Foshan New Library
The construction of the Foshan New Library (佛山市图书馆新馆) began in January 2010, with the civil works reaching completion in January 2012. It was opened for trial use on December 6, 2014.
Location and Overview
The Foshan New Library stands in the heart of Foshan City (佛山市), adjacent to the renowned Foshan Ancestral Temple (佛山祖庙). Since its completion, it has become a significant cultural landmark in Foshan, not only serving as a place of study for eager learners but also as a popular destination for both domestic and international visitors. On average, it receives more than 4,000 visitors daily, with over a million visitors each year. The library hosts more than 500 cultural events annually. Over the years, the library has focused on enhancing its services and promoting reading, launching several cultural brands and service initiatives, such as the “Foshan United Library” (佛山市联合图书馆), “South Wind Forum” (南风讲坛), “New Book Lending Service” (新书外借处), and “Intelligent Library” (智能图书馆). These initiatives have contributed to creating an inclusive reading environment, entering an era of public, barrier-free, and zero-threshold reading.
The library has earned multiple honors, including being recognized as a “National First-Class Library” (国家一级图书馆) and a “National Advanced Cultural Unit” (全国文化先进单位), and has become a highly influential and attractive public cultural institution in Foshan.
Location:
- Address: 11 Huakang Road, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province (广东省佛山市顺德区华康道11号)
- Nearby Metro Station: Century Lotus Metro Station (世纪莲地铁站), Exit D
Open Hours:
- Regular Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Self-service Library: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Area and Size:
- Total Area: 47,000 m²
- Construction Investment: Over 410 million RMB
- Seating Capacity: 2,500 seats
- Design Capacity: 3 million books
History and Construction
In 2003, the Foshan Municipal Government began developing Foshan New City (佛山新城), including the 700,000-square-meter “Foshan New City Cultural Center” (佛山新城文化中心). In February 2008, the municipal government included the construction of the new library as part of this cultural center project. The library’s construction began in January 2010 and completed its civil structure in January 2012, followed by exterior and interior decorations. The new library opened to the public in late 2014.
The library covers an area of nearly 50,000 square meters, standing along the East Ping River (东平河) in Foshan New City. The architecture features a highly flexible, rectangular design and uses a modern, stylish approach to create a cultural landscape. With distinct Lingnan (岭南) architectural elements, the design reflects the city’s cultural heritage. The library is not only a place of reading but also a symbol of the fusion of knowledge and culture.
Architectural Design
The Foshan New Library’s building has a total area of 47,000 square meters (equivalent to two and a half of the old libraries), with a 24,000-square-meter plot. It is a 10-story structure, with seven above-ground floors and one underground level, plus two mezzanine floors. The library is the largest public library among prefecture-level cities in China, with an investment of approximately 410 million RMB.
The library features an inviting and vibrant interior, using white as the main color, combined with red, yellow, and orange elements, creating a lively atmosphere. The architectural design symbolizes the library’s values of “taste, character, and quality” through the giant “品” character (a Chinese character representing quality). The exterior of the building is inspired by Foshan’s paper-cutting art (佛山剪纸元素), and features a poem by Song Dynasty poet Weng Sen (翁森) called “The Joy of Reading Through the Four Seasons” (四时读书乐), which emphasizes the timeless nature of reading.
Function Layout
The library consists of several functional areas, including the book collection area, lending area, consultation services area, public activities and auxiliary service area, administrative offices, technical equipment area, and logistical support. There are seven floors above ground and one basement level. The library can accommodate up to 3 million books, with nearly 3,000 types of Chinese and foreign periodicals. It also boasts multiple large-scale databases and 2,500 reading seats.
Key Areas:
- First Floor: Children’s reading space, periodicals section, and a public area for elderly readers, creating a welcoming reading environment for all ages.
- Second Floor: Multimedia center, internet browsing zones, personal audio-visual areas, movie theater, and recording studio.
- Third and Fourth Floors: Book lending area with 400,000 Chinese books, and the Foshan United Library card service.
- Fifth Floor: Ancient book reading room, Foshan history exhibition area, and local document reading zone.
- Sixth Floor: Self-study area with over 200 seats.
- Seventh Floor: Administrative offices and a rooftop garden with panoramic views of Foshan Park.
Special Features
The new library’s architecture features a unique design that symbolizes both the local culture and modern architectural trends. The exterior walls incorporate the traditional art of Foshan paper-cutting. The concept of four seasons as a time for reading, from Weng Sen’s poem, also aligns with the library’s dedication to lifelong learning and cultural exchange.
The Wisdom Tree (智慧树) near the entrance was relocated from the old library, symbolizing the prosperous development of the library and its future success.
Visitor Information
Location:
- Foshan New Library
Address: 11 Huakang Road, Shunde District, Foshan, Guangdong Province (广东省佛山市顺德区华康道11号)
Transportation:
- Public Transit: Take Bus 118, 805, 942, or 343 and get off at the “Library Station” (佛山公园西站).
- Self-driving: Parking is available at Century Lotus Sports Center (世纪莲体育中心) or along Huakang Road (华康道).
Opening Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Self-service Library: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
New Library Development Positioning:
The Foshan New Library aims to serve as a cultural hub for reading promotion, social education, information sharing, and cultural leisure. It will continue to expand its digital library services, enhance resource sharing, and foster collaboration among various types of libraries in the region. This will allow the library to serve all five districts of Foshan and improve the local public cultural services.
By leveraging digital platforms and physical locations, the library will ensure its services reach both urban and rural areas, bringing cultural and informational resources to the broader community.
