Free Reading Spaces in Shenzhen | Perfect for Rainy Days or Study Sessions
Most of Shenzhen's public libraries and "studies" (shufang) are free and require no booking, and some are even open 24 hours — great for rainy days, finding a quiet spot to read, or getting some temporary work done. The 6 below span Luohu, Futian, Nanshan, Longhua and Bao'an, all along metro lines and reachable from all three border crossings.
① Luohu Library (New Building) | 21 Floors of Stacked Bookshelves (Luohu)
Address: Luohu Library, 1016 Yijing Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen. The new building has a total floor area of 77,000 sqm across a full 21 floors, designed around the concept of "stacked bookshelves," with floors 1 to 16 currently open. The first floor houses the country's first HarmonyOS smart hall, a 24-hour self-service library, and reading areas for seniors and braille users; floors 2 and 3 are children's picture books and teen spaces; floors 4 to 16 feature themed zones for design, healthy living, and Shenzhen-Hong Kong culture.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–21:00, closed Mondays. Free, no booking required.
Transport: Metro Line 5, Yijing Station, Exit C.
② Baixing Shufang (Dangan Dasha branch) | Futian 24-Hour Glass Study (Futian)
Address: Baixing Shufang (Dangan Dasha branch), Futian District, Shenzhen. This 4-storey glass-curtain-wall study has a minimalist wood aesthetic, with a spiral staircase connecting all four floors and a "sky-high bookshelf" displaying around 20,000 books. The ground-floor public reading area and study room are open free 24 hours, including the "Shixi Guan" 6-person study room; the second floor has 6 single-person study rooms called "Jingsi Fang."
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 9:00–21:30, Friday to Saturday 9:00–22:00, closed Mondays; the independent 24-hour reading area is open year-round, study rooms require online booking. Free entry.
Transport: Metro Line 1 or Line 6, Science Museum Station, Exit D/F, or Line 9, Hongling South Station, Exit A.
③ Nanshan Shufang · Hongyi Ge | Inside Lixiang Park, Look Down at Books, Look Up at Greenery (Nanshan)
Address: Next to the Lixiang Park West Gate bus stop, Nantou, Nanshan District, Shenzhen. Hongyi Ge holds around 10,000 books, with floors 1 and 2 open, featuring immersive reading seats, shared seating and a terraced reading area — look down at your book, look up at greenery. Outside the study, Lixiang Park has over 1,000 lychee trees and a large lawn.
Opening hours: 8:00–23:00 (family zone 8:00–21:00), closed on alternate Mondays. Free entry.
Transport: Metro Line 12, Nantou Ancient Town Station, Exit A, about a 600-metre walk to Lixiang Park West Gate.
④ Shenzhen Library North Building | White Diamond Box (Longhua)
Address: Building 1, 30 Tenglong Road, Daling Community, Minzhi Street, Longhua District, Shenzhen. The North Building has a floor area of about 72,000 sqm across 8 floors, connected to the Shenzhen Art Museum (New Building) — both designed by the same team. The interior features high ceilings and warm lighting; the ground-floor Yuedu Hall is open 7:00–23:00, and after reading you can walk next door to see an exhibition.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–21:00, Mondays only partial areas open. Free, no booking required.
Transport: Metro Line 4 or Line 6, Hongshan Station, Exit A1, about a 300-metre walk.
⑤ Bay Area Eye | One of the World's Largest Physical Book Cities (Bao'an)
Address: Bay Area Eye, 1 Baohua Road, Bao'an District, Shenzhen. The design uses landscape architecture as its brush, with a 20,000+ sqm starlight garden on the roof; inside are nearly 100,000 titles and over 300,000 selected books, plus three themed reading spaces — "Art Garden, Humanistic Panorama, Joyful META" — along with the Bay Area Folk Museum and a large number of city-first stores. Free, no booking required.
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 10:00–22:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00–22:30.
Transport: Metro Line 5, Baohua Station, Exit A1, direct access.
⑥ Bao'an District Library | The Library Floating on Water (Bao'an)
Address: 1 Baoxing Road, Xin'an Street, Bao'an District, Shenzhen. The water in front of the library shimmers, and from a distance it looks like it's floating on water — hence the nickname "Library on Water." The second-floor general lending area has a 5-metre-high glass wall with great natural light, and seats are often full.
Opening hours: Main reading area Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–21:00 (closed Mondays); the 24-hour self-service library is open year-round. Free, no booking required.
Transport: Metro Line 5, Baohua Station, Exit D, about a 250-metre walk.
Opening Hours at a Glance
| Venue | District | Opening Hours | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luohu Library New Building | Luohu | Tue–Sun 9:00–21:00 | Line 5, Yijing Station |
| Baixing Shufang | Futian | 24-hour reading area open year-round | Line 1/6, Science Museum Station |
| Nanshan Shufang Hongyi Ge | Nanshan | 8:00–23:00 | Line 12, Nantou Ancient Town Station |
| Shenzhen Library North Building | Longhua | Tue–Sun 9:00–21:00 | Line 4/6, Hongshan Station |
| Bay Area Eye | Bao'an | Sun–Thu 10:00–22:00 | Line 5, Baohua Station |
| Bao'an District Library | Bao'an | Tue–Sun 9:00–21:00 | Line 5, Baohua Station |
Getting There from the Three Border Crossings
- Luohu Port: Take Line 1 from Luohu Station, transfer to Line 5 to Yijing Station (Luohu Library New Building).
- Futian Port: Take Line 4 from Lok Ma Chau Station, transfer to Line 1 to Science Museum Station (Baixing Shufang).
- Shenzhen Bay Port: Take Line 13 from Shenzhen Bay Port Station, transfer to Line 12 to Nantou Ancient Town Station (Nanshan Shufang Hongyi Ge).
Practical Tips
- Most libraries are closed or only partially open on Mondays — plan your trip accordingly.
- Security checks are required on entry; some study rooms require online booking via the official mini-program.
- 24-hour reading areas usually require ID or a reader's card to register — bring your Home Return Permit just in case.
- New venues like Luohu Library New Building and Bay Area Eye are popular photo spots — go early if you want a seat.
FAQ
Do these libraries and studies charge a fee?
All 6 above are free to enter; some study rooms require online booking but are also free of charge.
Can Hong Kong residents go in to read?
Yes, public libraries are generally open to the public; if you want to use self-service borrowing or register for the 24-hour area, it's best to bring your Home Return Permit.
Which ones are open 24 hours?
Baixing Shufang's ground-floor public reading area and "Shixi Guan" study room, plus Bao'an District Library's 24-hour self-service library, are all open year-round.
Which is most convenient on a rainy day?
Shenzhen Library North Building is connected to Shenzhen Art Museum New Building — one stop for books and exhibitions; Bay Area Eye and Bao'an District Library are both around Baohua Station, so you can visit both in one trip.
⑦ Shenzhen Book City Central City | Futian CBD's Largest Book City (Futian)
Shenzhen Book City Central City branch at 2014 Fuzhong 1st Road, Futian District, is one of Shenzhen's largest mixed-use book cities, with well-organised sections and bright, airy spaces. The second-floor self-study seats are usable without making a purchase, and many people sit there reading for half a day. Right next door are Shenzhen Library, the Concert Hall and Civic Center — perfect for a citywalk afterwards.
- Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 09:30–22:00, Friday to Saturday 09:30–22:30.
- Transport: Metro Line 3/4, Children's Palace Station, Exit E (about a 1-minute walk); or Line 2, Civic Center Station.
⑧ Shenzhen Book City Nanshan City (Nanshan)
At 2748 Nanhai Avenue, Nanshan District, near Haiya Binfen Plaza and Maoye Department Store, this branch is large with a wide range of books. Transport: Metro Line 9, Nanshan Book City Station, Exit B (about an 81-metre walk); Line 12 also reaches it. Free entry, opening hours similar to the Central City branch (generally 09:30–22:00).
⑨ Mi Bookstore (Longhua Hongshan 6979 branch)
Mi Bookstore on the 2nd floor, Block 10, Hongshan 6979 Commercial Centre, Longhua District, features warm-toned "chessboard" shelving, a terraced open reading area and a family reading zone on the second floor, plus a café — a new-style bookstore that's great for both photos and reading. Open roughly 10:00–22:30, free entry. Transport: Metro Line 4, Hongshan Station, Exit A/D.
A reminder: Shenzhen Book City also has branches at Luohu City, Bao'an City, Longgang City, Longhua City and more; most bookstores let you browse freely, but note that some self-study areas require a purchase to sit. Opening hours are subject to each store's official announcement.
Sources: ShenzhenLOOK WeChat official account, official announcements from each venue; opening hours may change from time to time — refer to the latest official announcements.
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