We're in love with this stunning magazine library in the hutongs

No sitting and scrolling through your newsfeed at this newly opened joint

Poetically named after the breeze created by flipping the pages of a magazine, Spring Whispers Book Club is a café with a difference; it also serves up an array of achingly hip publications alongside your cappuccino.

A large glass window reveals magazines artfully stacked against the back wall, catching the eyes of a number of passers-by. The minimalist aesthetic and abundance of teak are an Instagram-lovers dream. The magazines are mostly independent and modern, with a quick scan down one shelf revealing an eclectic range of features on vintage cars, contemporary photography, cycling apparel and Japanese outdoor lifestyle.

Local architects Fon Studio are responsible for the renovation of a traditional single-storey dwelling into this 'magazine library', which is currently in soft opening. We also hear they're launching a membership system that will soon allow patrons to borrow and read magazines at home.

In the meantime, a bar area serves a small selection of hot drinks where visitors are encouraged to take a seat and peruse. With a latte setting us back 35RMB, it's a reminder that a minimalist aesthetic is often accompanied by not-so-minimalist prices – but the potential to while away a whole afternoon here makes up for it.

The surrounding area proves interesting for a wander, with ornamental bridges and grassy sections scattered around. Also winding through the alleys is the 'Sanli He' canal, a Ming-dynasty waterway that appears to have been pleasantly reimagined rather than restored, given its history as a trench to unload household waste and refuse. The neighbourhood itself is quiet and many of the telltale signs of daily life (read: awkwardly placed bikes, drying hosiery, scruffy cats) are curiously absent. If you head west through the hutongs you'll soon reach Dashilar, where there’s plenty more to discover.

Want to check out this treasure trove of mags? Hit 'Read more' for full venue details.

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