Exchange an Old Book for Free Coffee at 34 Shanghai Cafés

If you’ve got an old book gathering dust on your shelf and love a good flat white, there’s a unique opportunity in Shanghai this November to turn that unread volume into a caffeine hit. Rather than tossing it or letting it collect more dust, swap it for a free coffee at one of 34 local cafés while supporting a good cause.

From November 1 to 30, 2023, you can trade in one used book for a free coffee at 34 independently owned cafés across Shanghai’s Huangpu District—no chains, just local spots. Each café is offering up to 100 free coffees during the month, and the total 3,400 donated books will go to schools in supported regions and the city’s “Book Fragrance on Sinan” reading hub.

How the Book-for-Coffee Swap Works

The initiative, dubbed “Huangpu Warmth – Literary & Coffee Chapter,” kicked off on October 28 at Fuxing SOHO Plaza. It’s organized by the Publicity Department of Huangpu District Committee, the Huangpu District Spiritual Civilization Construction Office, and the Shanghai Huangpu Digital Business District Operation Co., Ltd.

To participate, bring a gently used book to any of the 34 participating cafés. In return, you’ll receive one complimentary coffee—while supplies last. Each café is limited to giving out 100 coffee vouchers, so it’s first-come, first-served. Once they hit 100, that’s it for the month. Don’t worry, though—there are plenty of cafés to choose from across prime districts like Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road.

What Happens to Your Donated Book

Every book you give away goes toward a bigger mission. The 3,400 books collected over the month will be sent to schools in regions supported by Huangpu District, helping foster reading among students. A selection will also feed into “Book Fragrance on Sinan,” a long-running public reading initiative located along Shanghai’s iconic Sinan Road.

You can also add a personal touch: pick up a “blessing card” at the café, write a short note on why you recommend the book, and leave it for the next reader. It’s a small but meaningful way to share your literary love.

Where to Exchange Your Book for Coffee

The full list of 34 cafés spans some of Shanghai’s most walkable and iconic neighborhoods. Here’s where you can take part:

• – 3F NL3-01, Hong Kong Plaza, 282 Middle Huaihai Road
• Coffee Passionate – Zone A, Lobby, 333 Middle Huaihai Road
• SAICAF – Unit 105, 381 Middle Huaihai Road
• Seesaw Coffee – Lobby, Tower 5, Enterprise Square, 150 Hubin Road
• DEMO CAFÉ – 139 Xing’an Road
• – 121 Changle Road
• Café ON AIR – 634 Lane 650, Middle Huaihai Road (Sinan area)
• TAP café – 150 Nanchang Road (near Sinan Road)
• Solo café beer – 126 Nanchang Road
• ZOO COFFEE – 150 Ruijin 1st Road
• – 1-1Yi Lane 131, Maoming South Road
• – Inside Cathay Theatre, 870 Middle Huaihai Road
• S coffee – 55 South Shaanxi Road
• 221B – 50 Ruijin 2nd Road
• – Near Galing Road, 50 Ruijin 2nd Road
• – 5 Lane 209, Nanchang Road
• ATM COFFEE & TEA – 32 Shaoxing Road
• – 1-198 Lane, Ruijin 2nd Road
• – 30 Lane 155, Jianguo Middle Road (inside Tianzifang)
• – Room 4, 111 Sinan Road
• – 347 Zi Zhong Road
• – 245 Madang Road, Xintiandi Style
• Flowerknows – B1-136, 245 Madang Road
• mon pigeon cafe – Unit 102, Building D, SOHO Fuxing Plaza, 388 Madang Road
• C’est zhazha – Unit 108, Building D, SOHO Fuxing Plaza, 388 Madang Road
• ZOO COFFEE – Units E104-105, SOHO Fuxing Plaza, 388 Madang Road
• Let’s Coffee – 636 Hefei Road
• Lyceum Café – 185 Yuanmingyuan Road, Rockbund
• The Press by Inno Coffee – A1-03, 309 Hankou Road
• One More Cup – 346 Fuzhou Road
• cofixe – 452 Fuzhou Road
• CAFE begonia – 446 Fuzhou Road
• – 524 Fuzhou Road
• KOHELR Café – 1F, 456 West Nanjing Road

You can track café locations and redemption progress via the “” WeChat subscription account.

The “” Bookshelf

At the launch event, organizers unveiled the “” (Sinan Deer), a custom-designed deer-shaped bookshelf. Some of the collected books will be displayed and distributed through this eye-catching installation, which will help deliver donated reads to various “Book Fragrance on Sinan” venues.

The deer joins a broader cultural ecosystem along Sinan Road, known for its historic buildings like the Science Hall and Sinan Mansions, the famed “Sinan Reading Club,” and a “book-loving community” of over 40 government and civic organizations. It’s become a beloved hub for Shanghai’s literary-minded residents.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the book-for-coffee event happening?

The event runs from November 1 to November 30, 2023. Each café has a limit of 100 free coffees, given out on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the month.

Which cafés are participating?

There are 34 independent cafés taking part, mostly located in Shanghai’s Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road areas. The full list includes spots like Seesaw Coffee (Enterprise Heaven), ZOO COFFEE (Huaihai Road), and Solo Café Beer (Nanchang Road), among others.

What kind of book can I donate?

There’s no strict guideline mentioned, but the expectation is that you bring a gently used book — something in decent condition that someone else might enjoy reading.

Can I get more than one free coffee?

Each person can likely only get one free coffee per café by donating one book. Each café is limited to 100 free coffees total for the month, so once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Where do the donated books go?

The 3,400 collected books will be donated to schools in regions supported by Huangpu District and to the “Book Fragrance on Sinan” community reading space on Sinan Road.

How can I find the closest café?

You can check the full list of cafés and their addresses in the article, or follow the “” WeChat account for updates and maps.

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