The tiny mountain village of Liangjiashan
in China’s Zhejiang Province
is a town for book lovers.
From afar, the library looks suspended in midair.
Perched on stilts, the light pinewood frame
and transparent walls offer a welcoming space for readers.
Surrounded by squat, stone houses,
the library incorporates design elements
in tune with the village’s setting.
The library is part of a project to promote tourism in the region
and prevent towns like Liangjiashan from becoming
completely abandoned like many other villages in China.
The books were donated by libraries and households
from across Zhejiang Province.
Liangjiashan is one of thousands of villages left behind
in China’s rapid economic rise,
which has pushed many young people to move into cities.
Residents here still live the same way they have since
the early 1600s, farming and selling produce.
Most of them are illiterate.
That doesn’t stop villagers from visiting the library
to browse through books, a previously rare item in Liangjiashan.
Ultimately, Chen hopes the space will attract young travelers
looking to unwind and get back in touch with nature and rural life.
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