A saleswoman demonstrates an e-book in an electronics shop this month in Beijing. [Wu Changing / for China Daily]

Offering alternatives

If diversity is the key to survival for traditional bookstores, then Huang Jieting, manager of Tangning Bookstore, is already on the right track.

Her shop, which opened about eight years ago and is now one of the most famous in Guangzhou, sells a mixture of creative goods alongside its books, while about 70 percent is used to display a range of artworks.

"Running a bookstore is more complicated than before," she said. "Before you just had to put books on shelves. Today, there is far more to worry about."

Huang has also used various Internet activities to boost the store's reputation. Members of its Web forums and book clubs are also invited to regular movies screenings at its premises downtown in the city's CITIC Square.

"Bookstores are like cultural landmarks," added the manager. "That's their true value."

However, for every modernist like Huang there is a traditionalist like Chen Dingfang, owner of Xooyou Bookstore, the second largest private bookstore in Guangzhou. She said she believes truly loyal readers will stick by the traditional bookstore for the love of books and the atmosphere.

Qu Huazhong at Red Leaf Bookstore agreed. His shop at the moment sells only one thing other than books - and that is bookmark.

"I just want to provide the original service of selling high-quality books. Online stores will never be able to communicate with the readers like we do," said the businessman, who opened his 20-square-meter shop in 1998.

"I'm dreaming of opening a larger store where my readers can enjoy reading while drinking coffee. That's the true meaning of a bookstore," he added.