Digital reading trend on the rise, survey finds

The reading habits of Chinese people showed a marked shift toward digital consumption in 2024, with many adults spending over three hours each day reading online content compared with roughly half an hour spent on reading physical books, according to a report released on Thursday.

The survey, conducted by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication in Beijing for the 22nd consecutive year, polled 573,500 respondents from 189 cities in 31 provincial-level regions. Adults accounted for 78.1 percent of all respondents.

The report was released at the fourth National Conference on Reading in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, which is themed "Cultivating a Reading Culture, Building a Strong Cultural Nation" this year. The event was aimed at deepening reading activities nationwide and creating a stronger culture for reading.