August 2026

The opening of a bookstore rarely makes international headlines. But when JF Books, known in Chinese as “Jifeng” (seasonal winds), opened its doors in Washington, D.C. on September 1, 2024, the news was covered around the world, from The Washington Post and The Economist, to Der Spiegel in Germany and The Straits Times in Singapore. The stories spoke of repression and rebirth: Founded in Shanghai in 1997, Jifeng was a cultural landmark in the Chinese metropolis for two decades, but was forced to shut down in 2018 when its landlord refused to renew its lease, most certainly due to pressure from the authorities. Six and a half years after Jifeng’s last day in China, the store’s signature green logo lit up again, this time on the other side of the Pacific. Nestled in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood, it’s a welcome addition to the literary scene in the U.S. capital, and stands out for its selection of Chinese-language books and events on Chinese politics.