With robotic arms, a towering 21-meter automated book vault, and immersive spaces for music and film, Shenzhen Library North Branch feels more like a sci-fi wonderland than a traditional library.

On April 3, it welcomed 76-year-old calligrapher Wang Chaozhu — widely known as the “Shanxi Grandpa” for his viral metro station lettering. Touring the smart book system, he marveled at its speed and scale: “Shenzhen’s high-tech is truly shocking!”

Opened in December 2023, the library houses 4 million books and features a seamless retrieval system that delivers titles in minutes. For Wang, the visit was a cultural encounter — where traditional Chinese calligraphy met the future of public learning and global admiration.