A small converted farmhouse bookstore in Beiyang village of Pingtan county is offering villagers another option for their leisure time as it serves as a sort of library, with a collection of more than 3,500 books and a dozen newspapers and magazines.

Lin Shuluan, the manager, said that an increasing number of villagers are spending some of their free time in the 120-square-meter bookstore and now "everyone in the village reads books."

Lin said that part of its appeal is the fact that the store – which opened in 2011 - boasts a "fashionable design" and also has a wide variety of books.

Lin Risheng, a retired local resident, is a regular visitor and said that he likes to read books on fitness and health whenever he has time.

There are about 1,300 residents in Beiyang, including more than 200 college graduates, and Lin said the bookstore is now the most lively place in the village - and he intends to order new titles.

Lin Yanfu, another regular, said he likes to read books related to his work during the weekend in order to improve his professional skills.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman