Eyes of the GBA

A reading space at the Shenzhen Book City Bay Area Store features extensive and diverse collections. Photos by Weng Jingzhen unless otherwise stated

Dubbed the "Eyes of the GBA," the Bay Area Store of Shenzhen Book City combines retail bookstores, exhibition spaces, a science-and-technology innovation showcase, and a leisure park.

It consists of two arc-shaped buildings that resemble a pair of large, round eyes, when viewed from high above. Standing side by side with the square-shaped Bao’an District Library, it forms the distinctive Qianhai cultural complexes.

With 131,000 square meters of floor space, equivalent to 18 standard soccer fields, it houses a collection of more than 300,000 volumes across nearly 100,000 categories, from arts and design to humanities and parenting. Whatever your literary niche, you are likely to find it here.

Some collections of the Art Garden, which is one of the three themed reading spaces. Photo by Sun Yuchen

A highlight of the bookstore is its three themed reading spaces: the Art Garden, the Kaleidoscope of Humanities and Happy Meta. Designed by internationally renowned artists, each of the reading spaces features a distinctive yet complementary architectural style, offering visitors an immersive reading experience.

Located on the first floor in the north wing of the bookstore, the nearly 3,000-square-meter Kaleidoscope of Humanities offers a spacious interior with carefully designed lighting, creating a cozy, tranquil ambience.

The Art Garden, situated above the Kaleidoscope on the second floor, provides 270-degree panoramic views of the neighborhood. With interiors adorned with abundant plantings, it feels like reading surrounded by nature and art.

For families with children, the Happy Meta space on the B floor in the south wing is ideal. Decorated in bright hues with a stars-and-sea theme, it includes distinct corners for children’s picture books, hands-on exploration and more. Children can read, craft, and make new friends here.

Visitors immerse reading at the Eyes of the GBA store. Photo by Sun Yuchen

Installations of characters in animation "Nobody" are on display in the atrium. Photo by Sun Yuchen

At the sci-tech innovation showcase center, the latest cutting-edge products by BYD, Huawei, DJI and other Shenzhen high-tech firms are on display, highlighting the city’s innovation strengths and offering hands-on experiences on Shenzhen-made products.

Sci-fi enthusiasts should not miss the Three-Body experience center here. The first of its kind in South China, the center features the country’s largest Natural Selection warship installation and VR setups, allowing visitors literally step into and explore the Three-Body universe.

Another architectural highlight of the establishment is the rooftop park spanning more than 20,000 square meters — the Starry Garden. Connecting the south and north wings and open year-round, the Starry Garden creates a seamless indoor-outdoor experience that blends bookstore and park.

Readers indulge in reading in the bookstore. Photo by Sun Yuchen

Add: 1 Baohua Road, Qianhai (前海宝华路1号)

Metro: Line 5 to Baohua Station (宝华站), Exit A1