One of the major worries, for book lovers, is that once you have decided to start your new life somewhere unknown and far beyond your comfort zone, you would likely have to leave most of your books behind and your new apartment feels empty without them. Moreover, you are worried that you won't be able to find a book in a language you could understand, such as English. 

But here is the thing about Shanghai. Its first foreign bookstore opened in 1950. By the end of 2023, Shanghai had 239 public libraries and numerous bookstores. 

The Foreign Languages Bookstore is a historical bookstore that once served scholars and diplomats from all over the country. Today it stands gracefully in its historical Art Deco style building amongst all other bookstores and stationery shops on Fuzhou Road. 

And this is my go-to haven. 

The store offers most, if not all, the genres a bookworm would want. From forever reprinted classics to newly released books. From educational textbooks to literature and even illustrated books, it's so difficult to walk in and not walk out without at least one book. English isn't the only language you will find here. A small selection of French, German, Russian, Spanish as well as some other Asian languages, like Korean and Thai, can be found too. 

Fuzhou Road itself was once regarded as "publishers' street" with the alluring Bund view on the horizon that one might unconsciously walk toward after shopping for books. And good news, just across the Foreign Languages Bookstore stands yet another large bookstore, the Fuzhou Road Book City. Though the majority of their books are in Chinese, they offer a small section in foreign languages, including some photo and art books. And you can find art related books along the street – both new and old. 

Back to the center of the city, on the busy Changle Road under the trees, lies the Garden Books. It was a famous meeting place over a decade ago for expats and was the first bookstore I visited in Shanghai. Today's Garden Books still offers a cozy, coffee-aroma filled space with various English books to choose from. A relaxing afternoon with a book doesn't sound so bad, does it?

And while Abocado Lady is famous as a hidden gem for fruits, veggies and imported stuff for your dinner, the shop also has a tiny section for English magazines. 

For historical research, I often found myself at the Shanghai Library, with a decent collection of foreign books on one floor. But now you can enjoy an even bigger space and larger collection of books, magazines and newspapers at Shanghai Library East on No 300 Yingchun Road. 

Staying short term or don't want to spend that much on new books? No specific idea what you want to read – you just need something? That's okay. There are second-hand books at events like Commune Market, Jiaotong Market and a decent go-to second hand bookstore, Stepping Stones, just around the corner from Xujiahui Station (exit 8) inside the famous Shanghai Industrial Building (上海实业大厦). On the fourth floor, Room G, lies a hidden Eden for second-hand French and English books. The store receives donations from time to time and the best thing is, your purchase will help those in need as proceeds go to charity. 

After over a decade in Shanghai, I'm now finding myself counting and sorting all the books that take up almost half of my personal space. As World Book Day approaches, I'm sure I'm in the right city for it. 

 

The author Sage Birden has been living in Shanghai since 2010 (first brief visit in 1995). She has 25 years of experience in animation, and is a mother who has bottle-fed hundreds of kittens.