culture

Beijing Book Clubs: What Visitors Should Know About Local Venues and Programs

Regular English-language meetings take place at established venues in Dongsi, Dongzhimen and Chaoyang District.

By Beijing Culture Desk · Published July 25, 2026

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Beijing Book Clubs: What Visitors Should Know About Local Venues and Programs — Photo by Karim Amar / flickr (pdm)

The Spittoon Book Club holds its monthly English-language literary meetings at 8 PM on the first Thursday of each month at Camera Stylo in Dongsi. The Beijing Science Fiction Reading Group gathers every Tuesday at 8 PM in Dongzhimen to discuss English-language sci-fi stories, including a session set for March 3, 2026. An English book club at the Bookworm in Chaoyang District meets on the last Sunday of each month at 19:30.

Spittoon Book Club

This monthly group focuses on literary discussion in English and uses Camera Stylo in Dongsi as its fixed venue. Meetings occur at the same time and day each month, giving visitors a predictable schedule to plan around.

Beijing Science Fiction Reading Group

The group meets weekly on Tuesdays at 8 PM in Dongzhimen and restricts its discussions to English-language sci-fi stories. A confirmed session is listed for March 3, 2026, allowing visitors to align travel dates with an upcoming gathering.

Bookworm English Book Club

The Bookworm in Chaoyang District hosts this monthly English-language session on the last Sunday at 19:30. The venue serves as the consistent location for readers who prefer weekend timing.

Scale of Local Reading Groups

Beijing has approximately 200 mid-scale book clubs. Sixty-six percent of Chinese readers have expressed a desire to join group reading activities, indicating steady participation across the city. The 2025 Beijing Book Fair runs from April 22 to May 5 at Chaoyang Park and features over 400,000 books, providing an additional large-scale opportunity for visitors interested in reading events.

Visitors can locate these groups through the listed venues and scheduled times without needing advance reservations beyond confirming the monthly or weekly pattern. Checking the specific day of the week against the first Thursday, last Sunday or Tuesday schedule helps match personal availability to the existing programs.

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