Bookstores in China's capital are looking to creative solutions and government support to help them recover earnings following a years-long slump in sales due to the COVID pandemic. Wang Mengjie reports from Beijing.

WANG MENGJIE Beijing "A book is like a magic garden, carried in your pocket. In this bookstore located at Haidian District of northwest Beijing, this magic garden seems bigger."

Covering an area of 2,000 square meters, the Dayou Bookstore is home to around 50,000 books.

WANG MENGJIE CGTN Reporter "How would you describe this bookstore in one word?"

HUANG GUOYU Clerk, Dayou Bookstore"'Red' books. We mainly display books related to the history and the establishment of the Communist Party of China."

It also boasts a reading area for children, where it sells picture books and children's storybooks.

WU JING Reader "We come here to develop our child's reading habit. We have books at home, but [there are] more books here."

Through books, readers can better understand the world, or even travel to faraway places.

LIU QIUSHAN Vice General Manager Publishing company, SinoMaps Press "We integrated a map into our decoration, and cultural and creative products like this plate. Maps are a world language. We select products carefully, with the hope that people can understand the story behind them. Together with measures from local government, we are seeing an increase in customer numbers these days."

In 2022, the Beijing government offered financial support to more than 300 of the city's bookstores.

In addition to the financial support, some bookstores have found their own survival philosophy.

HAO ZHENZHEN Clerk Drama Bookstore of Beijing People's Art Theatre "The stamp you put reads Capital Theater, which is one of the theaters at Beijing People's Art Theatre."

WANG MENGJIE CGTN Reporter "Why does the bookstore offer stamps to customers?"

HAO ZHENZHEN Clerk Drama Bookstore of Beijing People's Art Theatre "We are inspired by the scenic spots featured on stamps that tourists collect. Most customers are attracted by this."

A paradise for fans of the Arts, the Drama Bookstore mainly sells books about contemporary drama. 

Chic design and special service – a golden match to win the heart of any bookstore lover. Wang Mengjie, CGTN, Beijing.