Bookseller bound to love of literature and city's markets

It was a chilly early spring Saturday morning. Arriving at 4 am with his tricycle, Hu Tong wrapped himself in a dark blue overcoat, waiting in front of the closed doors to the Panjiayuan Antiques Market with a flashlight in his pocket.

Thirty minutes later, the door opened and the Panjiayuan's early market, also known as the "ghost market", kicked off. Walking past lines of brightly lighted booths, Hu walked straight to the rear of the market, home to a section devoted to secondhand books. Because it closest to neighboring homes, the area was left darkened so as not to disturb the residents.

Holding the flashlight, Hu, 36, passed each booth with a quick and thorough examination of their offerings.