About JF Books 季風書園

JF Books (Jifeng Book Inc.) is an independent bilingual bookstore rooted in Shanghai since 1997 and newly opened in Washington, D.C. on September 1, 2024. As the only Chinese-English bookstore in the city and a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we are committed to intellectual freedom, diversity, and critical thought. Our shelves feature a curated selection of Chinese-language books from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, as well as English titles focused on China and Asia studies.

More than a bookstore, JF Books is a public cultural space. We host monthly events including JF SALON, JF IMAGE screenings, book launches, and reading groups—building a vibrant community through knowledge, ideas, and shared imagination.

A Beacon Silenced, a Legacy Reborn

Jifeng Bookstore wasn't just a bookstore.

For two decades, it was a cornerstone of China's intellectual landscape. With eight branches at its peak, Jifeng fostered a love of reading and critical thinking through meticulously curated selections in social sciences and humanities, alongside vibrant cultural events. Lectures, forums, readings, and independent documentary screenings pulsed with intellectual energy, drawing in over hundreds of thousands of attendees in its final five years. However, Jifeng's commitment to open dialogue clashed with a tightening grip on free expression. When told in advance of its fate of having to close on Jan. 31, 2018, it held a 283-day long countdown, accompanied by rich cultural events. 

Jifeng's Last Night

The bookstore's last night was a testament to its spirit. Readers from across China converged, bringing flowers, choosing books, and reciting poems in a silent show of solidarity. Faced with the darkness that followed being cut off, these patrons refused to be silenced. They injected joy and hope into the darkness. Phones became flashlights, bookshelves adorned with LED lights, and the bookstore hummed with life anew. A young man's piano serenade, a circle of dancers swaying to the music, and a chorus of voices singing farewell resonated through the night. Jifeng's story resonated globally, featured in The Economist, the New Yorker, the Diplomat, and The National Interest. The bookstore's demise became a symbol of a stifled civil society.

Jifeng Rises Again

Today, Jifeng Bookstore finds a new home in Washington D.C. with a new name, JF Books. This isn't just a revival; it's a continuation of its legacy. While Chinese-language social science and humanities books remain a cornerstone, JF Books will also showcase English-language works exploring China and Asia, and celebrate the voices of Asian-Americans. Beyond books, JF Books will once again be a platform for diverse cultural events, fostering connections through knowledge, ideas, and the shared human spirit.