In China, bookstores and libraries are transforming the countryside

New architectural projects are emerging in the villages of rural China, bringing local communities together around books and attracting tourists from the cities. We have selected ten of them to explore.

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Gerardo Semprebon
14 November 2024

The phenomenon of libraries and bookshops in remote rural areas is particularly intriguing for those interested in contemporary architecture in China. It stands out not only for its widespread presence - which is surprising in a country largely governed by economies of scale - but also as an inventive response by many policies, both central and local, aimed at mitigating the depopulation of rural villages. Equally striking is the growing support this movement receives from an increasing number of “frontier architects,” a collective writing an important chapter in today’s Chinese culture, with a renewed appreciation for heritage and a forward-looking perspective.

Indeed, since Li Xiaodong’s rural library project near Beijing in 2011 – one of the first in China’s countryside – a fertile path has opened for many designers drawn to the rich, often unexplored folklore and knowledge inaccessible to urbanized inhabitants. Looking at the works of He Wei, Hua Li, and Zhang Lei among those in this collection, it becomes clear that historical heritage in these projects is not a relic to be embalmed or mimicked. Instead, it serves as a wellspring of constructive solutions, inspiring the creation of a new architectural tradition capable of absorbing remnants of a past not so distant – one that some seek to outgrow, while others are drawn back to escape the alienation of megacities.

Colorfull Design, Kaiyun Library, Tailing Village, Jiangxi Province, Cina, 2022

Many of these crossings, between departures and returns, are formed by new architectural spaces that go well beyond simply housing books. On the contrary, they open up to both old and new users, creating spaces where people who may not know each other can meet, bridging cultures, enhancing local resources, and fostering trust within local communities, now represented by increasingly diverse groups.

The Avantgarde Librairie chain, which over the years has commissioned the construction of numerous libraries in Chinese villages, exemplifies a trend gaining momentum—driven partly by domestic tourism and partly by initiatives to encourage a return to rural areas. The libraries and bookstores of this wellknown Nanjing brand, some of which are introduced here, have become an established and recognized format capable of sparking movement between the city and the countryside. This is largely due to their promise of architectural and cultural quality that meets the high expectations of their audience.

Today, a new layer of interpretation overlays the sense of continuity within rural traditions, connected to the uses that humble buildings of the past – dredeemed by avantgarde architectural interventions on existing structures or through entirely new constructions – can still serve, or perhaps will host for the first time. This marks the beginning of new life cycles and new possibilities for the development of rural society, one that is still in search of its own identity.

Dramatically positioned on the cliffs of Guangdong, this building merges book consultation with an immersive, contemplative experience of the landscape. The structure rests upon the coastal undulations, blending abstract geometries – such as the circular rooftop water basin and the line marking the pedestrian entrance – with natural elements like the massive rocks on the slope. A long white wall guides the visitor, drawing their gaze to the horizon reflected in the evocative drop of water, before leading them into a shaded space that opens to a 270degree glass wall surrounding the reading room: a space fully immersed in the coastal landscape.

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

3andwich Design and He Wei Studio, Water Drop Library, Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, China, 2022

Photo Jin Weiqi

A new bookstore with complementary services – including exhibition spaces, a small theater, and a bar – introduces a unique experience within a series of courtyards that once housed a prestigious academy in the heart of a traditional town. Historical and contemporary elements blend together, unified by two new galleries for book displays that, passing through a pavilion, physically connect the ends of the constructed system. One of these galleries, situated on the main public square, has been entirely reimagined with a new concrete structure that houses the theater and showcases some of the volumes for sale, facing the plaza. The courtyards’ dimensions and the imposing trees are integrated into the galleries, creating a harmonious space.