A time capsule of art and artifacts, Shanghai’s largest vintage book market has finally reopened after its 2020 closure. Arrive at 6 am, and you’ll already find it buzzing with collectors digging pile after pile in search of paper relics from the 20th century.
Formerly known as the Wenmiao Book Market (文庙旧书市场), it was originally located beside the Shanghai Confucian Temple. Launched in 1986, the market was initially held just four times a year before gradually growing to once a week. At its peak in the early 2000s, it reportedly drew close to 10,000 visitors a day, all hunting for fragments of the past.
And it’s never been just about books. Vendors lay out century-old postcards, food ration coupons, and long-defunct magazines. You can also find first editions and even signed copies of rare titles—all for less than 10 RMB (1.45 USD). Well, that’s if you have the patience and sharp eye to spot a hidden gem before someone else does.
Among the most beloved finds are huabao (画报), pictorial magazines filled with poster-like spreads of educational imagery and propaganda art. There’s also the lianhuanhua (连环画), also known as xiaorenshu (小人书, literally “little person books”). They are palm-sized illustrated storybooks containing folklores, serialized dramas, and revolutionary tales.
There’s more than just paper goods, too; jade pendants, calligraphy scrolls, old coins, vinyl records, ceramic vases, and all kinds of vintage trinkets line the tables.
Today, the market lives on the fourth floor of the Fumin Shangxia (福民商厦) building, open every Sunday from 6 am to 5 pm. The visitor population skews older, perhaps searching for pieces of their youth, but youngsters weave through the crowd too, drawn by the romance of bygone print in today’s digital age.
Cover image via RedNote.
