We know Roundabout as Beijing’s Salvation Army. When we need to redecorate, move, or spring clean, Roundabout is the first thing that our friends recommend to take away all furniture, clothing, gym equipment (like the treadmill that turned into a clothing rack after a few months) and give them all a second chance at finding new homes while raising money for a good cause.

But what else is Roundabout good for? As an expecting new mom, I’ve discovered a whole new reason to love Roundabout. More specifically, their book section.

Wall to wall of books at Roundabout

Located on the right side as soon as you walk in and taking up what looks like a good fraction of their giant warehouse store, the Book section is filled from wall to wall with donated books in every category. While the majority of the books are in English or Chinese, there is also a wide variety in other languages as well. Kids’ books are divided by age, fiction, non-fiction, art, cooking, test preparation (remember those dreaded SATs?), travel, young adult (for when you want to feel nostalgic with a copy of Harry Potter), and my personal favorite, parenting.

Never too old for Harry Potter

My first baby is on the way and were I back in the US, I’d be hitting up Barnes & Noble and reading everything from what to expect during pregnancy to birthing advice to how to care for my newborn and beyond. I know, everything can be downloaded, but what can I say? I’m old school and still prefer the feel and smell of an actual book. But not here. While Page One has a ton of sections to browse through, what they lack is a decent pregnancy and parenting one. The Roundabout books are all donated and the pregnancy and parenting section is filled with books brought over to Beijing by moms. Costing just between RMB 10 -15 per book, hitting up the Roundabout book section is like trips to the library. Roundabout receives a ton of donations that come in on a regular basis and the Roundabout volunteers work tirelessly to sort and shelf the new arrivals.

Roundabout volunteer sorting the newest donations

Nowadays, a trip to Roundabout to browse through their latest book donations, followed by seriously good Detroit style deep dish pizza at Pie Squared next door has become my new favorite “me time” routine.

Roundabout is a volunteer-run organization and the money from all purchases made at Roundabout goes to support children in need. Go ahead and get your shopping on knowing that everything you spend at Roundabout goes towards a good cause.

Got books you want to donate to Roundabout? Now’s a perfect time!

Roundabout Cathay View Plaza
No. 2 Xiangjiang Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
Ph: 6436 8506

KEEP READING: Roundabout Launches New Online Store 

Images: Mina Yan, pexels

With so many things put on hold this year, we’re so excited to hear that Roundabout is finally back to hosting events again! With school starting back up again, it’s a good time to load up on books for the kids and for yourself. Heck, who are we kidding? It’s always good to load up on some new reading material for the home. While tablets, phones, and Kindles make e-reading convenient, it still doesn’t compare to holding an actual book in your hand.

On Sep 5-6 from 10am – 3pm browse through thousands of donated books in multiple languages for sale at Roundabout. Prices start from as little as RMB 1 and all proceeds will go to benefit children in need.

Kids books start from RMB 1
Paperback books start from RMB 10
Hardback books start from RMB 20

If you’ve got books at home you want to donate, bring them along with you to drop off at Roundabout.

For those unfamiliar with Roundabout, it’s essentially Beijing’s Salvation Army. They collect clothing, shoes, toys, books, furniture, appliances, and more from families all over the city and house them in their giant warehouse. The entire program is run on a volunteer basis so the money you spend shopping at Roundabout gets donated to charities who provide aid to a wide range of people, including the elderly, children in orphanages and from poor families, mentally or physically challenged people and women from disadvantaged backgrounds all over China. So when you’re shopping, you’re actually doing charity work. Sounds like a win, win to us!

Roundabout is always looking for volunteers to help make these kinds of community events possible, so if you’ve got time to help sort books, set up, help out on the days of the book fair, or take everything down when it ends, contact them and let them through WeChat (185 1044 9951 or scan the QR code below) and let them know you’d like to help out.

Roundabout Cathay View Plaza
No. 2 Xiangjiang Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
Ph: 6436 8506

KEEP READING: Roundabout Launches New Online Store