A Nanjing Local's Take on Nanjing: Yunji Study by Xuanwu Lake

Jinling Library Yunji Study

Address: No. 22 Xuanwumen

Visit time: September 2022

One morning, after attending an event at Xuanwu Lake, I didn’t want to walk too much. I lingered by the lake, then headed out to take the subway home. By chance, I spotted a cute sculpture on the square in front of the Xuanwu Lake gate. A little white horse and a girl, head to head, playing. Right then, an elderly couple with a little girl were posing for photos next to the sculpture. I stopped, and realized that a hotel under the Guxanadu brand had transformed into “Jinling Library, Yunji Study.” These days, bookstores and studies are full of artistic flair, so I had to check it out.

The study is encircled by floor-to-ceiling dark tea-colored windows, blurring the line between inside and out. Outside, a ring of seats and teacups invites you to bask in the sun, daydream, and watch the world go by.

On the side near the road, an outdoor event space is set up with camping gear—tents of various shapes and lounge chairs. It’s more than enough for a small to medium-sized salon.

Entering through the east door, you see a spacious rectangular room; beyond a round doorway at the far end lies another world.

Panoramic glass with hanging roller blinds; the scenery outside is faintly visible.

The study is predominantly white, with wood-toned tables, chairs, and bookshelves; a faint tea fragrance fills the air—simple, rustic, home-like.

In one corner stands a Jinling Library self-service kiosk, where you can apply for a card and borrow or return books on the spot—very convenient.

I imagined the study would be small, but it turned out to be huge. A long space running north-south unfolds further. On one side is a food service counter; on the other, a wall of bookshelves with sofas and wooden dining tables.

They serve coffee, desserts, simple meals, cold dishes, and various drinks. The menu leans heavily toward light, beautifully presented food.

Seeing the sizable kitchen area and seats beside the full-wall bookshelf, it’s amazing—Yunji Study has become a dining bookstore.

Pretty little ornaments can be found everywhere on the shelves.

Various types of books on the shelves, accented with small decorations, and the watercolor paintings on the walls are full of character.

Clean windows, fresh green plants, wooden desks surrounded by book-covered walls… The floor-to-ceiling windows let sunlight fill the room, mixing with the artificial light, brightening both the space and the soul.

Doorways of various shapes connect room to room; each turn and step brings a delightful surprise.

Through this round doorway, you can see a busy young man in the kitchen.

Behind this door is another dining room—or shall we call it a reading space!

There’s a signboard here, revealing the study’s many roles: Yunji Xuanwumen Cultural Tea House, Nanjing Cultural Creative Museum of the World Capital of Literature, Nanjing Design Corridor, Chengxintang Wendu Resort Hotel…

Unexpectedly, another vast space opens up—perhaps the hotel reception area!

The entire space is elegantly decorated, steeped in cultural and historical ambiance.

One side features large floor-to-ceiling windows.

The courtyard view outside is full of narrative charm.

Books are arranged with artistic flair.

An old wooden carved door acts as a partition, dividing the space.

This small entrance area is simply arranged but evocative.

An elegant guqin platform, refined tea culture—full of Qinhuai River charm.

This space houses the Nanjing Cultural Creative Museum of the World Capital of Literature.

Inside the cultural creative museum, young people are working; what an inspiring environment, surrounded by books!

The cultural creative products are distinctive.

This is the hotel’s buffet restaurant, tidy and tastefully arranged.

The pictures on the walls evoke poetry and far-off places.

Space within space, endless surprises.

Almost entirely panoramic glass windows, where the scenery outside merges with the interior’s, creating a multifaceted beauty.

Going up the stairs to the second floor, a several-meter-long classical painting ushers us into a rich tea-scented atmosphere.

A display stand sits in the middle; entering through the round door is the hotel lobby.

The display stand offers various tea culture products for sale.

Here are the hotel’s private dining rooms.

An interesting sculpture led me to discover Yunji Study. It’s so rich—hotel accommodation, dining, light meals, coffee, reading. The books are mainly literature and picture books, making it a wonderful place for relaxed leisure reading. I saw several families—mothers with children and their own mothers, three generations relaxing together. The shelves are filled with picture books available for open reading. One young grandmother held a baby under one year old, reading a picture book story about ‘Planets’ in a charmingly serious manner. That scene reminded me of my best friend who just became a grandmother; I must recommend this study to her.

The study faces Xuanwu Gate and the Ming city wall. How blissful to sit here with a book, breathing in the tea fragrance.

Exiting through the study’s south door, I took a look at the study’s ‘ID card’ hanging there. Three identities make it exceptionally rich. Yunji Study perfectly blends spiritual and material nourishment.