Immigrate to Hong Kong Hong Kong travel highlights and Hong Kong guide: Hong Kong has always been a commercial city, yet in such a fast-paced metropolis, there is a place where the rhythm slows down considerably. Compared to the bustling crowds near Times Square in Causeway Bay, the exterior of Hysan Place shopping center appears less grand. However, for many who love to read, this place is extraordinary, as the famous 24-hour Eslite Bookstore from Taiwan is located within this shopping center; this is the first Hong Kong branch of Taiwan's Eslite Bookstore.
Late at night, passing through Causeway Bay along Hennessy Road, one can look up and see a striking white light sign that reads Eslite. Known for being a "never-closed" sanctuary for Hong Kong residents, it is a bookstore, a cafe, and a spiritual retreat all in one. Since Hysan Place is scheduled to close at 12:00 midnight, the regular operating hours of Eslite Hong Kong will be from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Eslite Bookstore in Hong Kong is located on the 8th to 10th floors of Hysan Place. Upon entering the shopping center, it became clear that the majority of the crowded masses were there to visit Eslite. Because it had just opened, the elevators were not yet in operation, so most people began spiraling up floor by floor using the escalators. By the time we reached the 7th floor, we could already see the harbor in the distance from the heights of Hysan Place. We entered the Eslite Bookstore with a sense of pilgrimage.
According to reports by Hong Kong media, Eslite Hong Kong has already stocked 100,000 titles with a total of 230,000 books waiting for readers to browse. Of these, 60% are in Chinese and 40% are in foreign languages; there are currently no simplified Chinese editions available. The book section accounts for 85% of the total store area, with the remaining space dedicated to introducing Taiwanese tea rooms, cafes, and design shops. However, on the first day of opening, it was impossible to see the legendary act of "pinning" while reading. It is said that at Eslite in Taiwan, readers pick out a book they like and always go to the nearby cafe to either sit on the floor or lean back on a sofa to read carefully; this behavior is known as "pinning."
According to reports by Hong Kong media, Eslite Hong Kong has already stocked 100,000 titles with a total of 230,000 books waiting for readers to browse. Of these, 60% are in Chinese and 40% are in foreign languages; there are currently no simplified Chinese editions available. The book section accounts for 85% of the total store area, with the remaining space dedicated to introducing Taiwanese tea rooms, cafes, and design shops. However, on the first day of opening, it was impossible to see the legendary act of "pinning" while reading. It is said that at Eslite in Taiwan, readers pick out a book they like and always go to the nearby cafe to either sit on the floor or lean back on a sofa to read carefully; this behavior is known as "pinning."
Eslite Hong Kong not only draws countless book lovers but also attracts many tourists. Many people treat it like a sightseeing spot, following the crowd to walk through floor by floor, while few actually stop to flip through a book. There is not much seating currently available inside Eslite, and the cafe is relatively small, but there are many shops selling Taiwanese crafts, tea, handmade soap, and necklaces that are quite popular with shoppers. As a friend suggested on Weibo regarding the three-story Eslite Bookstore in Hong Kong, half a floor for books and two and a half floors for peripheral items and a Cafe would be more profitable, as Hong Kong people prefer shopping over reading, and it satisfies their desire to look like cultural intellectuals while visiting the bookstore.
After walking around, we found that the books here are still primarily best-selling business titles. For example, to cater to the tastes of Hong Kong people, three large display stands at the entrance were filled with travel books about Japan and Taiwan. Meanwhile, categories like traditional Sinology, as previously mentioned online, are difficult to find, with only a few books by currently popular authors. The overall book-buying environment is relatively crowded, and the placement of books lacks clear categorical labeling. Perhaps it is just because it has recently opened, so many aspects are not yet perfected. The Vice Chairman of Eslite hopes to open 3 to 5 more branches in Hong Kong within the next 3 to 5 years. There is still a long way to go.