(Photo/Xinhua)

A large number of brick-and-mortar bookstores have debuted a more fabulous look in cities across China, offering diversified services like cafés, which has driven more people to the stores in the winter.

Though there has been some criticism saying such commercial operations are ruining readers’ deep reading, these bookstores with trendy decorations and various services are still seen as a new mode to foster people’s reading habits in this fickle society, experts said.

With the goal of attracting more readers, spiral stairs, cafeterias, and related cultural salons provide a multi-level feast for the eyes and are becoming essentials in these fancy stores. The strategy has been successful among young people who prefer e-reading, and they are flocking to the physical stores to enjoy a wider range of new products, according to China News Service.

“Photos shared on social platforms aroused my interest, so I visited some shops to take pictures and sometimes read recommended books. Compared to traditional bookstores, they are more like culture spaces,” said a commuter on Weibo.

To some, this commercial operation may just sound like a way to make money, but the reality is that such stores are struggling to adapt. In a fabulous bookshop in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, nearly 70 percent of the store’s revenue comes from its cafeteria, cultural and creative products, and ceramic art products, with book sales last year making up the remaining 30 percent, said its manager.

Some people visit these bookstores just to chase the trend, using the books while taking photos. At Xian Feng in Nanjing, eastern China’s Jiangsu province, visitors line up under landmarks to take pictures, ignoring the books on the shelves.

Though triggering some controversy, the industry is exploring new ways to foster reading interest among Chinese.

Chinese adults read 4.67 print books and 3.32 e-book per capita last year, and about 67 percent of Chinese urban and rural areas call for reading festivals or other public reading activities, according to a national reading report released Tuesday.