Beautiful, Free Places to Read Tucked Away in Shanghai's Parks

Many Shanghai parks are home to distinctive bookshops, reading halls and tea houses. Lakes frame the windows, trees form a leafy screen, and the rustle of turning pages mingles with birdsong and the breeze. When you have a little time to spare, take a stroll, enjoy some tea and settle down with a book amid the greenery.

Changfeng Park

Nobel Literature Bookstore

China's first and only bookshop devoted to the Nobel Prize in Literature sits among the trees in the northern part of Changfeng Park. Its natural-wood building blends into the lakeside garden, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing old trees, water and landscaped grounds.

The shop stocks Chinese translations of works by 122 Nobel literature laureates, alongside more than 400 foreign-language titles in their original editions. Visitors are welcome to unwrap a book and sit down to read.

Beyond the books, the permanent special exhibition “Stars Shine over Shanghai: A Century of Nobel Literature” offers a number of playful details waiting to be discovered.

The in-house N SPACE serves original drinks inspired by literature, bringing the scent of books and coffee together.

Address: 525 Zaoyang Road, Putuo District (Gate 2, Changfeng Park)

Yangpu Park

Dayin Bookmall · Huajian Tea House

Yichi Tower in Yangpu Park has been transformed into Dayin Bookmall's Huajian Tea House. Inspired by classical Jiangnan gardens, the space offers 10,000 carefully selected books, 150 distinctive periodicals, Huaiyang cuisine and tea.

This poetic retreat in the city brings together books, tea, Huaiyang light meals and Chinese aesthetics. The elegance of a classical garden carries through the reading space, offering a fresh way to slow down and enjoy the day.

Address: 369 Shuangyang Road, Yangpu District (inside Yangpu Park, near Gate 1)

Heping Park

Dayin Bookmall · Kan Tea House

This is China's first bookshop centered on periodicals. Instead of bestsellers, the stars are nearly a thousand magazines from more than 20 countries. Pick one up, take a seat, and an afternoon can slip pleasantly by.

Surrounded by water on three sides, the shop enjoys sweeping views. Beyond the windows, light ripples across the lake and treetops sway, while a record turns quietly in a corner.

Order one of the “Eight Views of Heping” signature drinks. Floral aromas and reflections on the water seem to dissolve into the tea, as time drifts by like a leaf on the surface.

Address: Changxinyuan Road and Dalian Road, Hongkou District; enter Heping Park through Gate 5

Heping Park

Heping Library

This park library keeps its lights on through the night. It has several themed sections, an outdoor reading lawn and more than 100,000 books. Wooden screens and floor-to-ceiling windows bring the atmosphere of a Jiangnan garden into the spaces between its shelves.

After dark, the first floor of the main building remains lit. Even late at night, visitors can push open the door and find a light and a seat waiting for them.

Address: Inside Heping Park, Hongkou District (near Gate 5)

New Hongqiao Central Garden

Dayin Bookmall

Hidden on an island in the lake, this park bookshop brings water, greenery and reading together. The building faces the lake, with panoramic glass windows drawing the view inside. A gentle breeze crosses the waterfront terrace, making it a rare pocket of calm in the busy city.

As the lake shimmers, some visitors read over tea, others work by the windows with headphones on, and friends chat on the terrace. It feels less like a conventional bookshop than a relaxed living space where reading is part of the experience.

Address: Building 13, 2238 West Yan'an Road, Changning District (inside New Hongqiao Central Garden)

Qingxi Garden

Dayin Bookmall × Zhidao Academy

Zhidao Academy stands in Qingxi Garden beside the historic Wanshou Pagoda. Its predecessor, Qingxi Academy, was founded in the fifth year of the Qing Jiaqing reign (1800). A longstanding center of teaching and scholarship, it continues a rich intellectual tradition.

White walls and gray tiles define the academy, whose courtyards are orderly and elegant. Away from the crowds, its brickwork and architecture evoke the refined scholarly character of a traditional Jiangnan academy.

Drawing on its local setting, Dayin Bookmall × Zhidao Academy creates a culturally rich reading space. Books on Qingpu's culture and local history invite residents and visitors to explore the district's heritage and distinctive character.

Address: 406 Qingsong Road, Qingpu District