They are not bookstores or libraries but cozy public reading spaces, where people from different housing communities gather to read and exchange books with neighbors. Before such spaces appeared in recent times, Chinese would crowd bookstores to get the chance to read for free, especially when public libraries were shut.

In Beijing's Xicheng district, for example, there are 23 such public reading spaces, featuring various themes such as tea, theater and youth.

Public reading spaces began to emerge after the Beijing Reading Festival was launched in 2011, especially with its widespread "Reading Plus Me" campaign. So far, the festival has held 20,000 events and hosted 10 million visitors.