On January 29, Yanyouji, a debt-laden bookstore chain, once famous for its elaborate interior designs, closed its last branch in Shanghai. This event is part of a wider trend in recent years of the rapid rise and downfall of numerous lavishly designed bookstores. 

Unlike traditional bookstores, this new breed of visually attractive bookstores features chic combinations of bookstores, cafes and gift stores. Many of these stores have turned into popular check-in spots for fashionistas wanting to create post-worthy pictures. 

Many book lovers lament the fact that these bookstores, being too fixated on visual appeal, have lost their original charm, namely the creation of quiet spaces where customers can get lost in the stacks. Made up of the same ingredients—mirrored walls, niche art and fashion magazines, and miniature art galleries, these bookshops also seem to be little more than replicates of each other, without much potential to turn first-time visitors into loyal customers. 

Hopefully, these bookstores will not only offer a more varied assortment of interior styles but also shift their focus back to the provision of quality books.