Bookstore carrying reading memories in Xi'an returns after 13 years

The Xinhua Bell Tower Bookshop is located to the northeast of the iconic Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Opened in 1955, the bookshop was the first state-run bookstore in Xi'an and was once a cultural landmark in the city, carrying numerous reading memories of the locals.

The bookstore blended the Soviet-style design and traditional Chinese sculpted reliefs. It was said that locals used to queue up over 100 meters to buy bestsellers in the bookstore. In 2008, the bookstore was relocated due to cultural relics protection concerns.

Recently, the Bell Tower Bookstore moved back to the original site after maintenance which basically restored its original appearance in the 1950s, so that citizens and tourists can once again experience the historical and cultural atmosphere while reading books in the store.

People read books at the Bell Tower Bookstore in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province, Aug. 27, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

Combo photo shows people reading books at the Bell Tower Bookstore in the 1970s (top, provided by the Bell Tower Bookstore) and on Aug. 27, 2021 (bottom, taken by Liu Xiao), in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province.

A woman plays the piano at the Bell Tower Bookstore in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province, Aug. 25, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

Combo photo shows people reading books at the Bell Tower Bookstore in the 1970s (top, provided by the Bell Tower Bookstore) and on Aug. 25, 2021 (bottom, taken by Liu Xiao), in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 27, 2021 shows an exterior view of the Bell Tower Bookstore in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province.[Photo/Xinhua]

Combo photo shows an exterior view of the Bell Tower Bookstore in 1959 (L, provided by the Bell Tower Bookstore) and an aerial view of the Bell Tower Bookstore on Aug. 27, 2021 (R, taken by Liu Xiao), in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province.

A man reads books at the Bell Tower Bookstore in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province, Aug. 25, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

People read books at the Bell Tower Bookstore in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province, Aug. 25, 2021.[Photo/Xinhua]

A woman takes pictures at the Bell Tower Bookstore in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province, Aug. 25, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]