Authors¡G Go Chengdu

This is the first time that a bookstore in Asia has won the London Book Fair (LBF)¡¦s Bookstore of the Year Award.

Fang Suo Commune, an innovative bookstore from China, was crowned as the Bookstore of the Year at the awarding ceremony for the LBF International Excellence Awards 2019 held March 12 (local time) in London. It is the first time that a bookstore in Asia has won the award.

The event, co-launched by the LBF and Publishers Association (PA), is one the most important events for the publishing industry. It celebrates publishing success in sixteen categories, representing the best publishing ambassadors, innovative publishing, and ground-breaking initiatives in the industry. The awards are given to companies and individuals across the world and across sectors, with categories including Bookstore of the Year, Audiobook Publisher, Educational Initiatives, Literary Agent, and Library of the Year. In each award category, the judge panel is made up of experts in that sector.

In 2014, Fang Suo Commune opened a bookstore in Chengdu. Located at the Sino-Ocean Taikoo, a high-end shopping center in the downtown, the Fang Suo Commune Chengdu has become an iconic cultural space by combining books, design products, floral art, fashion, cafe, exhibitions, and culture events. It has cooperated with the city in the cultural and creative industries and construction of art spaces, including the operation of Fang Ting, a community bookstore set up by it.

Compared with Fang Suo, Fang Ting will be more community-oriented, enabling local residents to experience cultural life in their communities. The first Fang Ting store in the city is expected to be open in Jinniu District in the second half of this year.