Best in the World: Beijing’s Bookworm

Beijing is once again topping global lists – but for once it’s not for pollution or traffic. Breaking from the usual trend Beijing is making news for the goods things that it offers, like The Bookworm. This little local expat favorite is considered one of “the world’s greatest bookshops” according to the BBC.

The BBC and Lonely Planet recently listed the world’s top 10 bookshops, spanning the globe from Buenos Aires to Beijing. The Bookworm was cited as doing “everything a good bookshop should do – which is a lot more than sell books.” The extra factors making the Bookworm great include the lending library, book talks, regular whisky and wine nights, and the wonderful annual literary festival.

Much of the BBC list was made up of European shops, and the Beijing’s Bookworm was the only Asian representative. More evidence of Beijing’s ascension to international city status? At the very least it reconfirms our belief that Beijing is the Chinese city-to-be-in.