As this year's World Book Day is coming, let's take a look at the world's fascinating libraries and enjoy the fun of reading.
Interior view of the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, taken on April 19, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
1. Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil
Located in the center of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading is a library and cultural institution. It was built in the late 19th century under the stewardship of an association of Portuguese migrants.
Open to the public since 1900, the cabinet has the largest collection of Portuguese literature outside Portugal, holding more than 350,000 books.
Exterior view of the Alexandria Library in Alexandria, Egypt, taken on April 19, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
2. Library of Alexandria, Egypt
The Alexandria Library in Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. The library, destroyed in 415 AD and rebuilt in 2002, is not only a library, but also a museum and scientific research institution. It is known as the Egyptian cultural center and a lighthouse of thought, culture and science.
Interior view of the Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Center, Berlin, Germany, taken on April 19, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
3. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Center, Germany
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Center officially opened as the main library of Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany in October 2009, with about 2.5 million books, of which about 2 million are available for readers to borrow.
People read in the Mazarin Library, Paris, France, on April 20. [Photo/Xinhua]
4. Mazarin Library, France
Mazarin Library is located within the Institute of France, on the left bank of Seine in Paris. Created in the 17th century, it has one of the richest collections of rare books and manuscripts in modern France, and is the oldest public library in the country.
People visit the Stuttgart City Library in Stuttgart, Germany, on taken on April 19, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
5. Stuttgart City Library, Germany
Stuttgart City Library is a monolithic cube outside with a hollow design inside. The hollow part is connected with misplaced stairs to create a unique sense of space. Since its completion in 2011, it has become a local cultural card and a "instagrammable" place for many tourists.
A book wall inside the National Library of Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia, taken on April 19, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
6. National Library of Indonesia
The Indonesian National Library, located in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has the most complete collection of publications in the country, recording the history, culture and information of Indonesia in various times. Manuscripts written on leaves, bark, bamboo and Indonesian native paper are some of the rare items kept in the collection.
Interior view of Yunxi Library in Tonglu, East China's Zhejiang province, taken on April 18, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
7. Yunxi Library, Zhejiang province, China
Yunxi Library is located in Daijiashan village, Tonglu county. It is transformed from traditional folk houses of the She ethnic group. With yellow mud rooms and wooden windows, the library has rich categories of books, coffee and cultural areas.
Bookshelves at the Vasconcelos Library in Mexico City, Mexico, taken on April 18, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
8. Vasconcelos Library, Mexico
Vasconcelos Library is located in the downtown area of Mexico City. It was designed by the famous Mexican architect Alberto Kalach, and named after José Vasconcelos, the philosopher and former president of the National Library of Mexico. It was completed in May 2006 and opened to the public.
People read in Wormhole Library in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on April 16, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
9. Wormhole Library, Hainan province, China
Located in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, the symbolic and artistic Wormhole Library provides the public with an ideal spot for reading and resting. It has a reading space that can hold around 10,000 books and has a multifunctional audio-visual area, as well as leisure areas such as cafes, baby care rooms, a common room and a rooftop garden.
The hall of the Admont Abbey Library, Austria, taken on April 13, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
10. Admont Abbey Library, Austria
The library hall, built in 1776, was designed by the architect Joseph Hueber. It is one of the largest monastery libraries in the world and a famous tourist attraction in Austria. It attracts a large number of tourists every year.
Source: China Daily
Editor: Lv Yun