Weishan Library

In 1922, this institution began as the Menghua Library. Now, the Weishan County Library stands in Mengyang Park, Yunnan Province, operating as a National Grade Two Public Library. It serves as the hub of a network comprising 10 township sub-libraries, 83 village service points, and two 24-hour self-service bookrooms.

Deep within the library lies its historical core. A preserved wooden bookshelf suite, crafted by local carpenters in 1939, holds the weight of regional memory. These custom-made cabinets, including the dedicated Sibu Congkan and Yunnan Congshu cases, exude the faint scent of aged wood. They protect over 6,000 rare ancient books and manuscripts, such as the Menghua Zhigao and the Four Siku Quanshu. Alongside these volumes rest 1,000 folk manuscripts, including historical land contracts and personal letters.

The preservation of these texts relies on human hands. Library director Chen Chunyan, who learned the delicate craft of paper restoration from master restorer Yang Liqun, now trains her own apprentices here. During a 2024 training session, restorers mended 5,537 leaves of deteriorated Han and Yi minority texts. In the process, they identified a rare, surviving edition of the Spring and Autumn Fingerpost from the reign of the Kangxi Emperor.

The library connects Weishan's past to its digital present. It remains open every day of the year, welcoming over 90,000 annual visitors who walk its quiet aisles, touch its screens, and read beneath its historic rafters.