Guangzhou Children's Library is a public cultural facility serving children and young adults. Established in 1996 and fully opened at its current site in 2015, it offers free services to children, parents and educators.
The library covers 18,000 square meters and has more than 1,300 reading seats. Its collection includes more than 5.6 million physical items and 20 terabytes of digital resources, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building.
Reading spaces are organized around themes such as children's literature, picture books, science, history, foreign-language books, audiovisual materials, exhibitions, digital learning, and family reading.
Foreign-language collection
The foreign-language collection houses more than 100,000 original-language books, mostly in English, ranging from award-winning picture books to works on literature, science, music and the arts.
Library card registration
Foreign nationals can register for a library card with a valid passport or a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card. Visitors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan can register with the relevant travel permit or residence permit.
Library cards can be obtained:
■ In person at the library's service desk
■ Online through the library's WeChat Mini Program, which also handles applications that need manual review, including those made with a foreign passport
Applicants must provide a valid identity document, a mobile phone number and other registration details.
Children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when registering, and the guardian must show valid identification.
Borrowing foreign-language books
Foreign-language books can be borrowed with either a Children's Library Card, for readers under 12, or a Youth Library Card, for readers aged 12 to 18.
Each card allows up to 40 items at a time.
Full registration policies are set out in the library's official guide:
https://www.gzst.org.cn/gzst/portal/chl/doc/37069.html
Reading services
The library offers lending services, reading guidance, reference services, lectures, exhibitions, and reading programs for children and teenagers.
It also runs reading promotion activities for different age groups, among them Summer in Guangzhou, Guangzhou Youth Academy, First Steps in Reading for infants and toddlers, and the Learning with Knowledge study programs.
As the city's specialist children's library, it coordinates citywide children's reading initiatives and publishes the annual Guangzhou Public Library Children's Reading Report.
Visitor information
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Public holiday hours are announced separately.
Address: No. 42 Zhongshan Fourth Road, Guangzhou (广州市中山四路42号)
Metro: Peasant Movement Institute Station (农讲所站) on Line 1, Exit C
Official website: https://www.gzst.org.cn/gzst/portal/index.html
Official WeChat account: "广州少年儿童图书馆"
Note: The information above is for reference only. For the latest updates, please check the library's official website or WeChat account.
Author | Liu Lingzhi
Photos | Guangzhou Children's Library
