At first glance, Hong Kong seems an enviable hub for bibliophiles: It's home to a buzzing book fair, a well-regarded literary festival, two creative-writing programs and Asia's most prestigious literary prize. But in terms of bookstores, it has so far lagged behind other Asian cities such as Tokyo, Taipei and even Bangkok.

That may be about to change with the arrival of Eslite, a Taiwanese bookstore chain famous not only for an extensive collection of books but also in-house art galleries, cultural events, designer products...