Zhongshuge Bookstore in Yangzhou City, east China’s Jiangsu province. (File photo: Xinhua)

BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The total number of brick-and-mortar bookstores in China exceeded 70,000 in 2019, according to figures released at the China Bookstore Conference.

More than 4,000 new bookstores opened in 2019, while over 500 closed. Across the country, Chengdu, Nanjing, Shenyang, Xi'an and Chongqing have the most bookstores, according to the conference.

Statistics show that in 2019, brick-and-mortar bookstores on campus, especially university bookstores, are the focus of development. While rural bookstores and community bookstores are booming.

Big book malls continue to develop in 2019, according to the conference. China currently has 135 book malls covering more than 5,000 square meters each, of which 35 are over 10,000 square meters.