Paperback owls

Customers spend an evening reading books at 1200bookshop, the first round-the-clock bookstore in Guangzhou, that opened in July. Photos by Zou Zhongpin/China Daily

A surge in round-the-clock bookstores across China is helping lovers of traditional books read more, without hampering their day jobs, as Liu Zhihua finds out.

All-night bookstores across China are now offering people an alternative to either partying or watching TV at home. While the stores allow readers to purchase books at any time, visitors are also encouraged to sit down to read.

In July, owners of some 11 round-the-clock bookstores from all over the country gathered in Beijing announcing their alliance to better serve booklovers and to promote reading, at a time when traditional bookstores are closing due to the rise of e-books and online retailors.

Qi Fei, 30, a Beijing resident who works for an international consultancy, is among those who find the extra hours very useful.

He loves the feel of paper in books, walking around a store, looking through the many sections of books. Earlier, Qi seldom had the luxury to turn a few pages at a bookstore or library because work kept him on his toes for most of the day, even on weekends.

But with the new trend in late night bookstores, he no longer needs to miss out on his passion.

"With the opening of a 24-hour bookstore in Beijing, I can finally enjoy books and reading like I used to," Qi says.