A young man reads novels on a Kindle at a library in Shanghai. The rise of e-reading is challenging the traditional way of reading books. (File photo/ Xinhua)
(ECNS) -- For the first time ever, more people in China are reading e-books than printed equivalents, according to a survey released on Monday.
The 12th survey conducted by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication (CAPP) covered 49,802 people from 97 cities in 29 Chinese provinces, with a total of 35,539 respondents aged 18 and over.
It found that 58 percent read books, an increase of 0.2 percent from last year, and that 58.1 percent read e-books, up 8 percent on the previous year.
Wei Yushan, director of CAPP, said that 2014 was the year e-books overtook the traditional method of reading in China.
On average, Chinese people read 4.56 books, 65.03 newspapers, 6.07 magazines and 3.22 e-books during 2014, according to the survey.
Amongst those who read online or through electronic gadgets, the mobile phone and WeChat, a popular social network app, have seen the most rapid growth.
The survey shows that 51.8 percent of respondents read via their mobile phones, usually spending 33.82 minutes per day doing so.
Adults read via WeChat about twice a day, at an average duration of 40 minutes. By contrast, they read books for about 18.76 minutes per day.
More than 40 percent of adults said they have not read enough, while nearly 70 percent wish to partake in reading activities.
