Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore – How to Visit the Enchanted Library! 

If you’re a reading lover, then you have to add Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore to your literary bucket list. 

It’s a magical bookshop that looks like it uses sorcery with its surreal spiral staircases and seemingly infinite towering bookshelves. 

This Chengdu Library will put you under a spell with its enchantment, as it’s guaranteed to mesmerise.  

As someone obsessed with books, visiting this whimsical book trove was a dream come true. 

It felt like something that had been plucked from the pages of one of my fantasy novels. You must visit while travelling through China. 

Here is a complete guide on how to visit the magical Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore.

What is Zhongshuge Bookstore?

Zhongshuge (钟书阁) is a chain of incredible bookstores across China designed by Shanghai-based X+Living. 

They are famous for their surreal, mind-bending architecture that uses mirrors and light to create illusions. 

There are currently Zhongshuge bookstores in cities such as Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Beijing and Guangzhou.

Each of their bookshops is unique with its own special design and flair. 

But the most famous Zhongshuge Bookstore, and the one that often goes viral on social media, is the one in Chengdu. 

Where is the Chengdu Library located? 

Many people call this bookstore the ‘Chengdu Library’, but this name can be a little deceiving as;

1. This is a bookstore, not a library
2. It’s located in Dujiangyan, on the outskirts of Chengdu

Dujiangyan is around 60 kilometres away from the Chengdu city centre, and so it takes well over an hour to get here by car. 

So, I recommend visiting Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore as part of a day trip along with the famous Blue Tears. 

How to visit Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore

Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore is located within the Sunac Mall on the second floor. 

You can easily visit Dujiangyan from Chengdu by either train or taxi:

• By Train: Take the train from Xipu Station to Dujiangyan Railway Station for ¥20 (approx 30 minutes). Then, take a DiDi to the Sunac Mall.

• By Taxi: For comfort, you can take a Didi to Sunac Mall all the way from Chengdu. This also allows you to remain flexible. It will take around 60 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic, and trips are affordable. I did this and paid around ¥100 (£11). You can book trips through Alipay.

Arriving at Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore

As soon as you step inside Dujiangyan’s Zhongshuge Bookstore, you’ll enter a labyrinth of bookshelves.

Make your way inside until you reach the spiral staircase in the middle, and this is where the magic truly lies. 

As soon as I stepped into this central room, I gasped, and my jaw hit the floor.

This bookstore is truly breathtaking with bookshelves that reach the sky and appear to never end.

I had seen countless posts on my social media feeds of this place before my visit, and have had it firmly on my bucket list for years. 

But nothing prepared me for how beautiful this bookstore was in real life. It was captivating. 

As a reading lover, visiting this literary oasis was a dream come true. I couldn’t wait to explore.  

A magical illusion and clever enchantment

Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore is famous for its towering bookshelves that appear to reach the heavens. 

It honestly felt like a library from one of my romantasy novels or a scene from Hogwarts. Looking at it feels like a work of sorcery. 

They even play the Harry Potter theme tune that adds to the magical vibe. 

But if you look closely, you’ll soon realise that it’s all a trick and part of a clever illusion. 

The ceilings are mirrored, and the reflections are what make this bookshop appear infinite. 

In reality, the bookshop isn’t that big and the two floors to explore aren’t endless. 

Some of the books on the upper shelves are also not real and have been printed on.

But I was happy to stay under its spell and enjoy the enchantment while it lasted. It felt like walking through a dream.

What do they sell in Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore?

Of course, Zhongshuge Bookstores offer a wide range of books for sale in their shops. 

They sell children’s books, fiction, travel guides, graphic novels, non-fiction and more. 

These books are mostly in Chinese, but they do have a selection of English volumes too. 

You will also find a delightful range of gifts and souvenirs. You can buy magnets, panda plushies, games, blind boxes, cards, and stationery. 

There is a lot to browse beyond literature. You could spend hours seeing what you can find.  

Photography tips

This bookshop is so breathtaking; it’s hard to take a bad photo here. 

But most of the best photography locations are set around the majestic spiral book staircase in the middle. 

The mirrored reflection makes the towering bookshelves seem endless, and you can have fun playing with the illusion in photos and videos. 

You can get some great perspectives by heading up to the upper floor and looking down on the staircase, too. 

The only downside is that the bookshop can get crowded. So, you’ll need to wait patiently, play with angles, or time your moment.  

As you can probably tell from the photo spam, I could not stop snapping photos of this place. It was just too beautiful for words.

Zhongshuge Café

After you’ve finished exploring Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore and taking endless photos, I recommend visiting their café.

You can sit between the mirrored bookshelves and enjoy a hot or cold drink as a refresher. 

They had a whole range of coffees, teas and soft drinks, as well as some tasty-looking cakes on the menu.

I relished this moment of peace, and reading a book here felt surreal. 

Is Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore worth visiting?

Yes, Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore is easily the most magical bookstore I’ve ever visited.

The interiors were truly mind-blowing as the book towers seemed to never end!

As a reading lover, I was utterly captivated, and the entire experience felt unreal. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.  

Although it’s a little further out of Chengdu, this enchanted bookshop is well worth visiting. 

Don’t skip Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore; it’s a literary oasis that is out of this world!

When is the best time to visit? 

As this bookstore is so popular and often goes viral on social media, it can get very crowded during the day.

Tour groups often come inside, and the bookshelves and spiral staircase can be heaving with people.

I recommend getting to the bookstore for opening time or early in the morning for the best experience.

I visited around an hour or two before closing time. It was busy, but still manageable to get magical photos.

How long do you need to visit? 

I would say you need around 1-2 hours in Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore.

As much as it looks endless online, it’s largely a clever illusion, and the bookshop isn’t actually that large. 

But, you could easily spend a few hours here browsing the books, shopping for souvenirs, taking photos and relaxing in their cosy café.

Opening times & entry fees

Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore is open from 9 am to 8 pm, so there is plenty of time to visit on your trip to Chengdu.

As it’s a bookstore, it’s completely free to visit. But they have lots of lovely things to purchase. So, have your Alipay set up and ready to scan!

My top tips for visiting

• This bookstore can get very busy as it often goes viral on social media, so look for good angles or come armed with patience.

• Visit either for opening time or an hour before closing for fewer crowds. 

• There is plenty of space on the upper floors to grab a book and chill out. Or, you can relax with a drink in their cosy café.

• Remember to purchase something from the bookstore to support them after getting your content. It’s not necessary but is a kind gesture. 

Visit Dujiangyan’s Blue Tears next 

After visiting Zhongshuge Bookstore, make sure to head over to the Ancient Town to visit Dujiangyan’s Blue Tears.

It’s a magical spectacle every evening when they light up the river, making it glow bright blue. 

Dujiangyan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its 2000-year-old irrigation system, the oldest of its kind in the world. 

The Blue Tears was another mind-blowing place that left me mesmerised.

This glowing river will take your breath away. You must add it to your Chengdu itinerary.

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Save Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore for later