Changsha's first 24-hour bookstore adds to trend

[Photo by Deng Zhangyu/China Daily]

He calls Taskin the "future bookstore" and adds that such places aren't just spots for bookworms and night owls. It's a lifestyle, a place that combines culture and innovation, and provides a social platform for young people to exchange ideas and views.

The layout and function of Taskin reminds people of Taiwan-based Eslite Bookstore, a famous bookstore chain that opened its 24-hour shop in Taipei in 1989 and has since expanded to Shanghai, and Suzhou in East China's Jiangsu province.

More than half of the books sold in Taskin are imported and focuses on subjects like art, design, culture and management.

Other than a coffee area, there's a place where customers can drink wine while reading books. It even offers four studies where readers can spend their nights reading without being disturbed by anyone.

Long says the bookstore's target customers are young professionals from fields such as culture, design and technology since it is located in a building that's surrounded by offices.

These young professionals are usually busy during the day and eager to read at night to acquire new knowledge. Long was inspired to keep his bookstore open all the time in a bid to keep young readers happy.

During the 15 days since Taskin's opening in June, Long himself often visited it in the early hours and found 20 to 30 readers there.

In the face of the technological explosion in China, the most common question he gets asked is: "How long will your bookstore go on?"

"I will run it for at least 10 years," says Long.

Earlier this month, Guangzhou in Guangdong province, opened its third 24-hour bookstore and Beijing will add another at a tourist spot in Di'anmen by the end of the month.