Job Discussion Forums

[No Moss]

According to the South China Morning Post, there is an English bookstore in Guangzhou. It's called Joint Publishing, telephone number 020-8387-2393. It's located at G17, Basement, Peace World Plaza, 362-366 Huanshi Road, under Starbucks on Jianshe Liu Ma Road. Hours of operation are 9:45 to 9:45 daily. The manager, Mr. Xiu, speaks English according to the article. From the titles listed, it looks like it's worth a visit.

I haven't been to the bookstore, so confirmation of my information would be welcome (also, what subway stop is it near?).

[Roger]

It's pretty near my place of abode and work, so I must check it out soon -haven't been there yet. There is no subway station within some 2 kms. Buses you can use include:
No. 10 (from Haizhu square); 234 (railway station: 3 stops at "Huayuan jiudian" or Garden Hotel, then walk back one km!). The Peace Plaza is the building on the corner of the street you mentioend and Huanshi Donglu; it also houses Guangzhou's first STARBUCKS.

A friend of mine found another bookstore that stocks imported books (!); the address is a little mysterious and I have to go there in person. It's rumoured to be next to the Dongshan Park, Pearl River side.

And, don't forget some Yangshuo book swap places. I know a guy there who has really interesting books.

[J9]

Hey,

I'm here in GZ and have checked out many bookstores that sell 'western' books only to be faced with the usual crap- Dickens, Bronte sisters, the stuff that was forced upon you in school. While I have not checked out the store you mentioned I have found the BEST place in GZ for books.

The public library.

It's got a huge western room on the second floor with everything from the latest best-sellers to academic university texts and you only pay 205yuan depsoit to get a card and I think you get that money back when you return the card. It's near Beijing Lu on Zhongshan 3 Lu. It's on the metro line as well. Get off at Nong Jang Suo, one stop after Gong Yuan Qian on line 1. Take exit C and it's on your right just walk past a few other little bookstores and you can't miss it.

Take a passport photo and your passport to the info desk on the 1st floor, they don't speak English but I just pointed to the sign behind them. If you have major probs go to the western book room they speak English there and will help you.

You can take out 2 books for a max of a month.

Happy reading

J9

[No Moss]

Thanks, J9, that's good information. I wouldn't have mentioned the bookstore had the titles mentioned in the article been "the usual ----". Kudos for sharing information, though.

[struelle]

Thanks to a taxi driver, I found two major bookstores across the street that are 2km East of the Peace Hotel. Keep going on Huanshi Road, across a flyover, and you'll see two tall buildings.

Unfortunately they aren't of much use, since they only stock Chinese books and have a very limited selection of Western materials on the top floors respectively.

But I did find some excellent resources on the 'gao kao' (university entrance exams), of which there were many copies of past exams and prep materials for passing the English section. The best is a resource pack of all the 2004 exams, for every province. Recall that in the past several people had posted about where to find these materials to help the Senior 3 students.

As is expected, most of the test contains grammar choice questions of an obscure variety. You know, those kind that students always approach you with. Test yourself here (from the Jiangsu exam):

[I] He got to the train station early, _______ missing his train

(a) in case of
(b) instead of
(c) for fear of
(d) in search of

[II] A: How long are you staying?
B: I don't know. _________

(a) That's OK
(b) Never mind
(c) It depends
(d) It doesn't matter


Steve

[Roger]

I have checked out the Bookstore in PEACE PLAZA, on the corner of Huanshi Donglu and Liushemalu (Garden Hotel): It is in the basement.

Let me say right upfront, those who live in Guangzhou should support a bookstore like this!

It is a small business, but it is well-stocked though there were hardly any fiction works.

I saw brand-news titles imported from overseas, such as:
- The Wealth of Nations
- The Wal-Mart Decade
- Inside Cisco
- The Inflammation Syndrome (How to prevent heart diseases)
- Marching to Valhalla

Many Cobuild works,
Tintin in English,
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, etc.

Obviously, the readership is interested in politics and economics, plus a little in English. I do feel they are trying to bridge a gap that others don't care to bridge.

Give them a try!
Prices may be relatively high - but not unreasonably so! We can afford to pay those prices!