Moving to Shanghai as an avid reader can feel like a small heartbreak. Your personal library is thousands of kilometres away, and the thought of navigating a new city in a new language to find a decent novel is daunting.
The good news is that Shanghai has a surprisingly rich ecosystem for English readers. From a historic flagship bookstore on Fuzhou Road to a second-hand charity shop hidden inside an office building, there are plenty of places to get your hands on physical books. Here’s where to go.
The Flagship: Foreign Languages Bookstore (外文书店)
If you only visit one place, make it this one. The Foreign Languages Bookstore on Fuzhou Road is the undisputed number one spot for English books in Shanghai.
It’s a four-floor, 2,000-square-metre store housed in a beautiful Art Deco building. The selection is genuinely impressive — from early 20th-century American classics to European issues of Vogue, Cambridge prep books, and gorgeous coffee table books. English isn’t the only language here; you’ll also find French, German, Russian, Spanish, and some Asian languages like Korean and Thai.
What to know:
- Address: 390 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District (near Nanjing East Road Station, Lines 2/10)
- Hours: 10:00–18:30
- Tip: The organisation can be a bit confusing if you’re browsing without a specific title in mind, but staff are usually helpful if you ask.
The Expat Classic: Garden Books (上海韬奋西文书局)
For years, Garden Books on Changle Road has been a meeting place for expats. It’s a cozy, two-level space with an ice-cream parlour and café on the ground floor, where you can sit and browse.
It claims to have one of the widest ranges of English language books in Shanghai, covering fiction, non-fiction, and travel guides. If there’s a book you want that they don’t have in stock, they can often order it for you. The store also hosts literary events — in March 2026, for example, it hosted an evening with author Paul French.
What to know:
- Address: 325 Changle Road, Xuhui District (near South Shaanxi Road Station)
- Hours: 10:00–22:00
- Tip: Prices are full retail, so it’s better for browsing and discovering than for bargain hunting. For cheaper options, check Taobao or second-hand sources.
The Architectural Gem: Tsutaya Books (茑屋书店)
Shanghai has two Tsutaya Books locations, but the one in Columbia Circle (上生新所) is the one worth making a trip for. It’s housed inside a century-old Spanish Baroque building that was originally the Columbia Country Club, designed by American architect Elliott Hazzard.
The selection is curated rather than comprehensive, with a strong focus on art, design, and culture. It’s a beautiful space to spend an afternoon, and the surrounding Columbia Circle complex has plenty of cafés and restaurants.
What to know:
- Address: Building 7, Columbia Circle, 1262 Yan’an West Road, Changning District
- Hours: 10:00–22:00
- Getting there: About a 12-minute walk from Jiaotong University Station (Lines 10/11), or a 10–15 minute walk from Yan’an West Road Station (Lines 3/4)
The Budget-Friendly Hidden Gem: Stepping Stones
If you’re on a budget or just love the thrill of a second-hand find, Stepping Stones is a must-visit. It’s a charity second-hand bookstore hidden inside the Shanghai Industrial Building near Xujiahui Station.
The store receives donations of English and French books, and all proceeds go to charity. It’s a great place to browse without spending a fortune, and you never know what you might find.
What to know:
- Address: Room G, 4th Floor, Shanghai Industrial Building (上海实业大厦), near Xujiahui Station (Exit 8)
- Tip: It can be a bit tricky to find — look for the entrance to the office building and head to the fourth floor.
The Second-Hand Chain: Duozhuayu (多抓鱼)
Duozhuayu is a popular circular commerce brand in China that specialises in second-hand books and clothing. Their Anfu Road store in Xuhui is a lovely green building spread over three floors.
The second floor is dedicated to books — a large collection of sanitised, quality-checked second-hand titles, with a strong focus on literature and art. The selection is in Chinese and English, and the atmosphere is quiet and calm. You can also browse and order through their WeChat mini-program if you prefer to shop online.
What to know:
The Library Option: Shanghai Library
If you’re looking to borrow rather than buy, the Shanghai Library has a dedicated foreign language section on the fourth floor of the main building on Huaihai Road. It holds many English books, covering subjects from law and economics to medicine and computer science.
You’ll need a reference library card to borrow. Each card allows up to six books for 28 days, with one renewal possible. Overdue fees are 0.50 RMB per book per day.
The newer Shanghai Library East branch on Yingchun Road also has a large collection of books and periodicals in Chinese and foreign languages, with a much larger, more modern space.
The Wildcard: Taobao and Online Options
For sheer convenience and price, Taobao is hard to beat. If you know exactly what you want, you can almost certainly find it, often at a fraction of retail price.
There is one important caveat: some international editions sold on Chinese platforms have content modified or redacted. Pages relating to certain topics may be blanked out or glued together. If you’re buying a specific title, it’s worth checking reviews or asking the seller about the edition.
For second-hand books specifically, Kongfuzi (孔夫子旧书网) is a well-known Chinese platform for used and antiquarian books, and it has a WeChat mini-program called 孔网 that makes browsing easier.
A Quick Reference Table
| Store | Type | Location | Hours | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Languages Bookstore | New books | 390 Fuzhou Rd, Huangpu | 10:00–18:30 | Widest English selection |
| Garden Books | New books + café | 325 Changle Rd, Xuhui | 10:00–22:00 | Cozy browsing, events |
| Tsutaya Books | Curated new | Columbia Circle, Changning | 10:00–22:00 | Art, design, beautiful space |
| Stepping Stones | Second-hand charity | Shanghai Industrial Bldg, Xujiahui | Check locally | Budget finds, charity |
| Duozhuayu | Second-hand | 300 Anfu Rd, Xuhui | 10:00–22:00 | Quality used books |
| Shanghai Library | Borrowing | 1555 Huaihai Rd / East Branch | See website | Free borrowing, large collection |
| Taobao / Kongfuzi | Online | — | 24/7 | Convenience, price, specific titles |
Final Tips for Book Lovers
Book swaps happen. Keep an eye on WeChat groups and community boards. The Rooster bar on Jiangning Road hosts monthly book swaps, and Shanghai Mamas runs a larger swap once or twice a year. These are great ways to refresh your shelf and meet other readers.
The Fuzhou Road area is worth exploring. Beyond the Foreign Languages Bookstore, there’s the Fuzhou Road Book City across the street, and the whole street is lined with stationery shops and smaller bookstores. It’s a pleasant afternoon out.
Libraries are fewer than you’d expect. Compared to the city’s population, Shanghai doesn’t have a huge number of public libraries. The main Shanghai Library and the new East branch are your best bets, but don’t expect the kind of neighbourhood library network you might be used to back home.
If you’re settling into Shanghai and want a neighbourhood with easy access to these bookish spots, the Former French Concession and Jing’an are hard to beat. If you’d like help finding a home near your favourite bookstore, get in touch.
Shanghai Rentals
WeChat: 13816427716
Email: info@shanghai-rentals.com
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