Upon arrival in Beijing, one of the first things an expat develops is an Amazon habit. Compared to other habits-Thai-BBQ potato chips, the Alias box set, erguotou-this one's relatively healthy.

But most book-lovers miss the sensual satisfaction of thumbing through a potential read. Enter Chaterhouse. With around 15,000 books in stock, said purists should have ample chance to catch up on lost thumb time. Still, readers will have to wait until the February 10 official opening to see the full range of titles, which are almost entirely English-language imports from the UK and the US. (Though the store began doing business in The Place-that cathedral-looking behemoth off Dongdaqiao Lu-in mid-December, the opening was but a soft one.)

Chaterhouse Books
Location: B107, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-65871328