A Cultural Happening

2 min read

Looking for a place to cool down in the scorching summer heat of southern China? In Zhuhai, you don’t have to travel far and, if you prefer always have a handy alternative to those sunny bathing beaches. The peace and the aroma of coffee at a bookstore just across the street is perfect antidote to the fierce sun. In fact, such a pleasant oasis of shade is to be found almost anywhere in Zhuhai.

In a real sense, bookstores bring people together in this “melting pot”-they serve as a nurturing hub for print-hungry individuals in this”immigrant city”and those many who come in as strangers and walk out as friends with something in common.

The opening of Wenhua Bookstore, under the label of”Xinhua”, in the boisterous neighborhood of Gongbei in 1993, had enormous cultural implications for the city. At a time when private bookstores were a rarity, Zhuhai took the lead in fostering a market-oriented ecosystem for bookstores to thrive.

The launch of the READZONE flagship location, owned by Huafa Group, in 2014, was a cultural happening for the city, and added significantly to the city’s “artsy” repertoire in the shape of the first book-cum-lifestyle chain outlet to grace Zhuhai. The bookstore presents not only a comprehensive selection of categorized books and periodicals shelved together, but lures one into a stimulating environment loaded with a whole range of lifestyle items and exquisite goods of a cultural nature. Since 2014, READZONE has expanded to include a dozen locations across Zhuhai. For book lovers in Zhuhai, READZONE has become the city’s de facto cultural rendezvous point, where the city’s intellectual spirit and energy can be sampled in full swing. It has also risen over the years to become a major influence in the city’s art world, thanks to its regular exhibitions, wonderful art spaces and a fertile relationship with cultural elites all over the country, all the time serving as a center for people to exchange ideas and deepen their devotion to culture. Indeed the brand goes to great lengths to promote reading for people of all ages and walks of life by providing an attractive and stimulating learning environment. With such a strong, far-reaching cultural pedigree, the opening of every new READZONE location causes a stir in the city.