A Good Read, Part 1: Fake Books and Bookstores

Part one in a series about where to find a good read in Shanghai Part II, Used Bookstores and Online Shopping
Part III, Libraries in Shanghai

I must admit, I don’t read nearly as much as I should. My bookshelf sits there brimming with half-read titles still crisp from the press, some with the saran wrap still intact. But come this winter, instead of re-watching the same episode of Battlestar Gallactica for the 12th time, I’m going to get in touch with my inner bookworm and attack that imposing stack of books. But why do I have so many books I have never read? Where do they all come from?

The Fake Book Guy

I used to feel that in this city, good books were hard to come by, so whenever I saw a decent-looking title for an affordable price, I snatched it up. This usually came at a bargained price (¥10-30) from one of the many “FAKE BOOK GUYS” that hustle counterfeit books in carts on the street. If you have major ethical concerns about buying counterfeit books, I suggest you do NOT visit this forum to find out where these counterfeit book carts can often be found. There is also a fake book market in the underground market of the Science and Technology Museum in Pudong.

The obvious drawback to Fake Book Man (aside from moral concerns) is the lack of selection. Those street hustlers just keep printing whatever foreigners buy and foreigners keep buying whatever is available. It’s a vicious cycle really! You know someone has been shopping from the fake carts when they start quoting The Black Swan in their arguments over economic policy, and I think every female I know has a counterfeit copy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Foreign Language Bookstores
Shanghai has at least two really good foreign language books stores. One is aptly called Shanghai Foreign Language Bookstore and the other is Garden Books. If I am leaving one out, please leave a comment and I will be happy to mention it.

The Shanghai Foreign Language Bookstore is one of many bookstores along “Culture Street” aka eastern Fuzhou Road, but the only one that specializes in foreign language literature. The 1st and 4th floors have a pretty big selection of English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Japanese, and Korean novels, dictionaries, maps, travel guides, magazines, and newspapers. It also includes plenty of Chinese/Mandarin learning materials catering to speakers of many languages, not just English. In the back just next to the staircase is a row of vendors selling electronic dictionaries. I bought my Chinese-English dictionary there two years ago for 900RMB, still one of the best investments I’ve ever made. The second floor supplies the Chinese student community with test-preparation books (SAT, TOEFL, IELTS, etc) and Foreign-language learning materials. It also includes a children’s book section. The third floor is mostly art, architecture, and design books in non-Chinese languages. You can also get some art supplies and stationery, but prices are better if you bargain out on Fuzhou Road. Book costs are generally list prices. I’ve been there many times and I can’t recall ever seeing a sale (outside of Chinese text books), but it’s the only place in Shanghai you will find an Icelandic-English phrasebook. Gangi þér vel!

Shanghai Foreign Language Bookstore, SBT main branch
390 Fuzhou Road, near Shanxi Nan Rd
上海外文书店总店
福州路390号，近山西南路

Shanghai Book Traders (SBT) is actually the same group that owns the SHFLBS. Most of their stores are geared towards the Chinese, but they have five branches that carry extensive foreign titles:
71 Shuicheng Rd, Gubei (水城南路71号)
554 Biyun Rd, Pudong (浦东新区碧云路554号)
64 Shan Xi Nan Road (山西南路64号), down the street from the main branch
Pudong Airport Branch
Hongqiao Airport Branch
Chinese website: http://www.sbt.com.cn

Garden Books
In contrast to the bustle of Fuzhou Road is the quainter French Concession setting for Garden Books, another bookstore offering mostly foreign-language literature. On the first floor, is a decent coffee shop (Americano, ¥15) and the upstairs has a section dedicated to children. Books from Europe and America can be found at list prices. Garden Books is the closest thing in Shanghai that reminds me of Barnes and Noble because it encourages some reading in the store. Sit on the floor with a latte and spend the afternoon reading Infinite Jest.

Garden Books
325 Changle Rd, near South Shaanxi Rd
长乐路325号， 近陕西南路

Metro City - Xujiahui
On the 5th floor of Metro City in Xujiahui is a big bookstore with a pretty wide selection of Foreign Books for sale.

****Book cart photo credit: warsystems.hu, SHFLBS photo credit: www.jonathaninchina.com