What kind of poetic scene unfolds when books and groceries share the same space? You may figure it out at Tonglu’s Yanling Book Market, which opened just days ago.
Step into the Jiangnan Food Market and you’ll find the usual hustle and bustle—people coming and going, a lively atmosphere all around. But in the atrium on the first floor, a quiet little reading corner stands out. In the public reading area, several locals are flipping through books. At two bookstalls nearby, you’ll find works by local authors and books on Tonglu’s culture and geography, alongside health and wellness titles, literary classics, and children’s literature—something for readers of every age.
“I used to rush in and out when I came to buy groceries. Now this book market is such a nice addition. Next time I come shopping, I can bring my grandkids and read here—I get my groceries and my reading done at the same time,” said 63-year-old He Xiaohong, a resident of Zhonghang Community. She happened upon the market while running errands that day. She added that she often reads with her two grandsons at home, and gave a big thumbs-up to the idea of bringing a book market into a food market.
According to Lu Xuan, head of the postal business department at China Post’s Tonglu County branch, the Yanling Book Market is a joint initiative by the county’s Publicity Department and the county postal branch. It runs twice a month—on the Wednesday through Friday of the first and third weeks—as a new grassroots reading initiative rooted in everyday market life. On-site services include free reading, cultural and creative displays, convenient book purchases and delivery, and public-interest science outreach.
"Spend 100 yuan or more on books on-site, and you can enjoy free postal delivery—a culturally rich gift for friends, family, or yourself," Lu said. Going forward, he added, the market will keep gathering feedback from residents, expand its book selection, actively coordinate with library lending services, and further refine its offerings to better match the reading needs of different groups.