JF Books — Local services in Washington

JF Books is a hidden gem in Washington, D.C., offering a distinctive cultural experience that’s hard to find elsewhere.

Situated in Dupont Circle, the bookstore is beautifully curated with a vast selection of Chinese-language books as well as English titles focused on Asian studies, Chinese history, and works by Asian authors. This collection fills a much-needed niche, bringing a slice of China’s literary landscape to the U.S. capital.

What truly sets JF Books apart is the passion of its owner, Yu Miao, who re-opened this bookstore after his original Jifeng Bookstore in Shanghai was forced to close. His dedication to fostering a space for free expression and cultural dialogue is evident in the bookstore’s inviting atmosphere, where customers are encouraged to explore and engage in meaningful discussions. Yu Miao’s vision isn’t just to serve the Chinese community but also to connect with the broader D.C. community, making it a wonderful hub for those interested in learning about Chinese and Asian culture.

The bookstore also hosts community events, from poetry readings to thought-provoking talks by writers and scholars, creating a vibrant space for cultural exchange. For anyone looking to immerse themselves in a cross-cultural experience or simply pick up some quality literature, JF Books is...

I was so excited and interested in this bookstore that I took the weekend to make a special drive to check it out. I have to say, the amount of Chinese books here is huge. But the overall layout is so disorganized, the titles are not arranged in the usual way, just a collection of similar books on one shelf, that I really feel confused. Also, the amount of books is large, but the scope is narrow. Would have liked to see more books in different fields.

I'd also like to say something about the atmosphere, it's too noisy, although not seeking to be as quiet as a library. But a large number of people were discussing loudly next to each other, and if they were discussing academics or other meaningful issues I think it would be fine, but if they were just bragging and talking nonsense, then it would really affect people who wanted to read properly, and it gave me the feeling that it was like a political club. I ended up leaving after staying for only half an hour because of the loud nonsense that one person kept talking, and my friend even laughed wholeheartedly at this person's tall tales and could only leave after a brief...

I had high expectations, but unfortunately, there weren’t many interesting or newly published books available. Almost all books are related to the discipline of history, not the broader field of social science.

The arrangement of the bookstore was confusing and didn’t follow typical book cataloging practices. I often found myself confused about the genres of the books when looking at the shelves, with similar genres scattered or different genres mixed together. Besides, most Chinese books were vertical shelving with no flat display on lower-height tables, which are common in typical American bookstores. It appears abundant and diverse - books are crowded, but lacks good organization, pacing, and featuring.

Additionally, several employees were talking—not loudly, but loud enough to disturb readers or other customers. I could hear their conversations clearly. A simple solution would be to play background music to cover the noise, similar to what Kramers, the next door bookstore, does. Unfortunately,...