The Ultimate Guide to the Shanghai Library

Discover the Shanghai Library with LTL

Are you looking for the perfect place to study?

Home is too distracting, and coffee shops can get expensive if you order a drink every day (Western coffee comes at Western prices!)

The Shanghai Library (上海图书馆), open every day from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM, is the perfect spot to study, minimise distractions, and save money!

Shanghai LibraryHow to get there

Shanghai LibraryWhat’s inside

Shanghai LibraryDo I need a library card

Shanghai LibraryHow do I get a library card

Shanghai LibraryLibrary Tips

Shanghai LibraryConclusion

How do I get there?

The library is located at No. 1555, Huahai Middle Road in Xuhui District.

The Chinese address is 徐汇区 淮海中路1555号.

But if you’re taking the metro, you should get off at the conveniently named Shanghai Library station (上海图书馆), on Line 10.

From there, you can exit at Exits 2 or 3, which lead out to either sides of the library.

Shanghai Library - The main entrance
Shanghai Library – The main entrance

What’s inside the library?

The library building looks very impressive, and there are large open windows that provide plenty of natural lighting. Green plants are also used in the decor, which help to soften the hard stone architecture.

When you enter the library, you must go through a security checkpoint.

However, it’s very fast and takes only a few extra seconds. The security guards also seem very relaxed!

Shanghai Library

The library has several floors. On the main floor, there is a Starbucks and bookstore that sells a few drinks. Downstairs, there is a cafeteria-style dining area in the basement, along with another small coffee shop.

The library is divided into 24 reading rooms, organised by categories, such as tourism or law.

Rooms are very clearly marked, in both Chinese and English.

Shanghai Library - First floor
Shanghai Library – First floor

Also, the library bathrooms are very nice for being in a public place! They have real toilets (not squatting toilets) with paper towels/toilet paper and soap!

5 Shanghai Books You Won't Be Able To Put Down 📖 Thumbnail

5 Shanghai Books You Won’t Be Able To Put Down 📖

Here are five Shanghai books that you need to check out. Once you pick these up, you won’t be able to put them down. All are set in Shanghai.

Do I need a library card?

The short answer is no…but!

Without a library card (读者证), you can’t access most areas of the library.

The library has several floors, but you need a card to get anywhere beyond the first floor. Additionally, the library provides free WiFi, but you need to enter your library card number to access it!

If you don’t have a library card, you can get into the general reading room (on the first floor), the bookstore (which has a few small tables to sit at), and the downstairs cafeteria.

Shanghai Library – The bookstore sells both books and drinks

So if you plan on going to the library to study, I would highly recommend getting a library card!

I know from personal experience that you can’t study in the bookstore without buying a drink (which comes from a machine, nothing fancy), and the general reading room has always been full when I’ve visited.

But don’t be intimidated! Getting a card is easy, and the instructions are clearly written out in English.

3 Days in Shanghai 🤔 How To Spend 72 Hours in Shanghai? Thumbnail

3 Days in Shanghai 🤔 How To Spend 72 Hours in Shanghai?

3 Days in Shanghai | 72 hours isn’t a lot of time but it’s enough to see some great things in Shanghai. Find out what to do in Shanghai in our post.

How do I get a library card?

To get a card, all you really need is your passport. Bring your actual passport (not a picture or photocopy), and on the main floor of the library, you’ll find some computers in a row near the staircase and escalator.

Here, you can apply to get a library card.

Shanghai Library - Getting a library card is easy! Just follow the instructions on the computer
Shanghai Library – Getting a library card is easy! Just follow the instructions on the computer

When you get your card, you can choose from three options:

  1. Card with reference/research reading function: this allows you access to the reading rooms, and you can request certain books.
  2. Card with general book-borrowing function/central library card: in addition to giving you access to all the reading rooms, your borrowing privileges are upgraded, and you can use other Shanghai district and county branch libraries. However, this option requires a 100 RMB deposit.
  3. Card with reference/research book-borrowing function: this last option requires a Shanghai residence ID and a deposit of 1000 RMB, so this one is likely not your best choice.
Shanghai Facts (for 2022) - Numbers That Blow Your Mind Thumbnail

Shanghai Facts (for 2022) – Numbers That Blow Your Mind

Shanghai Facts and Figures (for 2022) – Incredible Numbers In 2011 I got talking with a professor at Shanghai’s Fudan University. One thing he told me that day has stuck with me since. He told me that 25% of all…

If you mostly plan to study at the library, the first and most basic option should be enough.

On the computer, all you to have to do is choose your option of library card and enter some information.

Then you’ll get a piece of paper to bring to the Registration Desk in the lobby. Bring them your passport and you should be good to go!

Shanghai Library - You should go get your card at this Registration Desk
Shanghai Library – You should go get your card at this Registration Desk

If you choose the second option, you’ll receive a slip of paper that you should save and bring back in order to get your deposit back.

You’ll get your card right away, and you can immediately use to it to get into the reading rooms.

Library tips

Here are some of my personal tips about visiting the library!

Shanghai Library – The library atrium

In my experience, the library is usually very full.

Most rooms only have 1 or 2 open spots at desks or tables.

So if you plan to study with a friend, don’t count on being able to sit together.

You also might need to go up several floors to find an empty spot.

Additionally, the reading rooms are very very quiet! Maybe that should go without saying, but there is hardly even a whisper heard in these rooms!

So you won’t be able to take phone calls or even have a quiet conversation with a friend.

Other library visitors don’t take kindly to this, especially since many of them seem to have taken up residence at their desk (sleeping, eating, and/or drinking).

This last tip is really just for fun, but the library also has a machine that sanitizes your books for you!

I had never seen anything like it before, so if you visit, you might want to check it out!

Shanghai Library - Book sanitizing machine
Shanghai Library – Book sanitizing machine

In conclusion…

The library is a fantastic place to study or get some work done. It provides WiFi, snacks, drinks (including a water dispenser where you can refill your water bottle!), desks, and lots of natural lighting!

Just make sure you get a library card first, otherwise you risk not being able to find an empty spot in the general reading room or bookstore.

Personally, the library is one of my favorite study spots, so make sure to check it out sometime during your stay in Shanghai!

Shanghai Library – The best place to study!

Have you ever visited the Shanghai Library? What did you think? Tell us about your experiences at the library in the comment section below!

Shanghai Library – FAQ’s

Where is the Shanghai Library?

The library is located at No. 1555, Huahai Middle Road in Xuhui District.

The Chinese address is 徐汇区 淮海中路1555号.

What Metro stop is closest to the Shanghai Library?

If you’re taking the metro, you should get off at the conveniently named Shanghai Library station (上海图书馆), on Line 10.

From there, you can exit at Exits 2 or 3, which lead out to either sides of the library.

What is the name of the Shanghai Library in Chinese?

The Chinese name is 上海图书馆

What are the opening hours?

The Shanghai Library is open every day from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM, is the perfect spot to study, minimise distractions, and save money!

Want more from LTL?

If you wish to hear more from LTL Mandarin School, why not join our mailing list? We give plenty of handy information on learning Chinese, useful apps to learn the language and everything going on at our LTL schools!

Sign up below and become part of our ever growing community!

What about online Chinese classes? We’ve got the best teachers, all from the comfort of your own home. Check them out!

3 comments

Leave a Reply

You will get a reply from us
Your email address will not be published. Name and Email are required.

  1. 5 Brilliant Shanghai Books You Must Pick Up and Read
    Reply

    […] know a book is popular when you see it in every bookstore you visit. That’s how I came across Shanghai […]

  2. Maria
    Reply

    Where can I buy books in Shanghai?

    1. Angela
      Reply

      Hi Maria,

      There are numerous Chinese bookstores throughout Shanghai, which can be found through Dianping. The biggest English bookstore in Shanghai is the Shanghai Foreign Language Bookstore near Nanjing East Rd. station.

      Pretty much any book you want can be found online on Taobao as well!

      LTL