Chinese people read less, Survey

Chinese people are reading less book and magazine, a latest survey by China Institute of Publishing Science showed. Quicker tempo of life and diversified media are major causes of this phenomenon while the ties between one's reading and his education level are becoming weaker.

Yu Min, vice-director of the Institute made the remark at the "1st Summit on Development Strategy of China's Publishing Industry" opened Monday in Beijing. According to the survey, in 2003, 51.7 percent of literate population of the total surveyed read book at least once in a month, 8.7 percent lower than in 1998; the percentage for magazine was 46.4 percent, much lower than the 57 percent in 1998.

A busier life has left people not much time for reading, said Yu. The continuously decreasing reading rate is less linked with people's education level while their reading time are more and more occupied by busy work and study.

Another major reason is the attack from new media against traditional media market. In a time of rapid economic development and diversified cultural consumption, fierce competition among all kinds of media is unavoidable.

At the same time, the survey showed, in a society of increasing pressure for existence, people read more for practical purposes. In recent five years, fewer Chinese people still read for knowledge and vision, while more people read for entertainment and pleasure.

By People's Daily Online