Xiang Li. The design of this bookstore is inspired by the natural landscape of Guizhou, including its geographical features and original culture. The cultural and creative area of the bookstore, for instance, is modeled after the karst landform peculiar to Guizhou.

What sets Guiyang Zhongshuge apart from other bookstores is its unique design that not only pursues aesthetics but also combines local cultural characteristics and conditions. The most distinctive karst landform of Guiyang was moved into the interior, providing readers with a cave-like experience. The bookstore, with a floor area of 3400 sqm, has become a cultural feature and urban landmark in Guiyang city.

The design realization of Guiyang Zhongshuge is a marvel in itself. The cultural and creative corridor features rows of stalactites against the black glass of the ground, creating an illusion of infinite extension. The mountain-shaped bookshelves are intertwined and wind along the path, reminiscent of the karst landform. The chandeliers on the book stand of ship type go along the water flow on the ground, guiding readers through the treasures of knowledge.

The design of Guiyang Zhongshuge is a response to the growth of consumer experiential demand. With the impact of online shopping on traditional bookstores, Xiang Li designed this bookstore to attract readers to the physical bookstore and the reading experience it offers. The bookstore has become not just a place for buying books, but a comprehensive experience place integrating thinking, reading, leisure, and chatting.

Creating the karst landform in the shopping mall was a challenge for the designers. They had to ensure that the height of the floor matched the actual environment and that the cave environment was safe for readers. Despite these challenges, the design team successfully created a bookstore that offers a fantastic visual experience and spreads the local characteristics and culture to a larger crowd.

Guiyang Zhongshuge is a testament to the power of innovation and creativity in architecture. It has been awarded the Platinum A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020, recognizing its exceptional and highly innovative design. This bookstore is not just a place to buy books, but a place to experience the beauty of design and the power of knowledge.