10 Must-Visit Bookstores in Shanghai for 2026: Hidden Gems You'll Want to Revisit

Yueze Bookstore (Shanghai Xuhui Store)

Xinshan Bookstore

Xujiahui Library

Tsutaya Bookstore (Taikoo Li Qiantan Store)

Duoyun Bookstore · Dishui Lake Store

City Never Sleeps Bookstore (EKA Store)

Zhongshuge Bookstore (Songjiang Thames Town Store)

Baixin Bookstore

Jiantou Bookstore (Pujiang Store)

Kubrick Bookstore

*Listed in no particular order

#01

Yueze Bookstore (Shanghai Xuhui Store)

Address: No. 455 Yishan Road, B2 Floor 01-1, Guangqicheng Fashion Shopping Center

@Xiaohongshu Megumi Hui

A brand-new anime-themed store unveiled at the end of 2025, it shot to the top of Shanghai’s bookstore popularity charts as soon as it opened! Covering 700 square meters, the store focuses on comics and IP derivatives. Popular overseas manga and domestic masterpieces like ‘Blade of the Immortal’ and ‘Non-Human’ are displayed in separate sections. Merchandise from blockbuster IPs like Genshin Impact, The Legend of Luo Xiaohei, and Link Click abounds, and they even mark the latest IP updates.

@Xiaohongshu Megumi Hui

The store features a Japanese-style wooden interior with a café reading area. Events like author signings and new series sharing sessions are frequent, making it a must-visit spot for anime fans in Shanghai.

#02

Xinshan Bookstore

Address: 1st Floor, Building N3, Qiantan Park Lane, No. 199 Qiantan Avenue

@Xiaohongshu A Clam

In the concrete jungle of Qiantan, there hides a humanistic paradise coexisting with nature—Xinshan Bookstore. Old timber has been dismantled into bookshelves, intertwined with lush greenery, gently embracing over 10,000 carefully selected books.

@Xiaohongshu A Clam

The store mainly features books on humanities, art, lifestyle, and social observation. The first floor is a reading area filled with coffee aroma and a creative market, while the second floor offers private study spots and a terrace dining area. Regular author salons and art exhibitions make the fragrance of books extend beyond the pages. It lets you rediscover the long-lost slow pace of the city amidst light and greenery.

#03

Xujiahui Library

Address: No. 158 Caoxi North Road

@Xiaohongshu Poinkos on the Go

Adjacent to Xujiahui Cathedral, Xujiahui Library perfectly blends classical elegance with a sense of technology, earning it the title of ‘Shanghai’s Study’ in many people’s hearts. Upon entering, a giant ‘Gate of Light’ art installation stands crystal clear and transparent in the center. A 20-meter-long ‘Sea Desk’ runs through the atrium, allowing 50 people to read together. Surrounding the atrium are eight themed light box spaces, displaying collections on architecture, education, literature, music, etc. The cultural lineage from Xu Guangqi to Ba Jin and Xia Yan is clearly visible.

The sunny terrace on the second floor is hailed as ‘Shanghai’s Most Beautiful Reading Corner.’ French windows face the Gothic spire of the cathedral, with sunlight streaming onto the wooden tables and chairs, perfect for both reading and sightseeing. The third floor is a special collections area with precious materials like Shanghai local chronicles and reprinted modern newspapers. The first floor’s children’s area is full of fun, the basement level’s creative zone offers Shanghai-style souvenirs, and a coffee area provides energy boosts anytime.

#04

Tsutaya Bookstore (Taikoo Li Qiantan Store)

Address: S-L4, Taikoo Li Qiantan, No. 500 Dongyu Road

Tsutaya Bookstore revolves around the new concept of ‘Wellness,’ integrating lifestyle elements like creative goods, art, and dining. At Taikoo Li Qiantan, it has created an aesthetic space bathed in sunlight.

The store is divided into four areas: Feel, Think, Health, and Beauty. The natural wood-colored bookshelves and clean, crisp lines make the overall visual more open and bright, providing an excellent reading atmosphere.

#05

Duoyun Bookstore · Dishui Lake Store

Address: F5-F7, Gangcheng Square Cultural and Art Center, No. 91 West Huanshu Lake Road

Located by Dishui Lake, you can feel its uniqueness from the moment you step in. Through the 20-meter-high floor-to-ceiling windows, the sparkling lake view unfolds before you, with sunlight naturally pouring in, making Duoyun Bookstore reach new heights of beauty!

The entire wall of bookshelves is another highlight—three stories high, with simple and soft natural wood tones. Various fine books are neatly arranged, exuding a strong literary atmosphere. The cleverly designed glass skylights on the top let sunlight filter through, casting scattered light and shadow on the shelves and desks. It’s incredibly photogenic!

#06

City Never Sleeps Bookstore (EKA Store)

Address: Room A109, 1st Floor, Building A, No. 18 Jinhai Road

@Xiaohongshu Charlene～Shanghai Taipei Tokyo

The fourth ‘City Never Sleeps’ store lands at EKA. It insists on transforming the bookstore from ‘a place that sells books’ to ‘a place where stories happen.’ This time, it simply tears off the label and calls itself ‘a non-bookstore with books.’ The new store covers four sections: design, art, architecture, and lifestyle. It also features very interesting creative products, ensuring every visitor finds something they love.

#07

Zhongshuge Bookstore (Songjiang Thames Town Store)

Address: No. 930, Thames Town, No. 900 Sanxin North Road

@Xiaohongshu Little Biscuit

As the first store of the Zhongshuge brand, this space, transformed from a British-style standalone villa, is hidden in Thames Town at No. 930, Lane 900, Sanxin North Road, Songjiang District. It perfectly blends British charm with Chinese bookish elegance, becoming a pilgrimage site for art lovers. The first floor features a nine-square-grid maze-like bookshelf layout, with mirrored ceilings and floors making the book spines extend infinitely, as if falling into a boundless sea of books. Books are even embedded under the glass floor, so every step carries bookish fragrance. The church-style pointed-arch reading area has pure white curved bookshelves climbing from the floor to the dome, with black-and-white minimalist tables and chairs, creating a quiet and solemn atmosphere. There’s also a coffee and light meal area with French windows facing the town’s red walls and spires. When you’re tired of reading, just look up to see the British street view.

#08

Baixin Bookstore

Address: No. 620 Fuzhou Road

@Xiaohongshu Tina Yuting

Founded in 1912, Baixin Bookstore started from Xu Heling’s secondhand book stall and went on to publish popular Republican-era novels like ‘The Story of a Discharged Prisoner.’ In late July 2024, it reopened at No. 620 Fuzhou Road as a 1,200-square-meter hybrid space. A century hasn’t dulled its edge; instead, with the concept of ‘a hundred things renewed,’ it has pioneered a trendy way to experience a traditional bookstore. The interior is packed with design flair: a grand piano and stacked art installations greet you at the entrance, with warm lighting complementing wood and metal textures, creating a retro-modern vibe. A few ‘cat staff’ roam around, adding a touch of healing. Regular events like author signings, paper art workshops, and vinyl parties make reading a less solitary experience.

#09

Jiantou Bookstore (Pujiang Store)

Address: 1st Floor, Jiayu Building, Building 8, No. 18 Gongping Road

One of the most beautiful bookstores, Jiantou Bookstore is also a hub for books, creative goods, and coffee. Unlike other bookstores, this one offers a view of the North Bund’s riverside—something few places in Shanghai can match! Climbing the wooden vintage staircase, each floor has different themed sections. The decor is also retro, with exquisite ornaments and decorations. The space is spacious, with towering bookshelves neatly filled with books—philosophy, classic literature, social sciences, art design, etc., occupying a large proportion. On a regular day, sitting by the window, ordering a cup of coffee, and flipping through a magazine is truly an enjoyable experience.

#10

Kubrick Bookstore

Address: 3rd Floor, Stone Zone, Taikoo Li Qiantan, No. 1-9, Lane 500 Dongyu Road

@Xiaohongshu Hillbilly Little Prince

Named after legendary director Stanley Kubrick, this bookstore’s space is highly distinctive: tiered terrace-like bookshelves rise three stories high, with nearly 10-meter panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows bringing in natural light, offering a bird’s-eye view of the lively Taikoo Li square. Warm wood tones paired with simple lines create a quiet atmosphere, with cozy reading nooks everywhere. The store boasts a vast collection of film-related books, including Hong Kong/Taiwan originals and foreign monographs. Publications and merchandise related to classic films like ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ are prominently displayed. It also covers humanities, social sciences, literature, art, and design aesthetics. A café and light meal area allows you to grab a special drink after a movie and flip through a film monograph, forming a perfect ‘watch-read-connect’ loop.