Peeking out from Flower City Square, the Guangzhou Library stands as a beacon of knowledge. It is Guangzhou’s “cultural window”. This modern marvel houses millions of books and offers a world of information to all.
The Guangzhou Library’s story began long before this gleaming structure. In 1927, the idea for a municipal library honoring Sun Yat-sen took root. Overseas Chinese communities donated generously. Construction started in 1929 at the site of the Cantonese Confucius Temple. The Municipal Zhongshan Library opened in 1933.
During the Japanese occupation in 1938, the library was suspended. A dedicated librarian named Du Dingyou risked his life. He saved about 300000 volumes from destruction. After the war, Du Dingyou helped re-establish the library.
In 1955, the provincial and municipal libraries merged. The original Guangzhou Municipal Zhongshan Library became part of the Sun Yat-sen Library of Guangdong Province. In 1980, the city decided to create a new Guangzhou Library. The opening ceremony was held in 1982.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and Guangzhou needed a bigger, better library. In 2004, plans for a new premise were approved. An international design competition followed. Construction began in 2006. Part of the new Guangzhou Library opened in late 2012. The entire library opened on June 23, 2013. The old building closed its doors a few months earlier.
The new Guangzhou Library boasts an impressive collection. It has 8.433 million items. This includes books, audio-visual materials, and digital resources. There are 4000 seats and 500 computers for public use. The entire building has Wi-Fi.
Consider the library’s design. It uses “Beautiful Books” as its concept. The north and south towers resemble the Chinese character “之”. The cascading exterior represents the overlap of history and culture. The design also incorporates elements of Lingnan art.
Nikken Sekkei designed the Guangzhou Library. It covers a gross area of 100000 square meters. It has a ten-storied North Tower and an eight-storied South Tower. Two floors are underground. It holds 3.5 million books to browse through. See-through elevators and escalators create a sense of openness.
The Guangzhou Library is more than just a building. It is a cultural and educational institution. It provides lending materials, exhibitions, lectures, and internet services. It is a space for learning, research, and communication. The Guangzhou Library aims to enrich the reading life of the community. It promotes innovative and rational thinking. It wants to cultivate a harmonious atmosphere. The Guangzhou Library is a place where reading, sharing, and exchanging ideas take place. It is a true treasure for the city of Guangzhou.