Tianjin Binhai Library

天津滨海图书馆

The “Book Mountain” and “Eye of Binhai” library, designed by Dutch firm MVRDV. Wave-shaped white bookshelves wrap around a huge spherical lecture hall, making it Tianjin’s most photogenic modern building.

Tianjin Binhai Library is located in the Binhai New Area Cultural Center. It opened in 2017 and was designed by the Dutch firm MVRDV in collaboration with the Tianjin Planning and Design Institute. The building covers roughly 34,000 square meters. Its atrium is a tiered white “Book Mountain” that surrounds the silver “Eye of Binhai,” a spherical lecture hall 21 meters in diameter. From the entrance, the sphere looks like a giant eye. The library quickly became an internationally recognized landmark after it opened. Note that most of the books on the high shelves are printed decorations rather than real books.

Visitor tips: The spot directly facing the sphere from the entrance is the classic photo angle. Climb the stairs on either side to capture the depth of the layered shelves. Beyond the atrium, you can visit the children’s reading area and the multimedia zone. The library shares a cultural center with the Binhai Science and Technology Museum, the Modern City Museum, and the Performing Arts Center, so plan on half a day. Admission is free, but you must reserve in advance through the “Binhai New Area Cultural Center” or the library’s official WeChat account. The library is closed on Mondays, and reservations are tight during peak holiday hours. Getting there: take Metro Line 9 (Binhai Light Rail) to Civic Plaza Station and walk about 15 minutes, or take a high-speed train to Binhai Station and then a taxi for about 10 minutes. From downtown, driving takes about an hour. Note: Loud talking and tripods are not allowed inside. Wear light-colored clothing for better photos. The cultural center has dining options and parking underground.

Tianjin Binhai Library

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