21 Bookstores And Libraries In Asia That Book Lovers Must See Before They Die

Kiss your TBR pile goodbye, because we're heading to Asia.

1. Wuguan Books — Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

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This one-of-a-kind bookstore lets you browse your books in peace. Dim lights illuminate each book, as well as sitting areas for reading. The effect is a magical, twinkling bookstore where you can feel like you're the only person in a world of infinite books.

2. Seashore Library — Qinhuangdao, China

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Three hours from Beijing lies a stunning library just yards from the sand and ocean. Dubbed by some "the loneliest library" for its isolation, it provides a quiet space to read — if you can take your eyes off of the view, that is.

3. Starfield Library — Seoul, South Korea

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You would need quite the ladder to reach all the books at this library. Located in the middle of a mall, it seems like an unlikely place for such a stunning display of books, but it's certainly worth a stop to browse (what you can reach, anyway) and snap a photo in front of the shelves.

4. Book and Bed — Various Locations, Japan

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Do you ever finish your book at midnight and reluctantly have to leave the cozy comfort of your bed to grab the next one? Not a problem at this book-themed hostel in Japan! Sleep surrounded by books, or stay up all night trying to devour them all.

5. The David Sassoon Library — Mumbai, India

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Located inside a heritage building that's over a century old, this library and reading room will transport you back in time. With dark wooden cabinets and huge windows, we're definitely picking up Hogwarts vibes in here. What are the chances it smells delightfully of old books? (We're guessing 100%.)

6. Taipei Public Library — Taipei, Taiwan

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This stunning wooden library is also one of Taiwan's most eco-friendly buildings. It not only holds over 60,000 books, but it has rooftop solar panels, wide balconies to trap thermal heat, and even rain-catching systems to avoid water waste. It's as beautiful as it is green!

7. Kanazawa Umimirai Library — Kanazawa City, Japan

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The design of this library seems simple — it's just one large room, after all — but its walls are carefully studded with close to 6,000 small, round windows that allow soft natural light to filter in. The architects hoped to make the perfect peaceful space for sitting and reading. I'd say they nailed that one.

8. Zhongshuge Library — Yangzhou, China

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With mirrors on the walls, ceilings, and even floors, this library is like walking into a new dimension...made entirely of books. If you're looking to knock an art museum and a library off your bucket list, well, this is the place to go.

9. The Library — Koh Samui, Thailand

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This minimalist hotel on the island of Koh Samui is a glamorous reader's retreat. Grab a book or magazine from the hotel library, then head out to the unique red-tiled pool to enjoy. Or sneak back to your air-conditioned room (we don't judge).

10. Cafe Comma — Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Cafe Comma is the next best thing to curling up in your own bed with a good book. This café/bookstore offers small "pods" where customers can bring their purchased drinks and food (and a book of course!) and read the day away in relative solitude.

11. Tianjin Binhai Library — Tianjin, China

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This infamous library has been making the round on social media thanks to its immense size (36,000 square feet!) and staggering ceiling height. It turns out that the main atrium doesn't actually hold many books (they're painted on!), but the other rooms hold plenty for your reading pleasure.

12. Book Park — Seoul, South Korea

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Book Park is a reader's wonderland of cascading shelves piled high with books. Besides the stunning architecture, you'll find unique bookish elements like the chandelier made of books, as well as cozy spots to catch up on some reading.

13. Library Lounge THESE — Tokyo, Japan

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Bar? Bookstore? Why not both? This hidden gem serves up classy cocktails inside a library-themed space. Sip drinks while browsing the shelves and soaking up the ambiance. It may be a bit too dark to actually read, but you'll still be immersed in a bookish atmosphere.

14. Eslite Bookstore — Taipei, Taiwan

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This bookstore chain's Taipei location is the only 24-hour bookstore in the city (and maybe the the world?!) and it's one of their most popular branches. It's perfect for those nights when you finish an amazing book at midnight and need the sequel, like, ASAP.

15. College Street — Kolkata, India

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Did you know that Kolkata has the largest second-hand book market in the entire world? You'll find Boi Para, or "Book Town," on College Street, near many of the city's universities. You could spend hours walking along the colorful stalls looking for every genre under the sun.

16. Candide Books — Bangkok, Thailand

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The floor-to-ceiling glass walls of this bookshop in Bangkok blur the line between the indoors and nature. Browse through the shelves while sneaking peeks at the huge tree settled just outside, or grab a book and spend the day flipping pages in the shade!

17. The Bookworm — Various Locations, China

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This bookstore, library, bar, and restaurant combo has three locations, but we love the one in Beijing which features gorgeous orange drapes on the ceiling and traditional red lanterns. At night, after it turns into an event space, the lanterns are set aglow to give the shop a distinct warm and inviting feel.

18. Woods in the Books — Singapore

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As you'd expect, this bookstore specifically for children's picture books is absolutely adorable. Bright, colorful, and plastered with artwork, adults will love this shop as much as the kids. Stop in to browse, buy a book for a little one (or for yourself, you do you!), and grab a quick pic for the memories.

19. Book Street — Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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Nestled in Ho Chi Minh City, this shady, tree-lined street is a bookish oasis. Lined with bookshops that are quite literally filled to the brim with novels, it's the perfect place to escape the heat by strolling from store to store, maybe with an iced coffee in hand from the local café.

20. Paju Book City — Paju, South Korea

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If your idea of a dream destination is a city entirely dedicated to books, then do I have the place for you! Paju Book City, located an hour outside of Seoul, is 215 acres of book heaven. There are onsite publishers, used bookstores, cafés, and more, so you could easily spend an entire day wandering (and reading).

21. Randy's Book Xchange — Hội An, Vietnam

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When Randy Slocum moved to Hội An, he noticed a distinct lack of bookstores — so he opened one! Now the second largest foreign language bookshop in Vietnam, Randy's is an artsy haven for people looking to buy, sell, or trade their books.

Do you have a favorite bookstore or library in Asia that we missed? Let us know in the comments!