On a TV program introducing the 10 best bookstores in the world, I heard of Eslite for the first time. At the time I figured it was just a well-designed bookstore, but when I visited Eslite Bookstore in Xinyi District in Taipei, I was introduced to a whole new chapter on the meaning of bookstores. I found Eslite to be a very different experience from the traditional bookstores I'm used to, so much so in fact that I was happy to explore all eight floors of Eslite.

Xinyi Eslite Bookstore, taking up some 10,000 square meters of space, includes six stories above ground and two basement floors. It offers a new concept in book shopping by having boutiques sell everything from books and jewellery to furniture and plants.

The second floor through to the fourth floor boasts a collection of more than one million books alone. The floors are divided into various sections, such as the New Arrival Bookstore, Magazines Area, Fashion Bookstore, Travel Bookstore, Arts Bookstore and so on.

Each section is designed with a book theme in mind. The section I liked best is the Food and Beverage Bookstore. The books are presented in an eye-catching way on the shelves or displayed on a table in a restaurant kitchen. While buying books there, book-lovers can also pick up some cooking tips by watching cooks prepare various recipes. Shoppers can even enjoy a good meal in the restaurant.

In addition to being a bookstore, Eslite houses a number of outlets selling products that represent the spirit of Taiwan's indigenous culture. Among these items are traditional glove puppets and glass art. Traditional Chinese embroidery and textile crafts are also on sale.

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