Mesmerizing Bookstore in China Looks Like Something From a Fairytale

By: Lauren Fokas | Last updated: Oct 22, 2023

In Chengdu, China, there is a bookstore that is really more of a surreal experience than a store. 

Dujiangyan Zhongshuge certainly has one of the most incredible designs of any bookstore on the planet—when you step inside, the sky-high shelves, mirror ceilings, and eye-catching backlighting make it feel more like a fairytale attraction than anything else. 

Who Is Responsible for the Incredible Design?

The absolutely amazing design of Dujiangyan Zhongshuge was created by X+ Living, an architectural design company from Shanghai. 

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Designer Li Xiang founded the company in 2011, and since its inception, X+ Living and Li Xiang herself have won dozens of awards for their completely unique and breathtaking designs in both commercial and residential spaces. 

Dujiangyan Zhongshuge’s Escher-Like Design

Many who have visited Dujiangyan Zhongshuge see the resemblance between the design and the surreal artwork of the famous Dutch artist M.C. Escher. 

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Source: BYU Museum of Art

As one of the world’s most famous graphic artists, Escher created mathematically-inspired illusionist art throughout the early 1900s, and his work is still widely beloved and respected today. 

How Many Books Does Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Hold?

While Dujiangyan Zhongshuge does hold an incredible 80,000 books, the use of mirrored ceilings as well as wallpaper filled with book spines makes it seem as though the store holds an infinite number of books. 

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The design of the space and the optical illusion it offers truly shows the capabilities of interior design to turn a space from real to surreal. 

A Book Lover’s Paradise

While some people certainly enjoy the feel of an old bookstore that smells like dust and has unorganized piles of books everywhere, Dujiangyan Zhongshuge is a book lover’s paradise for those who love the incredibly different experience it provides.

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If you want to experience a one-of-a-kind surreal design with thousands of books, you absolutely must visit Dujiangyan Zhongshuge on your next trip to Chengdu, China.