Paperback owls

A surge in round-the-clock bookstores across China is helping lovers of traditional books read more, without hampering their day jobs, as Liu Zhihua finds out.

All-night bookstores across China are now offering people an alternative to either partying or watching TV at home. While the stores allow readers to purchase books at any time, visitors are also encouraged to sit down to read.

In July, owners of some 11 round-the-clock bookstores from all over the country gathered in Beijing announcing their alliance to better serve booklovers and to promote reading, at a time when traditional bookstores are closing due to the rise of e-books and online retailors.