Library with a difference opens in Guangzhou Railway Museum

A library built within a refurbished train carriage opened in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Thursday, offering a unique experience for readers.

The library within a carriage — the first of its kind in China — is an officially designated branch of Guangzhou Library.

Built within a Type 22 old green train hard seat carriage in the outdoor exhibition area of the Guangzhou Railway Museum, the library maintains an old-fashioned feel by preserving original elements such as the original seats, rotating ceiling fans and luggage racks.

The carriage is also equipped with library-specific facilities, including multiple book cabinets and self-service machines.

The Type 22 passenger train is part of China's second generation of main railway passenger trains and once played a crucial role in China's railway passenger transport. Production of the train ended in 1994.

The library's catalogue includes literature, history, biographies and science, as well as a wealth of books related to railway culture, popular science and industrial development.