Nestled on the edge of a colossal sinkhole in Luocheng Mulao Autonomous County, Guangxi in the Chinese mainland, a new cliffside bookstore is rewriting the playbook on reading retreats. Glass-walled reading nooks hover above a yawning abyss hundreds of meters deep, framed by the region’s iconic karst peaks and lush greenery.
Part library, part adventure hub, this cultural project marries geology with literature. Designed by local architects in partnership with scenic area authorities, the 200-square-meter structure floats over a natural wonder. Floor-to-ceiling shelves stock more than 3,000 titles—from global classics to regional Mulao folklore—inviting visitors to lose themselves in stories as vast as the sinkhole itself.
Early data shows the bookstore welcomed over 5,000 visitors in its first week, 60% of whom are aged 18–35. Social media buzz has driven a 30% uptick in weekend tourism, according to local tourism boards. Sustainability is core: the space is built with reclaimed bamboo, powered by solar panels, and channels 10% of ticket revenue back into cultural preservation.
For entrepreneurs and innovators, the bookstore demonstrates how cultural tourism can power growth in emerging regions. For travelers and digital nomads, it offers Wi-Fi–enabled reading pods suspended above an alluvial marvel. And for thought leaders, it poses fresh questions on merging natural heritage with creative industries.
As global citizens seek authentic experiences, Guangxi’s sinkhole sanctuary stands out—proof that sometimes the best way forward is to look down, not up.
Reference(s):
Cliffside bookstore in Guangxi turns sinkhole into cultural retreat
cgtn.com
