Chongqing – When Jin Weizhu took over a struggling street-side bookstore in Guizhou, few could have imagined it would one day become a national cultural landmark. As Chairman and CEO of Xifu Cultural Communication Group, Jin transformed SiSYPHE into one of China’s largest and most influential bookstore chains—now with nearly 500 locations embedded in the heart of the country’s busiest shopping malls.

By embracing big data and advanced algorithms, SiSYPHE expertly manages book inventory and in-store placement to optimize sales and respond to market trends. While books remain the core of its cultural mission, the chain also integrates coffee shops and cultural products, ensuring profitability and sustainable growth.

Jin positions SiSYPHE as the cultural foundation—the “base of the pyramid”—dedicated to inviting more people into the world of reading and enriching local communities’ spiritual lives. In an era dominated by digital distractions, SiSYPHE stands out by blending culture with retail strategy, evolving into a multifaceted, culture-driven platform that shapes China’s cultural landscape.

(Huan Ran and Li Yanfeng, as interns, also contributed to the report)