The Celestial Palace is a faerie run bookstore in the Shanghai Shadow Market.
Description[]
From the outside, the Celestial Palace is the size of a city block and appears to be two stories high. It is made of colored glass, gold, and glossily polished wood. Two massive double doors serve as the entrance and on either side of them is a glass dragon standing guard. The dragons are painted with mercury, and their eyes are made of sea pearls. The dragons, who are called Huang and Di, are the guardians of the bookstore and prevent thefts.
On the inside, the store is five stories high. Each floor is ringed with a balcony, and has floor to ceiling shelves full of books with ladders for access. The interior is carved with rosewood, forming twisted vines and branches. The whole place is lit with three flaming spheres that hang suspended in the air. When you leave, a small bird in a cage above the door sings a hauntingly sweet melody.
While many of the books are well informed tombs of knowledge, the store is known to also have books full of rumors and innuendos.[1]
History[]
The bookstore claims to be the oldest Downworlder establishment in Shanghai, preceding the Concession by hundreds of years. It is not known whether this is true or not. Still, the store is well-known throughout the world and is considered one of the greatest wonders of Downworld.
In 2010, Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood, Jace Herondale, Clary Fairchild, Simon Lovelace, and Isabelle Lightwood visited the bookstore to hunt for information about the Svefnthorn and the realm of Diyu. There they were able to learn that the Svefnthorn was made of black adamas and of its abilities. They also learned that Diyu is believed to be where souls go to be tortured for their sins before reincarnation.
The group was eventually asked to leave by Kethryllianalæmacisii. He explained that the Shadowhunters really shouldn't be in there because of the Cold Peace, and it did not help matters that Simon and Isabelle had disturbed a toddler hobgoblin reading group and Magnus was in the process of taking off his shirt. Furthermore, he added that this was a bookstore, not a loaning library, and that the books were for sale. Magnus apologized and told him that he would buy all the books they had been looking through. He had them bill the Spiral Labyrinth and deliver the books to the Mansion Hotel.[1]