Tianjin Binhai Library – Is “The Eye” Worth Visiting from Beijing? 

As someone obsessed with reading, I have wanted to visit the Tianjin Binhai Library for years.

It’s a unique, undulating reading hall that looks like it comes from a faraway galaxy in the future or outer space.

It’s only an hour away from Beijing, so it makes an incredible day trip for book lovers, photographers or those who admire unique design.

But there are important things to know before you visit. Like the fact that thousands of the ‘books’ here are actually fake. Shocking, I know.

Here is a complete guide to Tianjin Binhai Library and whether it’s worth visiting from Beijing. 

What is Tianjin Binhai Library?

The Tianjin Binhai New Area Library is a futuristic reading hall created by the Dutch architects MVRDV based in Rotterdam.

It has six floors with a total floor space of 33,700 square metres inside the Binhai Cultural Centre.

The library contains hundreds of terraced floor-to-ceiling bookshelves capable of holding 1.2 million books.

The reading auditorium is also often nicknamed “The Eye” due to the huge globe in the centre. 

It’s a very popular attraction and local resource that often goes viral on social media due to its mind-bending and illusory design.  

How to visit Tianjin Binhai Library from Beijing

The Binhai Library is located in Binhai near Tianjin, a city on the coast. This is around a one-hour train journey from Beijing.

You can take a direct high-speed train from Beijingnan Station (Beijing South) to Binhai Station. 

I recommend booking your train tickets through Trip.com. I found this the most convenient way. Remember your passport as it’s your ticket.

Once you arrive at Binhai Station, you will need to make your way to the Binhai Cultural Centre to visit the library. 

You can walk for 30 minutes, take a local bus, or order a DiDi through Alipay.

Arriving at the Binhai Library 

There are doors to enter the Binhai Library from outside the Binhai Cultural Centre, but these can be locked.

Normally, you must enter the library by walking inside the mall and locating the entrance from there.

You do have to go through security to enter the reading hall. Your bag will be scanned, and the guards will body scan you as well. 

But it’s well worth the effort to stand in this incredible futuristic reading room.

Entering the Binhai Library 

I was completely flabbergasted by the otherworldly architecture of the Binhai Library. I just stood there in awe when I first entered the room. 

It felt like I had been transported light-years into the future, and I was entering a library on a space station in some faraway galaxy.  

There were millions of books as far as the eye could see, and the rippling bookshelves made it seem like the volumes were floating. 

I’d love to know the inner workings of the architect’s mind for this vision, as I couldn’t dream something like this up in a million years. 

The Eye

This amazing library is often referred to as “The Eye” due to the ginormous sphere that dominates the centre of the room. 

Its size is intimidating and a bit of an eyesore that triggers a sort of megalophobia as you walk around the hall. 

It felt like Big Brother from 1984, where the oculus is always watching your every move. It was kind of unnerving at times.  

If you look closer, the eye is actually made up of screens. During the day, they’re switched off. 

But at nighttime they switch on, and hold a colourful light show on the globe. 

Exploring the ‘book’ shelves

They were renovating half of the library during my visit, so I could only explore half of the shelves. 

It was a shame. But this meant there weren’t as many people inside, and I could admire the design better this way.

There seemed to be a million books surging through the room in waves. As an avid reader, I was itching to browse some of these volumes. 

But, as I was looking around, I started to notice that:

1. No one was reading, just taking photos in the room
2. There was something odd about the books

As I took a closer look, I was shocked to find that the books weren’t actually real; they were just printed wallpaper. 

It actually blew my mind, and I felt a little hoodwinked. 

Are the books in Tianjin Binhai Library real?

The one thing that shocked me about this library is that most of the books in the main reading hall are not real. They’re fake.

There are some physical books on the bottom stairs, but most of the other ‘books’ on the higher shelves are actually painted on.

It’s a really clever illusion, and you would never know until you started to take a closer look. 

Regardless, I still felt a bit duped. Especially as you see so many photos of people pretending to grab them online. 

There are smaller reading rooms with more physical books that form part of the library. 

But, unfortunately, most of the volumes that you see in the main hall are just printed on. Wild.

Of course, it’s still an incredible place with mind-blowing architecture. As a book lover, it was a dream come true.

But this is definitely something you should keep in mind if you decide to visit. 

It’s not the reading paradise that people show off online. It’s more of an auditorium where people gather and take photos. 

Is the Binhai Library in Tianjin worth visiting?

Despite the revelation of the books being printed on, I still think that the Tianjin Binhai Library is worth visiting in China.

There are still some physical books there, and the mind-bending architecture is out of this world.

I couldn’t stop gawking at undulating bookshelves and had a wonderful time taking photos.

As it’s a clever illusion, I just decided to have fun under its enchanting spell for a time.  

It’s also a nice place to relax. It’s a delightful third space that serves as a local community resource. 

I don’t think you should travel all the way from Beijing just for this library unless you have the time spare in your itinerary or you love books.

You can always combine a visit to this reading hall with some attractions in Tianjin or the coast. 

But if you love bookish places, photography or otherworldly architecture, then the Tianjin Binhai Library is definitely worth your time. 

Just remember to manage your expectations, so you won’t be as disappointed by all the fakery.

Opening hours & entry fees

The Binhai Library is open from:

• Tuesday to Sunday:  9 am – 9 pm
• Mondays: 2 pm – 8 pm

Opening hours sometimes vary, so it’s best to check before you go. 

It’s also completely free to visit the Tianjin Binhai Library in China. So, it makes a great budget activity. 

Important tips for visiting  

• The library can become very crowded during the day; I recommend visiting either at opening time or near closing to avoid the crowds.

• Most of the bookshelves in the main hall are an illusion; there are physical books, but the majority are painted on.

• It does take around an hour to visit Tianjin from Beijing by train. I don’t recommend a long train journey just for the library unless you have a particular interest in architecture, photography or reading. 

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How to visit the Tower of Life at SKP Chengdu

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How to visit the Dujiangyan Blue Tears

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Save the Tianjin Binhai Library for later