Founded in 2017, Qi Zhu is another 24-hour bookstore in Chengdu after Xuan Kehui Style Bookstore Palladium Street Branch, which is only one street away from Taikoo Li, but it is far less prosperous than the latter, and even somewhat inconspicuous.
The entrance of the bookstore is made of colorful old books, and the interior is decorated in a retro style, like a miniature of the 80s, with a rotating dial telephone, tin moving head fan, and a black-and-white TV...... These antique items fill the corners of the bookstore. The bookstore has two floors, the first floor has not many books, there is a café area, tables and chairs, and as you go up the stairs, you can see a whole wall covered with posters and post-it notes, the former is an event held by the bookstore, and the latter is a message from readers who have visited the bookstore. On the second floor, in addition to the book walls on both sides, there are several rows of tables and chairs neatly arranged, which is more like a small reading room. Not only is there a mandatory seating, but the bookstore also has two small private rooms with beds and desks, and for those who come to read every night, the bookstore will prepare free blankets and lemonade.
Qi Zhu's collection of books is not large, but it is rich in variety, with literary books accounting for the majority, and a small number of books related to social science, history, life and other fields, in addition, the bookstore has also set up a second-hand book section. Qi Zhu is a member of the "Urban Reading Space" of Chengdu Library, providing citizens with more than 2,000 books that can be borrowed, but unfortunately, most of these books are unpopular and out-of-the-way, and their target group is relatively narrow, and bookstores do not clearly classify books, making it difficult to find books.
Since its opening, the bookstore has planned and hosted a number of events, including lectures, concerts, and craft classes. "Late Night Screening" is one of the most popular weekly screenings of the book, and on Saturday nights, the bookstore will show an old movie for free for guests to watch.
As a private bookstore, Qi Zhu is far less famous than large bookstores such as Fangsuo and Wenxuan Books, and most of the customers who visit the bookstore are local students. Entering the door, finding a seat, reading or writing, this has become a silent tacit understanding between almost every Qi Xuan reader and the bookstore, without the noise and the camera walking around, Qi Zhu has a more comfortable reading experience than some well-known bookstores.
