The Yiwen Bookstore. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Yiwen Bookstore in Luhong town, Chongchuan district, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, was recently added to a list of the most beautiful public cultural spaces in the province.

The bookstore is part of the Wusan Art Museum and it was designed by its curator Ma Rongchu.

The Yiwen Bookstore's sky window. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The writing on the bookstore's floor-to-ceiling window reads: "the first time, you want to take photos here. The second time, you enjoy the atmosphere here. The third time, you have a great time reading here." This is a reflection of Ma's design concept.

The bookstore – renovated from a traditional black tile-roofed residence – initially lacked natural light, so Ma put a window on the roof.

He also planted some banana trees and maple trees to create an artistic atmosphere for readers on rainy days and in late autumn.

The Yiwen Bookstore. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Unlike regular bookstores, the Yiwen Bookstore exhibits intangible cultural heritage items such as woodblock paintings and invites craftsmen to show off their techniques to readers. It also houses a Wusan Tea House where readers can drink tea, learn about tea culture, and experience traditional Chinese tea ceremonies.

Ma noted that he has been exploring the various possibilities of the bookstore and is now considering opening a night market nearby.