Specialist bookstores respond to expat tastes

Bookstores in Chinese key cities, like Fang Suo Commune in Guangzhou, are responding to the desire by an increasing number of expatriates for books in their languages. Provided to China Daily

"We had to cancel it because security maintenance became a tricky problem," Chen says.

Foreign readers in China look for not only books but also a variety of events and a similar way of doing business to bookstores in their home countries.

Lisa Roberts, a visiting visual artist from Australia, decided to check out The Bookworm Beijing as "word-of-mouth" told her it was similar to her favorite bookshop in Sydney, Berkeleouw's.

She was not disappointed. "I like how they have secondhand books. The books go around and it is good for sustainability, which I'm keen on," Roberts said.

"I like to browse and be surprised with what I find. I like to be able to sit, have a coffee and read a little."

The Bookworm, which has locations in Beijing, Suzhou and Chengdu, was set up by a British woman in Beijing in 2005 as a library, with about 2,000 books she bought from book fairs overseas.

The collection has now grown to more than 16,000 titles, most of which are in English, and the store has become a multifunctional hub which incorporates the roles of library, bookstore, bar, restaurant and events space.

The Bookworm's main attractions are its events. It regularly runs small concerts, seminars and readings, as well as new-to-Beijing orientations.

Its biggest event is the annual Bookworm International Literary Festival, during which 60 to 80 writers from around the world are invited to give lectures at the stores.

"We can't point out what exactly is the thing that draws customers in. Some book an event, some come for coffee and some are here just to hang out," said Sunny Zhao, manager of The Bookworm's shop in Beijing's Sanlitun area, a hotspot for expatriates.

"Readers can all find something they like in The Bookworm."