Liyuan Library in Huairou district of Beijing [Photo by Cui Meng/China Daily]

When Li strolled around the village for research, he found that one of the richest local resources was the wood the locals use for heating and cooking. He decided to use this ordinary material in an extraordinary way.

More than 40,000 sticks were cut to a uniform length and used to clad the exterior of a glazed shell. The multiple layers of sticks not only act as decoration, they also filter the daylight to create a nice ambience for reading. "From season to season, the color of the sticks will change with the mountain," Li says.

As there is no artificial coating, Li expects the sticks to house birds and other wildlife.

"The sticks came from nature and will eventually evolve into part of nature again. I want the building to have the least impact on the landscape, which echoes the Chinese philosophical idea that humans are part of nature."

Inside the building there is no traditional furniture, as the steps between levels also act as seats and shelves. "We've had this idea of a modular system in the Chinese tradition of architecture all the time," Li says.

On weekends, the place can be quite busy, as Beijingers come to escape the city. However, there are still quiet corners to be found for those who actually want to read a book.

"There are many distinct corners created by the small level changes, so I don't really have a problem finding a place to settle," says Zhang Jie, a college teacher who is visiting the library for a second time with her 5-year-old daughter.