Visitors browse books in the Chen-Xia Study at the Capital Library of China in Beijing on December 22, 2025. Photo: Chen Tao/GT

The "Chen‑Xia Study," a special collection room dedicated to the books donated by the couple Chen Pingyuan and Xia Xiaohong, both  professors from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature of Peking University, officially opened at the Capital Library of China on Monday. Gathered in this space is the decades‑long accumulation of the two scholars, exuding a simple and elegant charm.

The initial donation comprises some 13,000 volumes: personal works, edited collections, precious research materials, and books signed by friends and colleagues. Paintings, manuscripts, and other memorabilia are also on display, together tracing the scholarly journey of the couple through the landscape of modern Chinese literature, culture, and thought. This evolving collection will continue to grow, gradually revealing the full arc of their intellectual and spiritual lives.

Chen likened this act of giving to the ancient adage: "A treasured sword for a hero, a fine gift for a beauty." He told the Global Times that printed books - especially those imbued with memory and emotion, those readers return to again and again - retain their value, even in a digital age. "We are simply ordinary lovers of reading. To entrust our books to a public library and see them preserved is, for any scholar, a blessing."

The establishment of the Chen-Xia Study transforms a private collection into the holdings of a public library. Its distinctive, immersive design enriches the library's offerings, providing citizens with a space that is both intellectually stimulating and experientially engaging. 

Mao Yajun, director of the Capital Library of China, told the Global Times that such renowned scholars' studies serve as powerful exemplars, bridging the gap between prominent academics and the wider public and fostering a culture of reading for all.

Chen Pingyuan ( front right) and Xia Xiaohong (front left) unveil the Chen-Xia Study at the Capital Library of China on December 22, 2025.

From family bookshelf to urban treasure

Every detail within the 60-square-meter Chen-Xia Study reflects the aesthetic sensibilities and unique charm of the two scholars.

To the left upon entering, a shelf of books personally selected and inscribed by Chen stands out. Each carries a story, tales of friendships in academia or deep intellectual debates, forming a living "academic circle of friends." 

On the right, a display showcases many signed editions once cherished by Professor Xia's father, their yellowing pages steeped in the fragrance of bygone eras.

To ensure the ideal presentatithan, Chen personally arranged the books, thoughtfully considering every detail until he achieved the desired effect. The room also recreates a corner of the couple's original home study, preserving their daily working environment.

As Chen remarked, 50 or even 100 years from now, visitors to the Chen-Xia Study at the library will be able to glimpse how Chinese intellectuals in the 20th century lived: their reading habits, their reflections, and the environment that shaped their thoughts.

Those books that cannot fit in this space are housed elsewhere in the library, each lovingly cataloged and scanned, enriching the library's holdings. 

Most of the volumes in the Chen-Xia Study are accessible to ordinary book lovers as they are both approachable and engaging. The space not only replicates the atmosphere of a private study, but, thanks to the library's professional cataloging and lending services, also makes it easy for readers to locate and borrow books. 

"We'll continue to carefully select and donate more books to complete the collection and better serve those who need it," Chen said.

Sanctuary for reading

Since March, Chen and Xia have been sorting, selecting, and packing each book before transporting them to the Capital Library - a process filled with nostalgia and memories.

Parting with their books was bittersweet; it felt like bidding farewell to old friends. Chen admitted that he barely slept on the eve of the move.

Yet, as He Guimei, another professor at Peking University, said at the opening ceremony, "The main purpose of a scholar's study is not to hoard books, but to read and use them." By sharing a lifetime's collection with the public, Chen and Xia hope that the next generation can appreciate the unique beauty of printed books and their profound role in the transmission of civilization.

Chen will join another reading event at the Capital Library of China on Tuesday, continuing to share his stories about books and scholarship. 

Both scholars plan to remain involved with the study, organizing academic activities to share their intellectual insights. 

"To sit surrounded by books and listen to stories about them is soothing for body and mind. And it will only deepen the atmosphere of reading," said Peng, s student of Chen. "It feels just like walking into Professor Chen's home study to seek his guidance," she told the Global Times.

A national regulation to promote reading among the public, set to take effect on February 1, emphasizes the importance of diverse promotional activities for reading that encourage citizens to read quality content and nurture a society where reading is both cherished and a skill.

Mao told the Global Times that, guided by the regulation, public libraries like the Capital Library of China must build more inclusive reading services, ensuring access for all ages, at all times, and in all spaces. Libraries should "take root" wherever they are needed, delivering resources that truly meet readers' needs.

With the arrival of the Chen-Xia Study, the treasures of scholars have been brought closer to ordinary readers. 

Such studies become coordinates on the spiritual map of the city, offering a haven for quiet reflection amid the rush of urban life, and preserving tranquility beyond the clamor of the digital age.