24-hr bookstore opens in historic building in Beijing

The first 24-hour bookstore by Cathay Bookshop is launched at the newly rebuilt Yanchi Tower near the historic site of Di'anmen in Xicheng district of Beijing, July 20, 2015. [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/asianewsphoto]

A 24-hour bookstore has been officially launched at the newly rebuilt Yanchi Tower near the historic site of Di'anmen in Xicheng district of Beijing on Monday.

The bookstore, run by state-owned Cathay Bookshop,is located at Yanchi Tower, an ancient garrison tower.

Yanchi Tower, which used to be a famous landmark on the central axis of old Beijing, was originally built in 1420 during the reign of Emperor Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

To address traffic congestion in the city, Yanchi Tower was torn down in 1954, and the restoration of the building was completed in 2014.

"The reconstructed Yanchi Tower covers an area of more than 1100 square meters. We set up our bookstore in the 10 rooms on the west wing and are open to the public since tonight," said Yu Huagang, General Manager of Cathay Bookshop.

More than a store selling books, Yu said that it's a cultural landmark in the downtown area as it functions as a book bar, salon, and book exhibition, providing a place for people to read and get involved with cultural activities.

The Cathay Bookshop, founded in 1952, is the biggest state-owned enterprise dealing in antique books.