1200 bookshop

So I'm going to tell you a bit about this bookshop, as it was told to me (but probably a bit different due to the fact that I just tend to hear the bits of stories I want to hear and have been proven to be sketchy on the details).

This is a wonderful 24 hours bookshop and gallery space in G to the Z. The name 1200 comes from one of the owners, who had spent time backpacking in Taiwan.  During that time he was amazed by the kindness and general awesomeness of the people of Taiwan - and of how many people who went out of their way to help him during his 1200 kilometres of travel around the island. 

He wanted to bring a bit of that kindness to the people of China and create a community where people could be looked after - a place where people could hang out if they had nowhere else to go. 1200 bookshop does that. It's open 24 hours and is a place where people can spend hours reading and sipping on a coffee, and if they really need to - there are purpose built nooks for people to sleep. 

Aside from all of that, the aesthetics are beautiful.  Dimly lit room with books housed in ancient wood carvings which have been transported all the way from Dali.  If handmade gifts and a wonderful selection of books weren't enough, there is a downstairs gallery space housing antiques which have been effortlessly (well seemingly) put together in open rooms like you were in a hipster heaven. Go check it out: Tianhe North Road (on the same side as the Grand International Hotel).